Who We Are & What We Do:

Our members range from beginners to professionals, and own all types of paddling craft.  We paddle all types of bodies of water including lakes, rivers, protected bays, and open coast. Recreational kayaks and entry level skills are sufficient for many of the club's events, but some events necessitate specific skills and equipment. Our meetups offer lots of fun practice opportunities for "new to paddling" and intermediate flat water paddlers. Motivated kayakers will also find ample opportunities to ramp up their skills through our "Paddle Series", which when combined with some formal training, and lots of fun practice will help paddlers transition into being comfortable on the bay, on the ocean, and in exotic locations like the San Juan Islands in Washington.

Mission Statement:

Sacramento Sea Kayakers Paddling Club (SSKPC / SSK) promotes kayaking in a safe and responsible manner, while making new friendships with a common interest. We kayak year round and encourage paddlers to expand their skills through training with professional ACA & BCU instructors, and joining us on our paddles to practice and refine those skills.

Joining Sacramento Sea Kayakers: 

PENDING Member

When you click the "Join Us!" button to join our group, PLEASE enter your FIRST and LAST NAME. We are real people, who do real things, have real friendships, and use our real first and last names.  When you join the Sacramento Sea Kayakers Meetup Group you become a "PENDING" Member of our club.  Pending Members can check out our club for 30 days. To remain a member of the club and loose the "PENDING" title you must Click Here and complete our Application/Waiver form. If you do not use your real first and last name when you initially join our group, we will not be able to process your Application/Waiver form and update your Member status.

UNPAID Member

To become an "UNPAID" Member you must Click Here and complete our Application/Waiver form. UNPAID Members are welcome at most club paddles and activities. Some events are reserved for Paid Members only and will be listed as "Paid Members Only!"

PAID Member

Those individuals who pay membership dues of $15 are "PAID" Members, and are eligible for additional member benefits such as: exclusive trips and paddles, paid group camping, skills clinics, admission to club parties, and voting on club matters.  We do not have a family membership.

There are two steps to becoming a "PAID" Member, First Click Here and complete our Application/Waiver form, and Second click the "Pay Online" button in the left hand column.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO PAY WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD or CHECK

Club Structure:

Sacramento Sea Kayakers Paddling Club is organized collectively by its members through a steering committee (SC).  SC meetings are open to everyone, and any member who regularly attends is considered a member of the steering committee.

The club does not have board members or officers, but does have volunteers fill roles such as: Chairperson, Treasurer, MeetUp Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, and Educational Meeting Planner.  These roles are not director or officer positions, and the members who fill them have no more authority than any other member of the club.  These roles exist to ensure that specific day to day operations of the club are attended to.

Event Organizers / Trip Initiators Are Not Guides:

Although Meetup uses the term "Event Organizer", Sacramento Sea Kayakers prefers the term "Trip Initiator".  Sacramento Sea Kayakers like most other meetup groups does cooperative, non-guided, trips.  Trip initiators are no more responsible for the safety of others than anyone else in the group.  If you need or desire a guide, hire a professional through a commercial outfitter.

Each and every meetup participant is responsible for his/her own safety.  Use your own judgement.  Never blindly follow anyone into a situation you are unsure about. 

On trips be prepared to take care of yourself.  This does not mean that the other members of the group won't assist anyone who needs it, but such assistance should never be taken for granted, especially in difficult conditions. Be aware that, despite all good intentions, there is always a real possibility of being separated from the group.  It is up to each and every participant to know the trip agenda.  Approach each trip as if you were initiating and planning it yourself.  Trip initiators are members of the club just like everyone else.  Some may have more experience than you, while others may not.  They are not professionals; don't be over-reliant on them. 

Although trip initiators are not responsible for evaluating participants' kayaking abilities, they  have the right to eliminate anyone who they feel is not prepared with the adequate skills or equipment for a particular trip.  Trip initiators can organize (or not organize) the trip any way he or she wants.  Get to know your trip initiator(s) and feel free to talk to him/her beforehand to find out how the trip is to be structured.   

Becoming an Event Organizer / Trip Initiator

Any PAID MEMBER who follows SSK Trip Initiator Guidelines (which are contained within the below form) is eligible to be an Event Organizer / Trip Initiator.  If you would like to plan and post trips for our club, you are encouraged to complete the SSK Trip Initiator Guidelines form! We want as many Members as possible to initiate trips.