The Level I Intermediate Canoe will help you to develop and refine the skills necessary to enjoy Class II-III whitewater. Although the focus is on river running, the lake plays an important part in any paddler's development. We'll hit the lake on the first morning to refine basic stroke and balance skills, plus introduce new skills needed for quick river maneuvers. We'll review forward strokes, pry's, stern draws and leaning, while adding new skills such as the bow draw, cross bow draw, sweeps and cross forward strokes.

Sunday
Sunday evening starts with a dinner at Relia's Garden Restaurant where you will meet your instructors and the others in your group. After dinner, you'll get a chance to review the activities of the week.

Monday
After breakfast on Monday morning, you'll head to our equipment area to outfit yourself with high quality canoeing equipment. The next stop will be at a nearby lake for practice of the basic strokes and techniques you'll need for the river. You'll learn proper body posture, forward strokes and steering techniques. Although you'll spend time learning how to efficiently turn the boat, we help you overcome one of your greatest challenges, which is keeping your boat going straight. A deli-style lunch offers a break during the middle of the day. Most groups like to head to the river for a short stretch of moving water in the afternoon to feel the exhilaration of their boat in motion, while other groups enjoy practicing their new skills on flat water. Finish the day with dinner and the chance to share stories of the day's adventures. You can return to your cabin for your choice of entertaining and instructional videos or spend time with friends at our local pub known as the "Tote and Tarry."

Tuesday
Wake up and smell the coffee on Tuesday and enjoy a hearty breakfast before returning to the lake for more practice on your skills and techniques in preparation for a day on the river. After a short time on the lake, expect to head to the river for exciting class II rapids. Your time on the river will feature further development of "reading the rapids," crossing the river with "ferries" and gracefully moving in and out of eddies using "eddy turns" and "peel outs." Our instructors are dedicated to helping you have the most fun on the river.

Wednesday
On Wednesday, you'll get up early and finish late with a day of traveling to a nearby river for a full day of fun on the river and skill development. This is a great day to enjoy the excitement of the river and the natural beauty in the outdoors. After a long day on the river, you will sleep really well.

Thursday
Some groups return to the lake to learn more complicated strokes on Thursday morning before heading to a stretch of the world famous Nantahala River. Most groups, however, are excited to head straight to the river for an 8-mile paddle down the entire length of the Nantahala. At the end of the paddling day, you'll have the option to run the class III Nantahala Falls and a chance to take home a picture as a trophy of your adventure. Finish the day with a delicious farewell dinner together and receive one of our famous NOC Instruction t-shirts before saying goodbye to your new friends; however, there's no need to rush home because lodging is included for the night!

We focus on your safety and provide you with the best security on the river while teaching you how to manage unforeseen challenges on the water. During our river time over the weekend, we'll have the opportunity to paddle on class II rapids with optional class III rapids for the thrill seekers. If you are not sure how rapids are classified, visit the American Whitewater - International Scale of River Difficulty page.

What more can you get from my NOC course?
- A 15% discount on boats, paddling equipment and accessories in the NOC Outfitter's Store

Price: $825

Dates Available:
May 14-18
August 27-31