North Carolina Outer Banks Sea Kayaking

Paddle some of the last stretches of undeveloped coastline on the Eastern Seaboard. You’ll kayak the sounds, propelled by your muscles or harnessing the tides. Often you can see the ocean and the sound from campsites along these narrow barrier islands. Don’t be fooled, though; weather can be a significant challenge – bright and sunny one day, fierce winds and choppy waves the next may hold you back. Develop confidence and feel a sense of achievement as you work on sea kayaking skills including using a VHF radio to monitor the weather, creating a daily float plan, learning proper paddle strokes and practicing getting in and out of the boat on water. Through an intimate encounter with this unique wild area, you’ll develop a greater appreciation for the area’s rugged, raw beauty and for the commitment and effort needed for a successful expedition.

The North Carolina Outer Banks, 175 miles of barrier islands stretching from Virginia to Cape Lookout National Seashore, offer unique ecosystems of wetlands, maritime forests, sounds, estuaries and salt marshes. Protected from the open ocean by narrow barrier islands, the sounds are home to all kinds of creatures including rare birds, wild horses, sea turtles, ghost crabs and porpoise. Dotted with lighthouses and historic areas like the ghost town of Portsmouth Village, this course area boasts a rich history as a hiding ground for pirates like Blackbeard and a place of shipwrecks.

The Outward Bound Difference… On this course run by North Carolina Outward Bound School, students develop leadership, independence, decision-making and responsibility. Through challenge and adventure, you discover you are capable of more than you thought possible.

You’ll develop teamwork while working together to find your way, set up camp, cook your own meals over a camp stove and learn Leave No Trace techniques to minimize your impact on the land. You will also participate in a service project to give back to the community or the land. And solo is a time for reflection and rest at an individual campsite.

Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. No experience is necessary. You’ll leave course with newfound strength that can help you through everyday situations as well as the unknown challenges to come.

Region: North Carolina

Activities: sea kayaking, service, solo

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

Dates	Days	Age	Focus	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
06/18/08 to 07/01/08	14	16-18	N/A		$2445.00	XKN841
07/08/08 to 07/21/08	14	16-18	N/A		$2445.00	XKN842
07/27/08 to 08/03/08	8	18+	Adults 18+, 23+	North Carolina Outer Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore	$1395.00	XKO821