Kayak and Standup Paddleboard Classes
Our professional instructors have taught thousands of paddlers over the last 26 years, from novices to experts. Let us help you get out on the water.
Join us to earn paddling skills from professionals, and have a fun while you learn! We're in one of the most beautiful areas in the United States, it's practically a crime not to paddle here.
Currents & Tides Evening Class
Thursday, May 9. 7-9:00 pm on Bainbridge Island.
Prepare for boating trips on the Puget Sound and beyond with this important indoor class. Whether you're a novice or experienced boater, you'll gain new knowledge from our professional instructor, Forrest Wells.
This is an introduction to reading and utilizing current and tide charts as well as wind, water and waves of the Puget Sound. This is a very important class for NW boaters of all types.
What to bring: We will have tide tables and navigation charts to use during class, but bring your own if you have them.
Class is indoors on Bainbridge Island at Strawberry Park.
Prepare for boating trips on the Puget Sound and beyond with this important indoor class. Whether you're a novice or experienced boater, you'll gain new knowledge from our professional instructor, Forrest Wells.
This is an introduction to reading and utilizing current and tide charts as well as wind, water and waves of the Puget Sound. This is a very important class for NW boaters of all types.
What to bring: We will have tide tables and navigation charts to use during class, but bring your own if you have them.
Class is indoors on Bainbridge Island at Strawberry Park.
Location: Bainbridge Island
Sea Kayak 101: Weekend Course
May 18-19 in Port Gamble
Gain skills and confidence for touring open water in your kayak or small watercraft.
With a blend of classroom and on-water sessions, learn how to use tidal and navigation charts to plan routes, ferrying techniques to cross currents and shipping lanes, calculate speed and several other key components for boating safely.
Upon finishing this course participants will have a strong foundation for a lifetime of ocean adventures in small watercraft.
Registration for this class is through the Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation: Class number 130751-01. Call (206) 842-2306 x118 or go to www.BIparks.org.
We have kayaks available if you don't have your own.
Gain skills and confidence for touring open water in your kayak or small watercraft.
With a blend of classroom and on-water sessions, learn how to use tidal and navigation charts to plan routes, ferrying techniques to cross currents and shipping lanes, calculate speed and several other key components for boating safely.
Upon finishing this course participants will have a strong foundation for a lifetime of ocean adventures in small watercraft.
Registration for this class is through the Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation: Class number 130751-01. Call (206) 842-2306 x118 or go to www.BIparks.org.
We have kayaks available if you don't have your own.
Location: Port Gamble
Private Lessons
Almost any paddling topic can be covered in a private lesson. Want to improve your paddle strokes? Practice capsize recovery? Have an instructor take your teenagers out for a fun afternoon?
Let us put together the perfect lesson package for you: 360.297.4659 or 1.800.592.5983
Let us put together the perfect lesson package for you: 360.297.4659 or 1.800.592.5983
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Standup Paddleboard
(SUP) Introduction
(SUP) Introduction
June-September. 10-12:00. Saturdays on Bainbridge Island, Sundays in Poulsbo.
If you aren't hooked on SUPing already, you will be after this class! Standup paddleboarding is the latest rage in paddlesports because it's both fun and a great workout.
Our professional instructor will teach you the basics so you can get out on the water...and get you on your way to abs of steel!
If you aren't hooked on SUPing already, you will be after this class! Standup paddleboarding is the latest rage in paddlesports because it's both fun and a great workout.
Our professional instructor will teach you the basics so you can get out on the water...and get you on your way to abs of steel!
SK-1: Sea Kayak Introduction and Tour in Poulsbo
May-September.
Saturdays 10-1:00 in Poulsbo.
This class will help you get comfortable in a kayak and learn the basics of paddling properly. Your fun, experienced instructor will give you a great foundation for a lifetime of kayaking. You will practice your new skills on a guided tour in our stable single kayaks.
We can also bring this class to your group anywhere in Kitsap County, year-round! We'll specially tailor the class to your group.
Saturdays 10-1:00 in Poulsbo.
This class will help you get comfortable in a kayak and learn the basics of paddling properly. Your fun, experienced instructor will give you a great foundation for a lifetime of kayaking. You will practice your new skills on a guided tour in our stable single kayaks.
We can also bring this class to your group anywhere in Kitsap County, year-round! We'll specially tailor the class to your group.
SK-2: Sea Kayak Capsize Recovery Class and Practice
May-September in Poulsbo.
This class may save your or another's life! You'll also have more fun paddling once you learn what it takes to tip over and get back into a kayak.
With our professionally trained instructors, learn and/or practice how to rescue yourself and others in a comfortable, fun environment.
No experience is needed and all experience levels welcome. Included: Kayaks, paddles, personal flotation devices and safety equipment. Wetsuits and drysuits are available for rent.
This class may save your or another's life! You'll also have more fun paddling once you learn what it takes to tip over and get back into a kayak.
With our professionally trained instructors, learn and/or practice how to rescue yourself and others in a comfortable, fun environment.
No experience is needed and all experience levels welcome. Included: Kayaks, paddles, personal flotation devices and safety equipment. Wetsuits and drysuits are available for rent.
SK-3: Sea Kayak Touring Essentials
Available as a private or group class at any of our locations (Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island or Port Gamble).
This class will help you gain necessary skills and knowledge before heading out on the waters of Puget Sound and beyond.
