Course Overview

Spring Intermediate Kayak Course

Need to brush off the Winter’s dust? Looking to be supported to run some slightly bigger lines than last year? This course is for you! For intermediate kayakers, who are feeling some nerves as you get back into the boat for another season of paddling. Instructors will bring his compassionate river glow, combined with extreme passion and stoke for whitewater. Les will bring the breathwork and mindfulness techniques she’s been developing for years. Together, we can learn to manage our nerves, and feel supported to get a little more sendy this Summer!

Who is this Course for?

This course is for intermediate kayakers who would consider themselves… just a bit nervous. Prerequisite Skills: Carving in and out of eddies, maneuvering your kayak in class 2 rapids.

Itinerary

Course Location

This early in the season, the Mid Mad is usually running at perfect flows for an intermediate kayak course! If not, we’ll head to the Ottawa and/ or Lower Madawaska. After paddling, you return to the comfort of our Wilderness Resort with hot outdoor showers, log sauna, yoga pavilion, and your choice of Accommodation & Meals Plan.

 

Cost

Instruction Fee

$750

Accommodation + Meals

From $120-$555. See below for various accommodation & meal packages

Rental Package

$285 (for boat, paddle, helmet, life jacket, skirt). Individual items also available to rent

Accommodation + Meal Packages

Cozy Lodge rooms, off-the-grid Cabanas, budget-friendly Dorms or wooded Campsites. Our Wilderness Resort offers something for everyone.

Shared Lodge Plan* | $555

Our rustic Lodge rooms have everything you need! Choose either a queen bed or 2 twin beds. Rooms are at ground level with nearby washroom facilities (en suite not available). Meals included.

Shared Cabana Plan* | $555

Enjoy our off-the-grid Cabanas tucked in the woods! Choose either a queen bed or 2 twin beds. Washroom facilities are a short walk away. Meals included. No electricity.

Shared Glamping Plan* | $555

Come glamp in MKC's forest! Our newest accommodation options are cozy, comfortable, canvas tents. Two twin beds with bedding can be converted into a single queen bed. Washroom facilities are a short walk away. Meals included. No electricity.

Dormitory Plan* | $465

Dorm room accommodation sleep up to six per room. Dorms are on the second floor with nearby washroom facilities. Meals included. Bring your own bedding.

Camping Plan | $420

MKC's wooded campsites are great for tents, trailers and campervans. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, onsite parking, and access to nearby washroom facilities. Meals included. No electricity.

Camping No Meals | $120

MKC's wooded campsites are great for tents, trailers and campervans. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, onsite parking, and access to nearby washroom facilities. Bring your own camping and cooking equipment to enjoy meals at your site. Dishwashing station available. No electricity.

Check In

The evening before your course between 7 & 10 pm

Check Out

Last day at 4:30 pm

*For those booking for one for Glamping, Cabana, Lodge or Dorm: it is likely you will stay with other students of the same gender. As a wilderness resort we have chosen to not expand too far into our surrounding forest and therefore have limited indoor accommodations. To book a private room as an individual is an additional cost

About our Meals

We take pride in serving healthy, hearty and delicious meals. As a proud member of FeastON, we source locally when possible and add our special touch with herbs and edible flowers from our own garden. Meals start with breakfast the first day of the course and include: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners, plus an après-paddling snack each day. Coffee, tea and juice are complimentary. BYOB.

Locally roasted specialty coffee and homemade snacks can be purchased from our Riverside Shop & Café.

   

Group Discounts

We welcome groups of 4 or more at a discounted rate (conditions apply)

What do folks think of us?

Highly reccommend! A beautiful setting, friendly staff and expert instructors all combined to make my first weekend course in whitewater kayaking a memorable event and foundation for future adventures!

Beth S

The food was awesome, the natural setting was spectacular – both at the lodge and that the rapids, and the staff are all extremely professional and competent. We loved our two day adventure!

