Sea Kayaking has undergone a major boom in popularity and has the reputation of being a user friendly sport that is easy to get into. It is — but not without its share of problems, generally due to a lack of preparation and/or knowledge about the sport. The goal of our lessons and workshops is to provide the paddler with the skills and knowledge necessary to boat safely and enjoy the aquatic environment. Our guides come from a variety of backgrounds and are all avid paddlers with lots of outdoor experience. They are motivated, professional instructors who enjoy sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge with you.

All courses, tours and instruction are delivered in a safe and professional manner with ACA certified kayak instructors who also hold current First Aid and CPR certifications.

Invest in yourself, learn new skills, (or refine existing ones) and have fun on and in the water with Silver Moon Kayak Company. No previous experience is needed unless otherwise noted. Call for times and dates on all our classes.

All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to trip start.

Recreational Kayaking 101 - DRY
Quick-start your skills

Designed for beginners with recreational or touring kayaks, this course will cover basics such as boat nomenclature and equipment, proper cockpit entries and exits, and basic strokes.

1 1/2 hours
With own equipment, $45
Rent our equipment, $55

Recreational Kayaking 101 - WET
Think outside the boat!

Same as above but add capsize and re-entry techniques — after all, kayaking is a water sport, so let's have fun and GET WET! Knowing how to deal with unexpected capsizes is fundamental to a kayaker's safety. This is a very thorough, comprehensive and interactive course so plan on learning lots! We'll also spend a fair amount of time working on making your strokes and maneuvers in the kayak smooth, effortless and fluid. Grace and style on the H2O - that's our goal!
Wetsuits recommended. This course runs every Thursday afternoon from 1-4:30.
You must pre-register by calling us at 406.752.3794.

3 1/2 hours
With own equipment, $80
Rent our equipment, $95

Minimum 3 people, maximum 6.

Designed for sea kayakers who already have some basic skills but want to advance. If you're ready to spend some time in and on the water — REEAALLY spend some time in and on the water — than this is for you. Rescue techniques, towing, advanced paddling techniques, equipment, and preparedness are just some of the topics we'll cover. Wetsuits recommended.

4 hours
With own equipment, $95
Rent our equipment, $110

Minimum 2 people, maximum 4.
Flexible dates - call to schedule

This course is designed for intermediate paddlers, aspiring guides or those who intend to be responsible for others while on the water and will follow the American Canoe Association (ACA) guidelines and professional industry standards and is taught by ACA certified instructors. All instruction, course materials, camping & park entry fees, and Saturday night's dinner are included in the fee. Kayaking equipment can be rented for a nominal fee. A full to-bring list, FAQs and course itinerary will be provided upon registration.

Evening Classroom Session Friday, June 27, 2008, 7-9:30 p.m. at Big Arm State Park's group camp site, located on the west shore of Flathead Lake.
Lake Sessions, Sat. & Sun, June 28-29, all day - group campsite will be arranged for Friday and Saturday nights.
Course Fee: $269
Minimum 4, maximum 8
Registration deadline: June 6, 2008

Wetsuits highly recommended.

Note: Register early — this course will fill up quickly as there are no other comparable courses being offered in this area.

Prerequisite for this course is the Level II or equivalent experience and will be a perfect follow up to the Level II workshop. Topics in this one day intensive workshop will include rough water rescues, advanced rescue techniques (probably ones you’ve never tried!), Eskimo roll drills, balance drills, towing, leadership, precise strokes and maneuvers, navigation and more.

Date to be announced. Course fee: $95. Wetsuits highly recommended.Kayaking equipment can be rented for a nominal fee. A full to-bring list, FAQs and course itinerary will be provided upon registration.

It's important to have a positive experience your first time on moving water. To ensure that your early experiences are positive and to give you a solid base for future efforts we've included this course to our curriculum.

Two day format: First day on a small lake in whitewater kayaks learning boat control and wet exits; The second day on a mellow stretch of a local river learning to read the water, recognize hazards and build boat control skills. Call to schedule.
With own equipment, $99
Rent our equipment, $115

Note: This is an excellent skill building course for sea kayakers as it will increase your skills and confidence when you find yourself in rough water on the lake or ocean!

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Eskimo Roll Clinics
Putting the upside-down world of kayaking right-side up!

