Upcoming Events:

Suwannee River Expedition & Skills Course: October 18-24

Join us for a week on the iconic Suwannee River along with Astrid Jackson of Venture Outdoors. Learn kayak skills while camping and relaxing in nature. Paddle through cypress-lined waters, visit hidden springs, and enjoy comfortable riverside camping. This small-group expedition features expert-guided skill clinics, optional private instruction, and the chance to complete an ACA skills assessment, all while experiencing the natural beauty and cultural history of Old Florida. More info.

Surf Skills Workshop: November 6-10, St. Augustine, Florida

There are many opportunities at this course for intermediate to advancing sea kayakers: Learn or refine skills for rough water, surfing and managing current. Practice skills like self-rescue and assisted rescues in real conditions. Work toward an ACA Level 4 open water coastal kayak skills assessment. This workshop runs in conjunction with a partner instructor-trainer’s L4 instructor certification workshop. Kayakers pursuing or updating an ACA Level 4 instructor certification are welcome. Reduced rates available for paddlers who serve as “practice students” for our instructor candidates. Contact us directly for more information on this opportunity.

Advanced Sea Kayaking Workshop: November 3-5, Tybee Island, Georgia

We are looking for a limited number of advancing to advanced kayakers to participate as skills students at this 3-day workshop near Savannah, Georgia. This is a Level 5 instructor certification exam facilitated by Dale Williams. For a reduced coaching rate, participants will serve as “practice students” for instructor candidates. Participants will have opportunities to work on and play with their skills in surf and rough water, as well as working in current. Contact us directly for more information on this opportunity.

Stay tuned (or contact us) for more on these future events:

Paddlesports Leader Training

See my article below about ACA’s brand new program for certifying people to lead others on the water. We are looking for people or groups who would like to be among the first to get certified at a workshop this fall/winter. We can build a course around dates that work for you.

ACA Level 2 Instructor Certification Workshop or Instructor Update:

We will offer this in early March with dates to be announced soon. We are looking for instructor candidates as well as skills and practice students to support candidates.

Everglades + Ten Thousand Islands Skills Trips 2026

We will run at least two trips in one of Florida’s kayaking crown jewels this winter. Similar to our Suwannee River trip, this will be an ideal blend of relaxation in nature, camping on beautiful beaches, and developing kayak technical skills.

Trip 1: February 21-26
Trip 2: March dates to be announced, but likely March 8-14

News and Updates

Kayak ANT is now a TRAK Pilot

*Ant launches his TRAK 2.0 from the Cumberland Island National Park ramp area in St. Mary’s, Ga. (Photo by Anthony Sousa)*

Anthony has joined the team at TRAK Kayak to offer free demos and test paddles of the TRAK 2.0 portable kayak.

The TRAK 2.0 folding kayak is “the ultimate seaworthy kayak for novice and expert paddlers alike.” The TRAK 2.0 is an incredibly versatile skin-on-frame kayak that is made of the most modern materials, and which can be packed down inside of a luggage bag for easy storage or travel anywhere.

TRAK Pilots provide support by offering people the opportunity to “try before you buy,” as TRAK Kayak is a direct-to-consumer-only business. Interested paddlers or clubs and organizations can schedule a free demo. Another way to find out if a TRAK 2.0 is right for you is to join one of our trips or workshops and use one with Kayak Ant there. If you decide to buy a TRAK 2.0 after connecting with us, we can give you a discount code for your purchase.

*Ready for travel! Ant’s TRAK 2.0 bagged up and ready for the move from Jacksonville to St. Mary’s, Ga., for the start of the journey. (Photo by Anthony Sousa)*

To prove the TRAK 2.0’s concept for himself, Ant paddled his to the Florida Paddling Trail Association’s annual PaddleFest event in April. The trip covered more than 100 miles from the Florida-Georgia border on the St. Mary’s River down to Daytona. Ant did that by loading his kayak and kit on the bus to get to his put-in at Cumberland Island. After assembling the TRAK and storing all of his kit inside, including the rolling luggage bag, he headed south to Florida. Ant paddled the TRAK 2.0 in a variety of conditions along the way, from windy crossings of inlets to protected and beautiful interior waters. He even made one stop at the Matanzas Inlet for a full day of surfing, playing with the TRAK 2.0’s ability to transform from touring to play mode. After showcasing the TRAK 2.0 at PaddleFest, and having a great time meeting new friends and uniting with old ones, Ant packed up again and headed home to Tarpon Springs. Once again he proved the TRAK 2.0’s versatility by putting it in the bottom of the bus and travelling in comfort.