Lee T

Just finished a weekend refresher tandem canoe course at MKC and don't have enough superlatives to describe how fantastic the experience was from beginning to end. All staff, from the canoe instructors to the cooks, were amazing. Every detail was just right. Thanks, MKC, I'll be back!

Emily E

One of the best experiences of my life! I took the weekend white water kayak course. The value you get for the course is incredible for the price. The facility is beautiful, the place has a charm, a hidden gem! All the staff provided exceptional customer service. I learned a lot of great techniques and had a ton of fun!

Douglas S

Our weekend programs fill up quickly.

Book now to reserve your spots!

Book Now

Can’t find your preferred date? Let us know and we’ll do our best to help you get onto some whitewater!

5 Days

Yoga Whitewater Week

Yoga and kayaking or canoeing. Join us for our famous 5 day course with additional yoga programming to harmonize your learning with mindful motion.

Beginner
Intermediate

$1225 / Per person

COURSE DETAILS
5 Days

Week of Rivers

We want to share our favourite rivers with you during five days of kayaking or canoeing our region's best whitewater!

Beginner
Intermediate

$1400 / Per person

COURSE DETAILS

4 Day Whitewater

Four days of paddling on an amazing river! Immerse yourself in the whitewater world and take your kayak and canoe skills to the next level.

Beginner
Intermediate

$860 / Per person

COURSE DETAILS

Reviews

5 star ratingA great time. I highly recommend MKC This was my 3rd, five day white water kayaking trip with MKC. It was another fabulous week.

I always choose the all inclusive option. I camp, but there are a number of indoor options for those who prefer that. I select the full meal plan, as I really don't want to do my own cooking before I paddle, or after a long day on the water. Don't let the young cooks worry you. (They're students working the summer months. Some of them are in culinary arts training.) The meals are better that a lot of restaurants. There's always vegetarian options at every meal. I like this because, and I like variety, and sometimes I want a change.

It doesn't matter what your skill level is, you'll have fun and will learn. On this last trip, there was a couple in their 80s, who wanted a new adventure to try out. How great is that. The instructors/guides always give positive feedback. You'll never hear you did anything wrong. (Typically, you all ready figured that out.) The guide will say something like: "Try this technique, and see how you like it." The guide will then demonstrate the technique a couple of times, and watch you trying it, while shouting encouragement to you. Plus, the rest of the people in your group will be cheering you on. When someone in the group does their first practice roll, or any combat roll, the cheers are thunderous. The grin on the person who just did the roll, says it all.

This year I was in seniors week. (I'm 73.) Virtually everyone had their own equipment. No worries if you need gear. MKC has excellent equipment, and will outfit you with everything you need, appropriate to your experience level. If you want to try a performance boat, they'll let you try one.

All in all, it's a great experience. I plan to return next year for my 4th time.

Give it a try!

Alan - Registered Maine Guide in Sea Kayaking
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Sky K Avatar
Sky K
9/08/2024
5 star ratingPerfect Family Adventure I cannot say enough good things about MKC - their facilities, their staff, the river, all of it. My family actually joined the five day learn to kayak program (which was not an option in the TripAdvisor drop down). The river has just the right amount of challenge to be PERFECT for learning. There are easy lines for absolute beginners, and enough challenge that a competitive slalom race was being held for top competitors on an adjacent section of the river during our stay. We will be back in the future for the same program.
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Scott S Avatar
Scott S
7/28/2024
5 star ratingAwesome Awesome fun - great guides. Ralph made us all share his love for white water! Highly recommended for anyone- and do jump off the bridge 😉
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Camper434674 Avatar
Camper434674
7/30/2024
Wednesday November 27th

Early bird sale.

20% OFF

KAYAK AND CANOE PROGRAMS AT MKC

Please get in touch with us prior, so we can prepare your quote in advance.

early bird sale heron

Must place deposit between 9am and 6pm EST November 27th to receive discount.

We cannot combine discounts.

March 4th - 8th 2024

10% off

5 day kayak + canoe courses

5% of all revenue from this week is donated to your choice of three organizations

We are forever grateful for the support we continually receive from our communities. To say a small thanks, we want to give back.