Lake Sessions: Course fee includes exceptional instructional video "The Kayak Roll," produced by Performance Video. After a brief review of the video, we'll work on hip snap drills, braces, body and paddle movements. Over the course of two evening sessions we'll break the components of the roll down into their specific parts and then progress into putting them back together, focusing on muscle memory and perfect technique. We'll primarily teach the sweep roll and have a high success rate with most students rolling independently by the end of the clinic. Wetsuits recommended.

two-hour evening sessions, Tuesday/Thursday format
July 15 & 17, 7-9 p.m.
July 29 & 31, 7-9 p.m.
With own equipment, $99, includes video
Rent our equipment, $115, includes video

Pool Sessions: We also offer individual pool sessions and private
lessons that average two hours per session. Call for details

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Yoga and Kayaking Three Day Workshop Sorry - FULL!!
a new twist on an ancient tradition
July 21, 22 & 23, 2008

Loon Song Lodge, Ashley Lake

Discover how the two activities of yoga and kayaking enhance and complement each other. Rejuvenate your body and increase endurance, while focusing on the coordination of mind, breath and body. Each morning we'll start off with some warm up poses, cover basic paddling instruction, take a leisurely paddle on beautiful AshleyLake, enjoy an hour long yoga session in nature’s grandeur, have a picnic lunch, then paddle back to the Lodge, exploring breath and body movements through paddling. We'll also focus on paddling skills, including strokes and maneuvers and capsize and recovery techniques, as well as balance in the boat. There will also be plenty of time for more yoga both on and off the water!

Whether you are looking to increase flexibility, develop a better paddling technique, or add a new dimension to your yoga practice, this workshop is a great way to meet new people and have FUN!

Loon Song Lodge is located 15 minutes west of Kalispell on beautiful, crystal-clear, warm, Ashley Lake. This wonderful home is 2800 square feet of luxury including spacious bedrooms, luxurious baths and a fabulous kitchen, not to mention the incredible view! All levels of yoga and paddling experience are welcome.
Course fee: $349 per person includes lodging, all equipment, dinners and breakfasts, certified yoga instruction and certified kayak instruction, plus a wonderful way to spend a couple of days!

Minimum of 6, maximum of 9

Jane Adams is a certified yoga instructor and began practicing yoga over 30 years ago. She has studied with many great teachers, primarily Iyengar and Vinyassa Flow styles and is also certified to teach gentle yoga to seniors. Her teaching emphasizes learning to do yoga safely and correctly, developing strength and flexibility evenlythroughout the body, and cultivating body awareness and inner calm. She brings a great diversity to this wonderful activity and no two classes are ever alike!

Susan Conrad is an ACA-certified kayak instructor and guide who has been paddling and teaching kayaking for over 18 years. She is a co-owner of Silver Moon Kayak Company and brings a uniformity, enthusiasm and high level of experience to all their programs.

Call Silver Moon at 406.752.3794 for more info or to sign up.

Three-Day B.I.B.S. More and more women are expressing an interest in kayaking and since kayaking involves technique and finesse much more than strength, women are well-suited for the sport. Our all-women's courses are taught exclusively by and for women. We enroll only women not to exclude men, but to offer women a supportive learning environment they might not otherwise experience with a mixed gender group. No experience necessary — just bring an open mind and your sense of adventure! Based out of Loon Song Lodge on beautiful Ashley Lake.

Loon Song Lodge is located 15 minutes west of Kalispell on beautiful, crystal-clear, warm, Ashley Lake. This wonderful home is 2800 square feet of luxury including spacious bedrooms, luxurious baths and a fabulous kitchen, not to mention the incredible view!

Minimum of 6, maximum of 10
Course fee, $349

Fee includes meals, lodging, the best in sea kayaks and related equipment, ACA-certified female instructors, course materials and a super good time!

Single Day B.I.B.S. Can't get away for an entire weekend but still want the special experience of learning in an all women's environment? This is for you! Call for dates.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Minimum 4, maximum 10
Course fee, $99, includes a knock-your-socks-off lunch, all equipment, guides and instruction.

*Click here for cool Babes in Boats photos!

When you paddle with a long, skinny boat, sooner or later you may have to THINK. The goal of this three day workshop is to create a community of thinking paddlers. Take advantage of an opportunity to invest in yourself, your safety, and the safety of your paddling peers!

Wayne Horodowich, after personally training over one thousand trip leaders and interviewing many more, has accumulated a list of common problems that have occurred when paddling either solo or with a group. Some of the problems could have been avoided and others needed skills not normally taught in your standard kayaking classes. This class is designed for the non-beginner paddler who is willing to challenge themselves and learn and refine new skills and concepts. The first two days of this comprehensive three day clinic will focus on strokes and maneuvers, leadership & decision making, perfecting technique, power paddling, safety issues, supportive strokes that work, practical capsize recovery techniques, on water repairs, group dynamics and management, towing & transfers, and more. The focus of the third day will be practical navigation for sea kayakers. This will include learning basic chart, compass and navigation concepts in a classroom setting on land and conclude with on water applications. Participants must be comfortable with basic kayaking strokes and capsize recovery. No previous navigation experience is necessary.

August 8, 9 & 10, 2008, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Course fee: $299. Wetsuits recommended.
Kayaking equipment can be rented for a nominal fee. A full to-bring list, FAQs and course itinerary will be provided upon registration.

"What I hear I forget. What I see I remember. What I do, I know."

Silver Moon Kayak Company is proud and excited to once again bring Wayne to the Flathead for this three day workshop. Spaces will be VERY limited so sign up EARLY!! Call Susan at 752-3794 for more info or to register.

Note: Register early — this course will fill up quickly as there are no other comparable courses being offered in this area.

All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to trip start.