Contact the trip initiator before joining a trip.
Only Paid Members can join trips, send messages, or post or comment here.
Before you join a trip, sign the Participant Agreement.
To learn how we conduct trips, read Paddling with NSPN
Upcoming Trips and Events
-
Camp at Umbagog Lake
7/06/26 update: This trip is now full, and has 3 people on the waitlist.
We have a remote campsite at the lake in July! If you haven't visited this area before, think of a lake ringed by mountains. During the day we can explore the waterways which enter and exit the lake, do some hiking, and visit a beach. Evening sunsets behind the mountains are amazing, as is the nightly loon chorus, sometimes accompanied by a parade. The site can hold a maximum of 5 tents. Message me (Jody Harris) if you would like more details and are interested in joining the trip.
.
- 9 comments
-
Precision Paddling: Master the Tight Spaces
Take your boat-handling skills to the next level by learning to navigate with confidence in technical environments. This outing focuses on precise maneuvering in confined areas such as rocky shorelines, narrow channels, docks, pilings, and other obstacles commonly encountered on the water.
Participants will practice a variety of essential control strokes, including forward and reverse sweeps, draws, pries, sculling draws, edging, and pivot turns, to position their boats accurately and efficiently. Emphasis is placed on smooth, deliberate movements, proper body mechanics, and reading the water to make confident decisions before entering challenging spaces.
Through progressive skill-building exercises and real-world scenarios, paddlers will develop:
Fine motor control for precise boat placement
Efficient maneuvering in confined and technical environments
Improved edging and balance for tighter turns
Greater awareness of currents, wind, and obstacles
Increased confidence navigating around docks, rocks, pilings, and shoreline features
Whether you're preparing for more advanced paddling adventures or simply want greater control in everyday situations, this outing will sharpen your technical skills and make you a more capable, efficient, and confident paddler.
The venue will be on the North Shore but TBD white awaiting weather forecast.
oo
Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/o3njcpcnT6SoB6Kj6
- 2 comments
-
Advanced Kayaking Skills with Todd Johnstone-Wright
This two-day coastal paddling clinic is designed for experienced paddlers who are comfortable in Paddle UK Moderate Water (wind to 16 kt, current to 2 kt, launch and land through 1 meter surf) or ACA Level 3 conditions and looking to take their skills to the next level.
Over two fun and focused days, we’ll dive into how to move, play, and travel efficiently and safely in dynamic coastal environments. You’ll build confidence in your technical paddling and rescue skills while exploring the judgment and decision-making that keep trips smooth when conditions get busy.
We’ll also look at leadership—how to make good calls, work as a team, and support both safety and fun on the water. The course follows a learner-centered approach, shaped around your goals and experience, ensuring that every paddler leaves more capable, confident, and connected to the sea.
Venue will be local to the North Shore, and will be chosen to take advantage of conditions.
Registration link to follow soon. Follow this event to receive updates.
Cost for this two-day workshop will be $185. Comparable training opportunities typically cost $170/day. This is in addition to our free (to members) peer-led skills sessions throughout the season, and will be a good complement to them.
This clinic is open to 10 participants. We need to determine demand. If you are interested in joining, respond HERE by March 21. We'll open registration later.
Questions? Ask [email protected].
- 2 comments
Upcoming Trips and Events
-
Camp at Umbagog Lake
7/06/26 update: This trip is now full, and has 3 people on the waitlist.
We have a remote campsite at the lake in July! If you haven't visited this area before, think of a lake ringed by mountains. During the day we can explore the waterways which enter and exit the lake, do some hiking, and visit a beach. Evening sunsets behind the mountains are amazing, as is the nightly loon chorus, sometimes accompanied by a parade. The site can hold a maximum of 5 tents. Message me (Jody Harris) if you would like more details and are interested in joining the trip.
.
- 9 comments
-
Precision Paddling: Master the Tight Spaces
Take your boat-handling skills to the next level by learning to navigate with confidence in technical environments. This outing focuses on precise maneuvering in confined areas such as rocky shorelines, narrow channels, docks, pilings, and other obstacles commonly encountered on the water.
Participants will practice a variety of essential control strokes, including forward and reverse sweeps, draws, pries, sculling draws, edging, and pivot turns, to position their boats accurately and efficiently. Emphasis is placed on smooth, deliberate movements, proper body mechanics, and reading the water to make confident decisions before entering challenging spaces.
Through progressive skill-building exercises and real-world scenarios, paddlers will develop:
Fine motor control for precise boat placement
Efficient maneuvering in confined and technical environments
Improved edging and balance for tighter turns
Greater awareness of currents, wind, and obstacles
Increased confidence navigating around docks, rocks, pilings, and shoreline features
Whether you're preparing for more advanced paddling adventures or simply want greater control in everyday situations, this outing will sharpen your technical skills and make you a more capable, efficient, and confident paddler.
The venue will be on the North Shore but TBD white awaiting weather forecast.
oo
Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/o3njcpcnT6SoB6Kj6
- 2 comments
-
Advanced Kayaking Skills with Todd Johnstone-Wright
This two-day coastal paddling clinic is designed for experienced paddlers who are comfortable in Paddle UK Moderate Water (wind to 16 kt, current to 2 kt, launch and land through 1 meter surf) or ACA Level 3 conditions and looking to take their skills to the next level.
Over two fun and focused days, we’ll dive into how to move, play, and travel efficiently and safely in dynamic coastal environments. You’ll build confidence in your technical paddling and rescue skills while exploring the judgment and decision-making that keep trips smooth when conditions get busy.
We’ll also look at leadership—how to make good calls, work as a team, and support both safety and fun on the water. The course follows a learner-centered approach, shaped around your goals and experience, ensuring that every paddler leaves more capable, confident, and connected to the sea.
Venue will be local to the North Shore, and will be chosen to take advantage of conditions.
Registration link to follow soon. Follow this event to receive updates.
Cost for this two-day workshop will be $185. Comparable training opportunities typically cost $170/day. This is in addition to our free (to members) peer-led skills sessions throughout the season, and will be a good complement to them.
This clinic is open to 10 participants. We need to determine demand. If you are interested in joining, respond HERE by March 21. We'll open registration later.
Questions? Ask [email protected].
- 2 comments
- With 'NSPN Calendar'
- Download iCalendar export
- Subscribe to iCalendar feed
ALL
DAY
-
Sat, Jul 16, 2016
CAM Continuing EducationAs a continuation of the spring Common Adventure Model classroom and on-water sessions, I am proposing three single-day on-water-classroom paddling trips over the summer. These will be a mix of CAM theory discussions combined with hands-on paddling, and will be designed as a refresher course for those who have already taken the CAM workshops in the past as well as a teaser/introduction for those who have not. The focus will be on effective group paddling and individual responsibilities within the group, as well as discussions about other CAM concepts and philosophies as the group sees fit.
An example of what a trip might look like:
On the beach discussing launch preparation, beach briefing, gathering on the water, and group formations On-water working on different group formations and communication, handling crossings, evaluating conditions Long lunch stop to review morning topics and develop afternoon agenda On-water review of changes in conditions, incident management, navigation Post-paddle review and Q&A back at the launch The trips will be operated as CAM trips with all participants expected to provide input, along with overall guidance and education from myself and/or other leaders. Each trip will be held in a different location to provide a diversity of environments and to increase access to our geographically diverse membership.
The proposed locations are:
Marblehead Boston Portsmouth The proposed dates are:
Sunday, June 12th Saturday, July 16th Saturday, August 27th All attendees must be current NSPN members, and all skill levels are encouraged to sign up. Considerations for weather and overall group interests will dictate the design of the trips, and may justify multiple groups if enough people sign up, however there is the possibility that the conditions may not accommodate all skill levels. In that event, all efforts will be made to provide an alternate date or venue for those paddlers.
Those that wish to participate should post to the thread on the Trips forum which dates they are available along with which location(s) they would prefer for each date. More than one location can be listed for each date, and we will decide which location for each date based upon the majority of preferences. Anyone wishing to help with the instructional portion of each trip should PM me so that we can work on logistics as the trips develop.
To see older events, click on Monthly view ( above)