Award-Winning Beginner Whitewater Kayaking 4-Lessons Package

Overview - Students Please Bookmark This Page For Future Reference

Our Whitewater Kayaking Lessons Package gives you access to our high-quality instruction, a great community of peers, and a lifetime of coaching to master whitewater kayaking at your own pace--with lots of time to practice between classes--and free kayak & gear rentals--all for less than the price of a kayak! Our progression is methodical and has evolved from thousands of hours of teaching beginners to appreciate how proper technique makes whitewater more fun. Check out the great benefits that you get when you sign up today:

Enjoy over two years of member benefits*, including:

  1. 16 hours of high-quality lessons 5:1 average ratio - flexible, learn at your own pace scheduling
  2. 68+ hours of coached practices*
  3. FREE use of new kayak and equipment during lessons ($380 value)
  4. FREE kayak and equipment rentals for practice ($1,360 value)
  5. Slow-motion expert video analysis of your strokes and roll
  6. FREE indefinite coached practices with your own gear (unlimited)

Each of our four courses is a building block for the next. Go as fast or as slow as your want over a two-year period, during which time you can practice at our coached practices. (Our software lets you customize your own schedule online.) Our friendly, non-intimidating approach has helped make us the top whitewater program of choice for beginners in the region. Watch the video and read all of the individual course descriptions below.

WW 101-104 Course and Practice Descriptions

WW 101: Fundamentals

Our four-hour Whitewater Fundamentals lesson is an innovative, fun-filled lesson on flat water. Our really patient, friendly instructors help you focus on proper equipment fit, appropriate boat selection, comfort underwater, and controlling and rolling the kayak. By participating in a quality orientation, and developing these skills in flatwater first, you'll gain confidence and learn faster. (Pick from multiple dates offered to attend one lesson.)

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, skirt and helmet.

Important : Students must be on time at the correction location and fully prepared to participate. *May dates dependent upon water temps.

Location (link) : Pennyfield Lock, Potomac, MD

Time : 9:00 AM

Duration : 4 hours

Class Ratio : 5:1

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

FREE: Coached Weekly Practice

Practice is an important part of whitewater kayaking and our Whitewater Membership Package includes free weekly practice. Part skills development, part social setting, our weekly practices give you more coaching with our best instructors and more time on the water. Perhaps best of all, they provide the opportunity for you to meet new people. Beginner Package students may attend one practice per week. And if you bring your own gear, we have special practices for you - please text us to attend! All students must attend WW 102 before practicing with us. We may change time or location due to parking limitations. (Pick from multiple dates offered to attend one practice per week using our gear, multiple with your own.)

2025 Dates

  • June 3, 4, 5, 10,11,12,17,18,19, 24, 25, 26
  • July 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 ,10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
  • August 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
  • September 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30
  • October 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device, skirt and helmet.

Important : Students must be on time at the correct location and fully prepared to participate.

Location (link) : Angler's Lot, Potomac, MD

Time : 6:00 PM (5:30 PM or earlier Sep-Oct)

Duration : 2 hours

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

WW 102: Strokes and Rolling

This intensive four-hour class is also on flat water and teaches you the fundamental strokes that turn and propel the kayak and gives you the tools you need to "bombproof" your roll in preparation for WW 103. (Pick from multiple dates offered to attend one lesson.)

2025 Dates

  • 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, skirt and helmet.

Important : Students must be on time at the correct location and fully prepared to participate.

Location (link) : Pennyfield Lock, Potomac, MD

Time : 2:00 PM

Duration : 4 hours

Class Ratio : 5:1

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

WW 103: Moving Water

Here is where the fun really begins! In this challenging four-hour course you'll learn how to carve turns, maneuver, and harness the power of the river beneath your kayak! We'll teach you techniques to paddle through current and stay upright. After four hours you will have gained tremendous confidence and an appreciation for your new skills. (Pick from multiple dates offered to attend one lesson.)

2025 Dates

  • May* 25
  • June 8, 22
  • July 6, 20
  • August 3, 17, 31
  • September 14, 28
  • October 5, 19
  • November* 9, 23

Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device, skirt and helmet.

Important : Students must be on time at the correct location and fully prepared to participate.

Location (link) : Angler's Lot, Potomac, MD

Time : 7:00 AM or 12:00 PM

Duration : 4 hours

Class Ratio : 5:1

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

WW 104: Trip Leading

Test your new whitewater skills and learn responsible group management, as you spend four hours running and playing in the class II-III Mather Gorge section of the Potomac. We'll climb up to the top of the gorge, view and name the major rapids, learn river communication skills and discuss strategy. You'll begin to understand how to read water and pick good lines through a rapid. Each wide-eyed student will take turns paddling from point to point under the watchful eye of an instructor shadowing your every move. It's an experience you will never forget. Be ready! (Pick from multiple dates offered to attend one lesson.)

2025 Dates

  • May* 25
  • June 8, 22
  • July 6, 20
  • August 3, 17, 31
  • September 14, 28
  • October 5, 19
  • November* 9, 23

Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device, skirt and helmet.

Important : Students must be on time at the correct location and fully prepared to participate.

Location (link) : Angler's Lot, Potomac, MD

Time : 7:00 AM or 12:00 PM

Duration : 4 hours

Class Ratio : 3:1

▶ Click here for directions and what to bring

 

* Completion of the WW 104 course marks your "graduation" from the program and the conclusion of equipment rental and use benefits - but you can still come to coached weeknight practices indefinitely with your own kayak and gear! May and November dates weather dependent.