Upgrade to Flatwater Membership Package

Overview

Our Upgrade to Flatwater Membership Package is a for individuals that have gone on one of our trips and would like to do the rest. This neat bundle of four of the five fun trips listed below have been specifically designed for people with limited paddling experience (calm water, stable kayaks, friendly instruction). The Membership Package includes:

Up to two years* of member benefits, including (pick four of five trips):

  1. Discover The Potomac
  2. Night Sounds By Moonlight
  3. Blackwater Wildlife Refuge
  4. Fall Colors On The Potomac
  5. C&O Canal Tour
  6. Use of top-quality equipment for all trips (kayak, paddle and PFD)

Kayak, paddle, and pfd is provided on site for each trip, and our guides provide instruction on proper equipment fit, boat outfitting, safe launching and landing, and basic strokes. We'll even teach you the "right" way to paddle (by using your core muscles, instead of your arms and shoulders). Get an introduction to kayaking and see bald eagles, great blue herons, wild turkeys, owls, deer, turtles, beaver, rays, and more! All trips are run by a professional instructor. *You have up to two years to complete all five trips.

Individual Trip Descriptions (Choose 4)

Trip 1: C&O Canal Beginner Kayak Tour

New to kayaking and looking for a great first experience for your family? Our 2-Hour C&O Canal Beginner Kayak Tour is the perfect place to start! Friendly, safety-conscious guides, great instruction tailored for beginners, comfortable and stable kayaks, plus wonderful birds, turtles, history, and much more! Experience George Washington's vision, and explore a feature of the DC area that draws millions of visitors annually. Bring your binoculars, and relax!

2024 Dates (All dates currently have availability):

  • May* 11
  • June 1, 15
  • July 6, 20
  • August 3, 17
  • September 7, 21
  • October 5

2025 Dates

  • May* 10, 31
  • June 14, 28
  • July 5, 19
  • August 2, 16
  • September 6, 20
  • October 4

Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device

Location (link) : Pennyfield Lock, Potomac, MD

Time : 2:00 PM

Duration : 2 hours

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

Trip 2: Discover the Potomac

Enjoy a four-hour guided trip of a serene and scenic section of the Potomac River on our signature trip. Our professional instructors and guides will teach you all about flatwater kayaks, how to paddle with correct technique, and will help you discover the flora and fauna of our local treasure. You'll also learn the rich history of the C & O Canal. Catch a glimpse of heron, kingfisher, white-tailed deer, and painted turtles, and see and learn about the many other wild inhabitants of our river ecosystem.

2024 Dates (All dates currently have availability):

  • May* 11, 25
  • June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
  • July 6, 13, 20, 27
  • August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
  • September 7, 14, 21, 28
  • October 5, 12, 19, 26

2025 Dates

  • May* 10, 24, 31
  • June 7, 14, 21, 28
  • July 5, 12, 19, 26
  • August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
  • September 6, 13, 20, 27
  • October 4, 11, 18, 25

Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device

Location (link) : Pennyfield Lock, Potomac, MD

Time : 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM

Duration : 4 hours

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

Trip 3: Night Sounds By Moonlight

Enjoy a three-hour breathtaking trip on the beautiful and majestic Potomac River at Riley's Lock. After a quick paddling lesson, we'll listen intently for evening sounds such as owls, bull frogs, and many other creatures of the night. These trips are offered on evenings when the moon is full or nearly full. Experiencing a moonrise from a kayak will take your breath away!

2024 Dates (Choose one):

  • June 21 at 7:30 PM
  • July 21 at 7:30 PM
  • August 19 at 7:30 PM
  • September 17 at 6:00 PM
  • October* 17 at 5:00 PM

2025 Dates

  • June 11 at 7:30 PM
  • July 10 at 7:30 PM
  • August 9 at 7:30 PM
  • September 7 at 6:00 PM
  • October* 6 at 5:00 PM

Location (link) : Riley's Lock, Poolesvillle, MD

Duration : 3 hours

Additional equipment to bring : Headlamp with new batteries, long nylon pants, shoes with EXCELLENT TRACTION, bug spray, and a red light stick on a string to wear around your neck.

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

Trip 4: Blackwater Wildlife Refuge

Join us as we go on a three-hour kayak safari in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge! Located in Cambridge Maryland, the refuge supports over 60 species of birds-including a large Bald Eagle population and 13 species of waterfowl! Blackwater is only a two-hour drive from the metro area. All trips include a brief equipment orientation and paddling lesson. Come experience the beauty of this national treasure in a kayak! Bald eagle sightings are guaranteed! Bring your binoculars!

2024 Dates (Choose one):

  • September 28, 29
2025 Dates

  • September 27, 28
Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device

Location (link) : BNWR Visitor Center, Cambridge, MD

Time : 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM

Duration : 4 hours

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

Trip 5: Fall Colors On The Potomac

See the fall foliage change from the most unique perspective: on the water! Witness the splendor and pageantry of fall as the trees provide a vivid display of color and light reflected on the water's surface. All trips include a brief equipment orientation and paddling lesson. Bring a thermos of hot spiced cider and a waterproof camera on this four-hour trip!

2024 Dates (Choose one):

  • October 19, 20, 26, 27

2025 Dates

  • October 18, 19, 25, 26

Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device

Location (link) : Pennyfield Lock, C&O Canal National Historic Park, Potomac, Maryland

Time : 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM

Duration : 4 hours

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring