Join Tommy Thompson, ACA, Level-4 Coastal Kayak Instructor, for some rough-water play and tide and wave study.

We will gather at the parking area just south of Little Talbot State Park (Ft. George Inlet) to discuss tides and the impact tides have on the coastal kayaker. We will practice basic and advanced paddle stroke as well as open-water rescues before we head into the inlet’s mouth for some rough-water paddling and perhaps a chance to practice ur rough-water rescues.

Tuition: $165

This course is designed to help the paddler who already has their own kayak and want to develop effective paddle strokes and learn the TX assisted rescue.  The course includes:

On land discussion/kayak outfitting and paddling technique, boat fit and adjustment, control hand/relaxed grip, torso rotation and paddlers box, boat designs for performance or stability

On water exercises/practice - Review and practice basic strokes: low brace, forward stroke, reverse stroke, J-lean and edging, forward sweep, reverse sweep, kayak spin (complete turn-around in one spot), ruddering, draw strokes and skulling draws.

Assisted Rescue: introduce and practice T and TX Rescue technique and individual practice of particular skills and personal coaching / questions / feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Tuition: $165 per-person.

Venue: Matlacha community Park, Matlacha, FL

To reserve your spot for this course e-mail info@floridakayakschool.com or call 850.445.3236

This course is designed to help the paddler who already has their own kayak and want to develop effective paddle strokes and learn the TX assisted rescue.  The course includes:

On land discussion/kayak outfitting and paddling technique, boat fit and adjustment, control hand/relaxed grip, torso rotation and paddlers box, boat designs for performance or stability

On water exercises/practice - Review and practice basic strokes: low brace, forward stroke, reverse stroke, J-lean and edging, forward sweep, reverse sweep, kayak spin (complete turn-around in one spot), ruddering, draw strokes and skulling draws.

Assisted Rescue: introduce and practice T and TX Rescue technique and individual practice of particular skills and personal coaching / questions / feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Tuition: $165 per-person.

Venue: James P. Morgan Park, Pensacola Beach, FL

To reserve your spot for this course e-mail info@floridakayakschool.com or call 850.445.3236

This is an intensive, 1-day course designed for kayakers who are considering becoming a facilitator of paddlesports and a great place to start toward becoming an ACA L-2 Trip Leader.

Tuition: $165

Venue: James P. Morgan Park, Pensacola Beach, FL

To reserve your spot for this course e-mail info@floridakayakschool.com or call 850.445.3236

This course is designed to help the paddler who already has their own kayak and want to develop effective paddle strokes and learn self and assisted rescues. 

This course is a "must do" for beginning kayakers.

The course includes:

On land discussion/kayak outfitting and paddling technique, boat fit and adjustment, control hand/relaxed grip, torso rotation and paddlers box, boat designs for performance or stability

On water exercises/practice - Review and practice basic strokes: low brace, forward stroke, reverse stroke, J-lean and edging, forward sweep, reverse sweep, kayak spin (complete turn-around in one spot), ruddering, draw strokes and skulling draws.

Assisted Rescue: introduce and practice T and TX Rescue technique and individual practice of particular skills and personal coaching / questions / feedback and suggestions for continued improvement.

This course will be conducted at: Maclay Gardens State Park, Lake Hall

There is a fee to enter the park. (Admission Fee: $6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. Does not include Gardens entry, January through April. $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.)

Tuition: $165 per-person.

This is an on-water instruction, 5 mile, sunset paddle for intermediate paddlers (possible current and wind challenges).  We will put in at the St. Marks City boat ramp and paddle south as we practice navigation skills, reading the water, and using the tides/river flow to the paddler’s advantage. All of this happens as we explore the wildlife-rich marsh of the lower St. Marks River where few ever venture. We will  re-enter the St. Marks River and return along the east side of the river and to our put in. Estimated time on the water is approximately 2+ hours.

Tuition: $55*

*Paddling equipment is available for an additional $35.

