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
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Misery Island, Salem Sound
Planning on paddling on Wednesday Sept 9. Leaving at 9:30 AM from Water Street in Beverly https://maps.app.goo.gl/YLZo8P2yeu31zYxF6 parking off the street. Will paddle along the coast of Beverly, MA to Misery Island, have lunch, hike the path and return or paddle to other islands in Salem Sound, depending on energy and weather. Join me if you wish - sign up here
Time: In the water ready to paddle by 10:00 AM. We should be back by 3 PM
Reminders regarding club posted trips:
1) Participants must be a NSPN club member and have signed the club wavier.
2) The usual kit needed, an ocean kayak with bulkheads and decklines, a PFD, spray skirt, hydration, sunscreen, food and hat, or helmet if you want to play in rocks. If you have a VHF radio, tow belt, extra paddle and kits to repair boats and bodies, bring them along, but not required.
- 3 comments
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Downeast Paddling Retreat, Bar Harbor, September 24-27, 2026
The Downeast retreat has run for 12 years now, and will be happening again this year, though it hasn't been posted until now since I've been recovering from spinal injuries and uncertain about organizing a gathering that I may not be able to participate in at other than an L2 level.
The event starts on Thursday afternoon with participants gathering at Rose Eden Cottages, our base of operations as in past years. From there we share dinner and plan next days day paddles with options to paddle here and there around MDI, depending on weather, conditions, and group preferences. Our most common paddling venues have been the Porcupine islands off of downtown Bar Harbor, Bartlett Sound on the west side, and the Cranberry islands on the south end of the island. We have often paddled right off of Hadley Point, near Rose Eden, when weather is rough everywhere else.
We generally gather at Rose Eden in the evening for pot luck, take out dining, socializing and discussing the next days activities.
This year will likely be a smaller event due to this late notice ,so participants are encouraged to step up and help organize paddles or activities each day. It will be well suited to those looking for a variety of activities from ,paddling to hiking or biking on MDI's carriage trails, or touring MDIs many gardens.
At this time ,cottages have been reserved at Rose Eden by four of last year's participants. Accommodations are on your own; Mount Desert Island has gotten more crowded and expensive over the years, , so its advised to find accommodations asap. A good option is the Hadley Point Campground, just across the road from Rose Eden. We have great collective knowledge of the area, so planning each days activities will go very well.
If you are interested, please post an RSVP here in the Calendar Posting (Downeast Paddling Retreat, Sept 24-27) or please contact me either by PM here on the message board (Peter B) or by email Pbrady335 at gmail dot com, if you have any questions.
Hope to see you in September, when the weather is fabulous on the main coast!
- 6 comments
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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].
- 6 comments
Upcoming Trips and Events
-
Misery Island, Salem Sound
Planning on paddling on Wednesday Sept 9. Leaving at 9:30 AM from Water Street in Beverly https://maps.app.goo.gl/YLZo8P2yeu31zYxF6 parking off the street. Will paddle along the coast of Beverly, MA to Misery Island, have lunch, hike the path and return or paddle to other islands in Salem Sound, depending on energy and weather. Join me if you wish - sign up here
Time: In the water ready to paddle by 10:00 AM. We should be back by 3 PM
Reminders regarding club posted trips:
1) Participants must be a NSPN club member and have signed the club wavier.
2) The usual kit needed, an ocean kayak with bulkheads and decklines, a PFD, spray skirt, hydration, sunscreen, food and hat, or helmet if you want to play in rocks. If you have a VHF radio, tow belt, extra paddle and kits to repair boats and bodies, bring them along, but not required.
- 3 comments
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Downeast Paddling Retreat, Bar Harbor, September 24-27, 2026
The Downeast retreat has run for 12 years now, and will be happening again this year, though it hasn't been posted until now since I've been recovering from spinal injuries and uncertain about organizing a gathering that I may not be able to participate in at other than an L2 level.
The event starts on Thursday afternoon with participants gathering at Rose Eden Cottages, our base of operations as in past years. From there we share dinner and plan next days day paddles with options to paddle here and there around MDI, depending on weather, conditions, and group preferences. Our most common paddling venues have been the Porcupine islands off of downtown Bar Harbor, Bartlett Sound on the west side, and the Cranberry islands on the south end of the island. We have often paddled right off of Hadley Point, near Rose Eden, when weather is rough everywhere else.
We generally gather at Rose Eden in the evening for pot luck, take out dining, socializing and discussing the next days activities.
This year will likely be a smaller event due to this late notice ,so participants are encouraged to step up and help organize paddles or activities each day. It will be well suited to those looking for a variety of activities from ,paddling to hiking or biking on MDI's carriage trails, or touring MDIs many gardens.
