Kayaking is the kind of challenge that makes your heart pound and your toes tingle. It's a fast, exploding, roller-coaster kind of ride and best of all you do it solo. The ideal craft for whitewater, the Kayak is sleek, maneuverable, fast and has a unique feature it can be righted when capsized by doing the Eskimo Roll. When starting out in whitewater, we strongly recommend taking your first course in a Kayak. Your skills are easily transferable to either the Open Canoe or Sea Kayak.

Choose a 5-Day Kayak Vacation or try one of our Weekend Clinics and discover why MKC is a world renowned Kayak School.

Weekend Clinics

On our Weekend Clinic you begin on flatwater, learning how to go forward and backwards, turn, brace and you will be introduced to the eskimo roll. Soon you will apply these skills in easy currents, practicing eddy turns, front and back ferries and wave surfing.  For more experienced paddlers, use the 2 day clinic to refresh your skills.

5 Day Courses

In the 5-Day Course Kayakers are first divided into separate skill level groups. As you master each stage, you will gradually be exposed to more challenging grades of whitewater.  At MKC we work hard to ensure that your day on the river is a truly fulfilling experience.



For Beginners we start on still water with the basic strokes, as outlined in the Weekend Clinic above. A full week allows you time to learn, practice, and perfect these skills making you a confident Kayaker in Class II whitewater. 

Intermediate and Advanced students are challenged by the Madawaska's many hydraulics, fantastic eddies and surfing waves in Class III and IV rapids.  Students are divided into skill level groups, challenged at and beyond their ability, by the Madawaska's many hydraulics. 

It's worth pointing out that gates are not just for racers! They teach the kind of precision paddling that helps you avoid real-life obstacles on the river. The maneuvers and boat control that you can lean best in gates add new challenge and fun to river running. (Just ask an MKC alumnus).

You will also learn river reading skills, safety and rescue procedures and enjoy evening video analysis of your progress on the water. The last day of the course is spent running and playing one of five local rivers.

Certification

Every student is awarded with a skill level diploma and achievement report.