Classes at Delmarva are taught by volunteer mentors and focused on improving your skill, safety, and enjoyment on the water. Classes offered often change dynamically, day-to-day, depending on the immediate interests of attendees. As such, the list below provides an overview of the types of skills our mentors are prepared to teach in a class setting, and you'll have the opportunity to sign up for classes on-site. 

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The best part? Participation in each offered class is included in your stay package!

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Stroke Basics – Learn the basic strokes using your Greenland paddle to control your kayak: Forward, Reverse, Sweep (for turning), Stopping and Draw strokes (for moving sideways). A good class to take if you are new to paddling with a skinny stick or switching from a euro paddle!

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Forward Stroke Clinic – Your instructor will break down the components of the forward stroke and guide you towards paddling with power and grace. He will show you how to hold the paddle, guide you through each part of the stroke, show you how and when to use power, help you conserve energy, make your stroke more efficient and avoid common mistakes.

Advanced Strokes – Learn to fine tune your paddling with these strokes: Low Brace Turn, High Brace Turn, Stern Rudder, Bow Rudder, Sideslip (hanging Draw). Draw on the Move, Sculling Draw. Basic knowledge of edging is a prerequisite for this class.

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Edging and Bracing – Learn and practice controlling the kayak using your lower body, torso, arms and head. Use this knowledge to increase the effectiveness of your turns, make fine adjustments to correct your course and prevent capsizes. In addition to making you a more efficient paddler, these skills are important building blocks for learning to roll your kayak.  

Sculling for Propulsion and Support – Gain a greater understanding of how your paddle can be used for moving the kayak in all directions and creating continuous support in tippy situations. Sculling (using the blade like a knife spreads peanut butter on bread), once incorporated into your stroke repertoire, will make you a more graceful and precise paddler. Sculling is also a critical building block for rolling.  

Self Rescues – Becoming a safe and self-sufficient paddler requires that you become able to rescue yourself after a capsize and “unintentional dismount.” Learn and practice cowboy/cowgirl scramble, paddle float, paddle float re-entry and roll.

Assisted Rescues and Towing – A responsible paddler knows how to help others who have capsized and who require assistance getting back into the kayak. Learn and practice the T rescue with variations to match the conditions. Assisting others also sometimes requires a useful knowledge of towing to both assist a rescue and return an injured or exhausted paddler to shore. Practice several variations of the kayak tow using long and short tows.

Rescues without Wet Exiting – Learn to rescue and be rescued without getting out of your kayak following a capsize. We will cover Bow and Stern Rescue, Paddle Bridge Rescue, Hand of Pavia, and Trapped Paddler (Hand of God) Rescue. These are potentially life-saving rescues that also serve as a useful means to save energy while learning to roll.

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Fundamentals of Rolling - Starting on land, we'll learn the basic building blocks of rolling... while still breathing air! This is a good primer before you get in your kayak.