At this time ,cottages have been reserved at Rose Eden by four of last year's participants. Accommodations are on your own; Mount Desert Island has gotten more crowded and expensive over the years, , so its advised to find accommodations asap. A good option is the Hadley Point Campground, just across the road from Rose Eden. We have great collective knowledge of the area, so planning each days activities will go very well.
If you are interested, please post an RSVP here in the Calendar Posting (Downeast Paddling Retreat, Sept 24-27) or please contact me either by PM here on the message board (Peter B) or by email Pbrady335 at gmail dot com, if you have any questions.
Hope to see you in September, when the weather is fabulous on the main coast!
- 6 comments
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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].
- 6 comments
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ALL
DAY
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Sat, Jun 1, 2024 Sun, Jun 2, 2024
Kayaking Trip Fundamentals: An On-The-Water Workshop 6/1/24/& 6/2/24Kayaking Trip Fundamentals: An On-The-Water Workshop 6/1 & 6/2/24
Instructor: Todd Johnstone-Wright, Synaptic Sports LLC (see Todd’s Bio here: http://www.pinnipedkayak.com/aca-bcu-sea-kayak-instructors)
Assistant: Lorrie Allen, NSPN Member and BC Sea Leader
This workshop is for NSPN members and will take place in moderate open ocean conditions, at a to-be-determined North Shore location. The focus is on refining skills needed to actively participate in ocean kayaking, on both day and multi-day trips. Refine and active are the key words here, this is not an introductory workshop to teach basic skills from scratch. Yet it is not for highly advanced and credentialed paddlers either (Former 4 Star or BC Sea Leaders are not the target group of this event.) Most NSPN paddlers are somewhere in-between, so this likely means you ! Paddlers comfortable in Level 3 conditions are the target group, see NSPN’s Trip Levels here (https://www.nspn.org/trip-levels/). A reliable roll is not required to participate or a formal class in rescues, yet some basic practice & experience with rescues is expected.
The purpose of this workshop is to enhance one’s skills, confidence and overall capacity as a participant and contributing member on-the-water. This workshop falls under the umbrella of NSPN’s education mission, to support paddlers in their development journey. The deeper the capacity of each NSPN member, the safer and more enjoyable our trips will be, adding to the enduring strength of our club. The areas to be covered over the 2 days are:
1). Personal Paddling Skills On-The-Fly
Woven into the overall workshop is the practice and review of personal kayaking skills. The efficient use of these skills in moderate sea states are useful to enjoy a day on the water and sometimes are critical to the overall safety of individuals and the group.
2). Practical Navigation On-The-Water
Applying boating rules & etiquette, identifying and using navigational aides while underway, handheld and deck compass use, identifying bail out locations and more.
3). Incident Management
Learning what to do when things go south. Practice incident management scenarios to include various rescue skills as appropriate to the situation, and different methods of supporting, transporting and towing an impaired paddler or impaired boat.
4). Safety and the Environment
Things to consider:
Monitoring & observing the environment (what does that mean?)
Noticing water features and hazards (what do we do with this info?)
How to change the day’s plan when changes happen in the environment, or in the condition of a paddler or the pod.
Group awareness and what it means to be a responsible group member.
VHF radio scenarios if time allows.
5). Safety Continued: Transitioning to Facilitator Principals & Group Skills
Topics of interest:
What are the principles to facilitate paddlers on the water?
Herding Cats, you know… people management skills.
Facilitating judgement & decision making in a paddling group.
Recognizing & facilitating safety awareness & risk management.
Facilitating group through recognizing the general welfare of other group members.
Tops Tips and Handy Hints.
$$$ The Cost:
NSPN is offering this event at bargain pricing ! The fee for the entire 2 day workshop is $150 ! Typical cost for a training workshop like this is $320-$350. It gets even better… participants in this emerging paddlers development workshop will qualify for reimbursement under our Leadership Training Fund, ( https://www.nspn.org/leadership-training-fund/ ). Note: parking fees may apply depending on the venue.
The skinny is, If you subsequently post 3 club trips (don’t be shy to ask for help or to recruit a co-initiator) and write up the associated trip reports, you will be reimbursed the $150. Over time, the cost to enhance your skills will be $0 ! Now that’s a good deal !
The Sign Up Process :
Participants are expected to have basic boat handling skills, applying them in a variety of moderate conditions. The Board is asking folks to email us at [email protected] to express interest in attending the event. A board member will follow up to discuss the suitability of the course for you. (If you are interested, but have questions, please contact the BOD to discuss your concerns.) Once this step is completed, NSPN will collect your fee and your spot will be secured. The workshop will be open to 8-10 emerging paddlers and the deadline for contacting the board to express interest is 3/16/24. The board will make every effort to address the inquiries as soon as possible.
To see older events, click on Monthly view ( above)