Call or e-mail to reserve:  Sales@FloridaKayakSchool.com / 850.445.3236

This course is designed to help the paddler who already has their own kayak and want to develop effective paddle strokes and learn the TX assisted rescue.  The course includes:

On land discussion/kayak outfitting and paddling technique, boat fit and adjustment, control hand/relaxed grip, torso rotation and paddlers box, boat designs for performance or stability

On water exercises/practice - Review and practice basic strokes: low brace, forward stroke, reverse stroke, J-lean and edging, forward sweep, reverse sweep, kayak spin (complete turn-around in one spot), ruddering, draw strokes and skulling draws.

Assisted Rescue: introduce and practice T and TX Rescue technique and individual practice of particular skills and personal coaching / questions / feedback and suggestions for improvement

This course will be conducted at: Maclay Gardens State Park

There is a fee to enter the park. (Admission Fee: $6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. Does not include Gardens entry, January through April. $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.)

Course Fee: $165

Call 850.445.3236 or e-mail: info@FloridaKayakSchool to reserve your spot

 Please join us for the 3rd annual LifeLong Outdoor Pursuits Expo on Tuesday, November 5th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Goodwood Museum and Gardens Carriage House, 1600 Miccosukee Road. We think your organization has information that would interest our attendees and invite you to attend as an exhibitor. 

LifeLong Outdoor Pursuits is an extremely popular program of the Tallahassee Senior Center. This past year we featured hiking, kayaking, geocaching, golfing, tubing, fishing and camping workshops/adventures. We’ve taken excursions to beautiful destinations, including rivers, springs, caverns and trails. This Outdoor Expo will feature it all! 

We expect approximately 200+ attendees who want to be active in the outdoors – and are eager to learn of new opportunities, destinations and to check out the latest gear. 

Come out and participate the on-water clean-up of Leon County’s stewardship of Lake Iamonia. Kayaks and canoes are available and even share a catered lunch for participants. To sign-up and get more information on this annual event visit:

http://cms.leoncountyfl.gov/growinggreen/Lake-Iamonia-Cleanup

This course is designed to help the paddler who already has their own kayak and want to develop effective paddle strokes and learn self and assisted rescues. 

This course is a "must do" for beginning kayakers.

The course includes:

On land discussion/kayak outfitting and paddling technique, boat fit and adjustment, control hand/relaxed grip, torso rotation and paddlers box, boat designs for performance or stability

On water exercises/practice - Review and practice basic strokes: low brace, forward stroke, reverse stroke, J-lean and edging, forward sweep, reverse sweep, kayak spin (complete turn-around in one spot), ruddering, draw strokes and skulling draws.

Assisted Rescue: introduce and practice T and TX Rescue technique and individual practice of particular skills and personal coaching / questions / feedback and suggestions for continued improvement.

This course will be conducted at: Oars and Paddle Park, Indian River Park (1329 Banana River Park Dr.), Indian River Beach, FL

Tuition: $165 per-person.

Did you know that "even nuns wear red?"  In this land-based course we will explore the navigation buoy system, route planning, various charts and maps, compass use, GPS and other electronic navigation tools with an eye toward kayak touring application.  Each participant will be given handouts that will help in continued learning of the "Rules of the Road", glossary of nautical terms, a list of on-line, navigation and nautical sources.

Course Fee: $25

Venue: Lafayette-Heritage Park, 4900 Heritage Park Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32311

Participants must pre-register by e-mailing or calling:  info@FloridaKayakSchool.com or calling 850.445.3236                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Learn the essential knots for kayakers in this land-based workshop.  Participants will be given a hank of line, an illustrated guide to the most used knots in kayaking, and guided coaching as to which knots are used and when/where. 

Course Fee: $15

Venue: Lafayette-Heritage Park, 4900 Heritage Park Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32311

Participants must pre-register by e-mailing or calling:  info@FloridaKayakSchool.com or calling 850.445.3236                                                                                                                                                                                                

This course is designed to help the paddler who already has their own kayak and want to develop effective paddle strokes and learn self and assisted rescues. 

