This weekend course will lead you through established progressions to help you develop the skills necessary to enjoy Class II-III rivers. Our experienced instructors will lead you through established skill progressions to help you build confidence on Class II whitewater. We'll review forward and steering strokes while adding new skills. The following is a peek at a typical course:

Friday
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.

Saturday
After breakfast on Monday morning, you'll head to our equipment area where we'll outfit you with high quality canoeing equipment. The next stop will be a nearby lake for practice of the basic strokes and techniques you'll need for the river. You'll work on proper body posture, forward strokes and steering techniques. After a break for a deli-style lunch, most groups head to a class I-II section of river to feel the exhilaration of their boat in motion, while other groups continue 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, the "Tote and Tarry."

Sunday
Enjoy another hearty breakfast before returning to the lake for more practice in preparation for a day on the river. After a short time on the lake, you'll move onto the exciting class II rapids of the Tuckasegee Gorge . You'll spend time learning to read and successfully negotiate the rapids, cross the river with "ferries" and gracefully move in and out of eddies using "eddy turns" and "peel outs." Finish the day with a delicious farewell dinner and receive one of our coveted NOC Paddling School t-shirts before saying goodbye to your new friends.

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 I and easier class II rapids. If you are not sure how rapids are classified, visit the American Whitewater - International Scale of River Difficulty page.

Check to see if this is the best skill level for you with our Paddling School Skills Guide.

Along with your paddling course, enjoy a 15% discount on boats, paddling equipment and accessories in the NOC Outfitter's Store

Price: $445

Dates Available:
April 6-8
June 15-17