Guide Training Program Introduction: This is a summer educational experience offered to aspiring Maine Sea Kayak Guides wishing to develop and refine their skills in risk management, wilderness camping, and technical kayaking. Our training program provides students with the knowledge and experience to become registered Maine Guides.  While we do focus on the material needed to pass the State of Maine Guide Test, the training is relevant to anyone interested in leading or executing multi-day sea kayak expeditions.  All interested applicants should have at least an intermediate background in sea kayaking and some multi-day camping experience. 

The course is a 7 day program from June 11th to the 17th.  We’ll begin the program at CRE headquarters in Whitefield on Sunday morning with a brief introduction and orientation.  The rest of the day will be spent familiarizing students with the equipment and food systems, while packing everything up for an early departure Monday morning. 

We’ll wake up early Monday and head out to Muscongus Bay where over the next 6 days we will cover the following:

• Loading & transporting clients & gear… & associated responsibilities.
• Put-in organization: environmental briefing / accident equation, group management.
• Human waste: introducing the issue, raising the comfort level, explaining disposal options.
• Use of safety & communication gear.
• Practice rescues.
• Practice emergency / evacuation / change of plans procedure.
• Risk assessment theories: assessing human, equipment, and environmental factors.
• Debriefing techniques.
• Leading / co-leading issues.
• Navigation: map & compass, itinerary planning, dead reckoning, boating laws, paddling in fog & Small Craft Advsisory / Warning, channel crossings, tides & currents, thunder & lightning…
• Hygiene in the wilderness & group setting.
• Understanding the equipment: care, uses, construction, design, pros & cons, assigning the proper paddling gear to clients…
• Paddling instruction: strokes & efficiency.
• “Leave No Trace” / low impact salt water camping techniques & considerations.
• Stove-top cooking & baking.

The trip will end on Saturday, with a mid morning pick up back to Whitefield.  We’ll spend a couple of hours de-rigging and debriefing the experience, before a celebratory barbecue.

To obtain a detailed information packet fill out the general inquiry form, specifying your interest in the training program, using the link below