This course is a "must do" for beginning kayakers.

The course includes:

On land discussion/kayak outfitting and paddling technique, boat fit and adjustment, control hand/relaxed grip, torso rotation and paddlers box, boat designs for performance or stability

On water exercises/practice - Review and practice basic strokes: low brace, forward stroke, reverse stroke, J-lean and edging, forward sweep, reverse sweep, kayak spin (complete turn-around in one spot), ruddering, draw strokes and skulling draws.

Assisted Rescue: introduce and practice T and TX Rescue technique and individual practice of particular skills and personal coaching / questions / feedback and suggestions for continued improvement.

This course will be conducted at: Maclay Gardens State Park, Lake Hall

There is a fee to enter the park. (Admission Fee: $6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. Does not include Gardens entry, January through April. $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.)

Tuition: $165 per-person.

What's so hard about paddling a kayak, right?  That's one of the beauties of the sport.  Just about anybody can sit in a kayak and make it go. However, to adjust your kayak to properly fit you, to use your entire body to power, and steer your kayak with your body and not a rudder requires a deeper knowledge and skill.  Let our staff show you the proper techniques to getting the most out of your kayak, your body, and your time on the water through effective paddling technique. We have had paddlers with more than 25 years of paddling experience totally revolutionize the way that they paddle.  These clients can now paddle farther, faster, with more comfort, confidence, and more safely.

This course is designed for people who already have their own kayaks.  However, should you need a kayak and kit (life jacket and paddle) you have a couple of options.  Option A:  You can use one of our sit-inside kayaks for $35 extra.  This fee is just to cover the handling, transport to the class site, and cleaning.  To make sure that we are putting you in an appropriate kayak we just need to know your approximate weight and height. Option B: You can rent one of the park's sit-on top kayaks for $15 which are at the park and available at a first-come, first-served basis.

This course will be conducted at: Maclay Gardens State Park

There is a fee to enter the park. (Admission Fee: $6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. Does not include Gardens entry, January through April. $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.)

Course Fee: $65

Call 850.445.3236 or e-mail: sales@FloridaKayakSchool to reserve your spot

Do you spend more time in the shuttle vehicle than you spend on the water? Learn to think like a salmon and read the river as you make your way upstream. The river dynamics are similar to the tide flows and what learned here can help the coastal paddler navigate costal areas as well as get you out of the shuttle bus! Experience the challenges of paddling the “Gran Dame of the South” in the quiet of summer’s warmth and take a dip in the river to baptize yourself in these special and historic waters. At the season’s low water levels see the ogeechee tupelos’ roots in their grander and lunch on the sandy beaches.

This is NOT for the novice paddler! We will put-in and paddle UPSTREAM for about 3 hours before taking a lunch break and returning to your vehicle. Be sure to bring plenty of water, lunch and snack, sunscreen. Also, dress for the weather. Only lighting will call off this trip.

Tuition: $95

This course is designed to help the paddler who already has their own kayak and want to develop effective paddle strokes and learn self and assisted rescues. 

This course is a "must do" for beginning kayakers.

The course includes:

On land discussion/kayak outfitting and paddling technique, boat fit and adjustment, control hand/relaxed grip, torso rotation and paddlers box, boat designs for performance or stability

On water exercises/practice - Review and practice basic strokes: low brace, forward stroke, reverse stroke, J-lean and edging, forward sweep, reverse sweep, kayak spin (complete turn-around in one spot), ruddering, draw strokes and skulling draws.

Assisted Rescue: introduce and practice T and TX Rescue technique and individual practice of particular skills and personal coaching / questions / feedback and suggestions for continued improvement.

This course will be conducted at: Vilano Boat Ramp, St. Augustine, FL

Tuition: $145 per-person.

Venue: Vilano Boat Ramp, St. Augustine, FL