Our experienced instructors will tailor this class to your needs. Topics include efficient paddle strokes, chart reading, current and tide basics, bracing strokes, crossing ferry lanes and any skills you'd like to learn or practice before heading out on your own kayak trip.
Prerequisites: Sea Kayak 1 and 2 (SK-1, SK-2 above) or equivalent.
This class will help you gain necessary skills and knowledge before heading out on the waters of Puget Sound and beyond.
Our experienced instructors will tailor this class to your needs. Topics include efficient paddle strokes, chart reading, current and tide basics, bracing strokes, crossing ferry lanes and any skills you'd like to learn or practice before heading out on your own kayak trip.
Prerequisites: Sea Kayak 1 and 2 (SK-1, SK-2 above) or equivalent.
Family SUP'n Fun
July-August on Bainbridge Island.
Mondays 10-11:30 or private lessons any time, year-round.
The whole family can enjoy standup paddleboarding! In this class you'll have fun while learning basic SUP safety, paddle strokes and other SUPn essentials.
This class is available almost any time as a private class.
Mondays 10-11:30 or private lessons any time, year-round.
The whole family can enjoy standup paddleboarding! In this class you'll have fun while learning basic SUP safety, paddle strokes and other SUPn essentials.
This class is available almost any time as a private class.
Location: Bainbridge Island
Class Forms
Class and Release forms for Adult Programs
Fill out all forms and bring to first day of class
Fill out if you are renting a boat for the activity
Fill out for all classes and trips
Customer Comments
Thank you so much again for the fabulous lesson today! We all had an absolute blast. When Kendall’s mom dropped Kate off at our house this afternoon, the girls were begging us to go tomorrow. They were offering to pay for it, even! I think we’ve got some lifelong SUPers on our hands...
~Nancy
Just wanted to drop a line and say thanks to Spring and the rest of the fine folks at Olympic Outdoor Center for the hospitality you showed to the kids from Midlothian High School's Aquatic Science class. The kids (and I) had a blast on the water, and the visit to Port Gamble Environmental Lab was a surprise treat. I think that may have sealed my daughter's aspirations to become a marine biologist.
Sincerely,
Jim Steele, Father and Chaperone
I very much plan to keep doing SUP outings and plan to do Paddle Bainbridge 2013! I had a great time!! The people, the food (crab!!) - and oh, the music - yay! yay! yay! Kudos to you, John, Forest and Katie - thanks a mil!
~Laurie
Thank you again for scheduling the Saturday outing for our group. It was wonderful, Hawk was an excellent instructor and everyone had a great time, and 4 of us would like to sign up for the SK-2 class this Thursday evening.
~Julia Atwood
I just wanted to say what great camp our son, Luc Willey, had this week with Mylie and Rubin, Spring Courtright's instructors for the Outdoor Adventure Camp. Luc has not done an intense camp like this without an aid, and he had a fantastic week from what I can tell. Kudos for this camp and its organization and instructors!
~Gretchen Gende
I ran into several people this weekend who took part of your latest Adventure Camp and they LOVED it. Truly, they were incredibly impressed and are looking forward to see what we will be offering in upcoming seasons. One of them also took the SUP class and said it was one of the best classes she has ever taken. Think I’ll have to bring my wife along for the next class on a sunny day.
Great job,
Jeff Ozimek, Bainbridge Island Metro Parks and Recreation Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
I actually went to the shop two weekends ago to buy the boys their wetsuits. They stocked a lot of really great equipment for my kayak building projects. It is good to know that they can order items that are not on the website as well, as I am always looking for parts that are difficult to find sometimes.
Thanks,
Karl
~Nancy
Just wanted to drop a line and say thanks to Spring and the rest of the fine folks at Olympic Outdoor Center for the hospitality you showed to the kids from Midlothian High School's Aquatic Science class. The kids (and I) had a blast on the water, and the visit to Port Gamble Environmental Lab was a surprise treat. I think that may have sealed my daughter's aspirations to become a marine biologist.
Sincerely,
Jim Steele, Father and Chaperone
I very much plan to keep doing SUP outings and plan to do Paddle Bainbridge 2013! I had a great time!! The people, the food (crab!!) - and oh, the music - yay! yay! yay! Kudos to you, John, Forest and Katie - thanks a mil!
~Laurie
Thank you again for scheduling the Saturday outing for our group. It was wonderful, Hawk was an excellent instructor and everyone had a great time, and 4 of us would like to sign up for the SK-2 class this Thursday evening.
~Julia Atwood
I just wanted to say what great camp our son, Luc Willey, had this week with Mylie and Rubin, Spring Courtright's instructors for the Outdoor Adventure Camp. Luc has not done an intense camp like this without an aid, and he had a fantastic week from what I can tell. Kudos for this camp and its organization and instructors!
~Gretchen Gende
I ran into several people this weekend who took part of your latest Adventure Camp and they LOVED it. Truly, they were incredibly impressed and are looking forward to see what we will be offering in upcoming seasons. One of them also took the SUP class and said it was one of the best classes she has ever taken. Think I’ll have to bring my wife along for the next class on a sunny day.
Great job,
Jeff Ozimek, Bainbridge Island Metro Parks and Recreation Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
I actually went to the shop two weekends ago to buy the boys their wetsuits. They stocked a lot of really great equipment for my kayak building projects. It is good to know that they can order items that are not on the website as well, as I am always looking for parts that are difficult to find sometimes.
Thanks,
Karl