*Ant’s TRAK 2.0 resting on an oyster shoal south of Jacksonville, Fla. (Photo by Anthony Sousa)*

What’s the next adventure for Ant’s TRAK 2.0? Why by taking it on an airplane, of course! He’ll bring the TRAK 2.0 to Jersey in the UK Channel Islands in September for a week of rough water skills. Watch for the trip report!

ACA Announces New Leader Pathways Program

*Paddlesports Leader candidates develop a range of skills, from navigation to group and risk management. (Photo by Anthony Sousa)*

The American Canoe Association has embarked on one of the biggest changes it has made to paddlesports certification and credentialing programs in many years. The program is called “Leader Pathway” and it aims to create a parallel certification track to instructor certification, designed specifically for guides and paddlesports leaders.

According to ACA’s website, “The transformational new ACA Leader Certification Pathway equips paddlers with essential skills in leadership, trip planning, risk management, and rescue. Standing alongside the ACA’s well-established Instructor Certification pathway, this streamlined program is designed to empower new leaders and guides with a professional certification. With accessible entry points and a strong focus on decision-making, planning, and safety, the program empowers new leaders and guides—whether they’re leading day trips on a nearby lake, taking their fellow club members down the local class II run, or guiding multi-day expeditions in remote wilderness settings.”

Paddlesports Leader Certification Workshops (LCWs) coming soon with Kayak ANT

Anthony is in the candidacy pipeline now to be certified as a “Leader Trainer,” migrating his credentials as an instructor with the trip leader trainer endorsement to the new program. As such, we are looking for individual paddlers, clubs and organizations or businesses that want to gain this new certification and reinforce their skills with professional credentials.

Why get certified?

There are many reasons for leader certification. Here are a few we can think of:

Necessary for the insurance and liability protection of a club, organization or business.
Personal growth and leadership development to keep yourself and others safe on the water.
Add it to your existing instructor certification to build your professional resume.
Build trust among the people you are paddling with.
Gain access to ACA resources for leaders and guides, including insurance programs, professional listing, and Safety Education & Instruction Council (SEIC) support.

Contact us to learn more about the program or to schedule you or your club or organization for a Leader Certification Workshop.

Summer Fun!

How has your summer of kayaking been? Ant had a great time instructing for NOLS, the National Outdoor Leadership School, from their branch in Alaska. One course he supported was the Student Expedition Program or STEP, a 23-day long sea kayaking expedition for rising high school seniors from the Phoenix and Tuscon areas in Arizona. The program teaches leadership and self-discovery through the context of a challenging coastal kayak expedition. The goal of the program is helping the students succeed in college and beyond.

*NOLS Student Expedition Program students celebrate completion of their 23-day expedition in Prince William Sound, Alaska. (Photo by Anthony Sousa)*

Ant’s second NOLS course was the Alaska Outdoor Educator. This is a 30-day program aimed at preparing adult students for careers in outdoor experiential education or related outdoor industry fields. Ant supported the first two weeks of the course as an instructor on their sea kayak expedition phase.

*NOLS outdoor educator students plan their route in Prince William Sound. (Photo by Anthony Sousa)*

Finally, at the end of course work for NOLS, Ant had the opportunity to spend a couple of days paddling and training colleagues in more advanced venues. They worked among the beautiful rocks, spires and keyholes in Resurrection bay for kayak rock gardening and rock hopping. From there they went to the Bear Glacier and found one of the most unique surfing spots you might discover. Where the rapid outflow of glacial water met the incoming tide, a surf zone and tidal rip formed for great waves, albeit with some pretty chilly combat rolls. As if that wasn’t fascinating enough, the surf zone also featured lots of playful Harbor Seals, Horned Puffins, and chunks of ice to navigate around.

*The keyholes on south Fox Island, Resurrection Bay, Alaska. (Photo by Anthony Sousa)*

Thank you for your support!

Happy paddling,

Anthony & Renée

August 2025 News and Announcements