Canoeing and kayaking instruction begins on the lake in our protected coves, but the real focus of these programs lies on the lakes and rivers of the backcountry. As with hiking, backpacking and climbing, each week there is a selection of trips of varying lengths - one to six days - and different levels of challenge. Over the weeks at Kabeyun a boy can expand his repertoire of hard skills and experiences, seeking challenges that will draw him to the edges of his individual paddling potential.

After learning some fundamental safety and basic strokes in camp, boys interested in kayaking head out of camp to moving water sites appropriate to their particular skill level. Most of the canoeing we do is in the backcountry, on flat water - wilderness lakes, or slow-moving rivers. Boys interested in developing more advanced skills can also take on whitewater like the boys in the photograph.

Like all our trips, the group size for paddling excursions is small, six boys with two co-leaders. Our trip leaders are experienced in their particular sport and certified in Wilderness First-Aid as a minimum, and all are Red Cross certified lifeguards. In or out of camp, the focus is on skill development and our trip leaders are also American Canoe Association certified instructors (a three-day instructor certification course). Both paddle programs give boys opportunities to set short-term goals and work through sets of skills, achieving ratings to mark their progress.