Nature Nerds of Austin

$859 per adult | $659 per child <12 y old | Max 6 participants

Outstanding skills developing opportunity in sea kayaking, camping, geology, wildlife, survival skills, history and much more!

Luxury gear is included, along with delicious meals and professional instruction. Don´t risk getting lost in this foreign landscape! Let us worry about all gear and all the logistics!

TOUR CAN BE RESCHEDULED AT A TIME CONVENIENT TO YOU AND YOUR PARTY OF 4 INCLUDING DURING WEEKDAYS.

PRIVATE EVENT: PREPAID REGISTRATION REQUIRED
***TO SIGN UP & CONFIRM LOGISTICS CALL 832-686-3231 ***

Do you want to wander off the beaten path and fully experience the remote sea kayaking backcountry? Do you want to run away from other people and the civilization? Then this guided sea kayak-camping expedition is just right for you!

GOAL: During this 3-days and 2-nights at sea kayaking adventure we will explore Matagorda Bay and visit the Historical Matagorda Lighthouse on Matagorda Island. We will comb uninhabited beaches along the Texas Gulf Coast.

This guided tour requires a moderate fitness level as we will paddle some combined 20-25 miles over 3 days. Active teenagers are welcome, preferably with parent supervision. Although, in the larger scheme of things, our camping is luxurious, this is still primitive camping with pit latrine/no plumbing. We teach and follow Leave No Trace Principles.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Duration: 3 days/2 nights.
Paddling Time: 10-15 hours round trip.
Paddling Distance: 20-25 miles round trip.

Day 1: paddle 5-6 hours, with breaks, or 10-12 miles, from Port O’Connor to Matagorda Island. We will navigate through a maze of bayous and marshes and into the open waters of the Matagorda Bay. We will spot lots of waterfowl and have high chances to seeing surfacing dolphins just yards away. Set camp, cook dinner, watch the stars, go to sleep.

Day 2: Watch the sun rise. Stretch/Morning Yoga. Breakfast and coffee. Enjoy the breeze. Take an optional 7–9-mile hike to comb beaches and visit the 1852 Historical Matagorda Lighthouse. We will take this day to cook delicious meals, fly kites, explore the island and to rest. We can also practice paddling skills, do a safety and rescue clinic, etc.

Day 3: Morning routine (sunrise yoga, coffee, breakfast), then take camp down, load the kayaks, and paddle back to the mainland to our vehicles.

A NOTE ON PHYSICAL FITNESS: This sea kayak tour is an active outdoor adventure trip in remote backcountry. We use sit-inside sea kayaks that have narrow and confining seats with a maximum 44-inch hip/250-pound person capacity. Each paddler must have the strength and flexibility to climb in and out of the kayak seat at ground level without assistance. Additionally, high winds, large waves and strong currents can sometimes make paddling difficult. Each participant must have the physical strength necessary to control their kayak in any difficult conditions. Each adult guardian on the family tour must also have the strength to paddle a double kayak by themselves with little assistance from their minor child in the front seat.

Minimum 4 participants for tour to go. Small group size (max 10).
Call early to sign up! Limited seats fill up quickly!!
Event cross posted on several platforms.

NOT SURE IF THIS ADVENTURE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Take a look at our pictures:

You do not need to sign up for this event. It is a placeholder only.

This is a personal challenge activity. If you have questions, need help, or want to organize with other members feel free to post comments below.

The International Meteor Organization has this to say...

The Eta Aquariids are a strong shower when viewed from the southern tropics. From the equator northward, they usually only produce medium rates of 10-30 per hour just before dawn. Activity is good for a week centered the night of maximum activity. These are swift meteors that produce a high percentage of persistent trains, but few fireballs.

Tuition: $199 per person | Half a Day In-Person Class | Class Size: minimum 4, maximum 6 students | Duration: 5 - 6 hours | Paddling Time: 3 - 4 hours | Paddling Distance: 2 – 3 miles. No previous paddling or swimming experience required. Course tuition includes ACA certified instructor and premium quality canoeing gear.

THIS EVENT CAN BE RE-SCHEDULED AT A DATE & LOCATION THAT'S CONVINIENT TO YOU.

We travel and are flexible. We provide all the canoe gear.
Give Constantin a call at 832-686-3231 to discuss.

THIS CLASS IS GREAT FOR & WE WELCOME: Girl Scouts. Boy Scouts. Church Groups. Birthday Gift or Other Anniversaries. Bachelor / Bachelorette Parties. Corporate Team Building Events.

Each canoe has two seats. It's best to bring a partner to paddle with and share the experience. Minimum 4 paddlers are necessary to run the course.

We also offer more advance canoe classes, including overnight camping and guided tours.

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Whether by yourself or with the whole family, canoeing is a wonderful way to explore and enjoy the water! Open the door to explore the awesome Texas's coastline with its many paddling environments including lakes, swamps, bays, bayous, creeks and rivers!

This course is designed as a short program emphasizing safety, enjoyment and skill acquisition for controlling and maneuvering a canoe on flatwater.

This class is for beginners who have never paddled a canoe before, or need a paddling refresher skills class because they last paddled a long time ago, fewer than 10 times, or have experience paddling only in the bow, or only in the stern, or have to grab the gunnels when leaning sideways, or find it challenging to keep the canoe gliding in a straight line.

In this class paddlers can master canoeing on the lake (flatwater). On dry land we will discuss about equipment needs and safety, then go paddling for about 2-3 hours. We will teach proper techniques for launching, landing, paddle strokes, and boat maneuvers.

CLASS OUTCOME:

This is a super fun hand-on class. By the end of this class, you will be Aa more a skillful, confident and safe paddler and have increased specific knowledge and appreciation for canoeing. We help plant the seeds for a lifelong hobby, environmental consciousness, and an active lifestyle.

CURRICULUM:

• Unseen danger and your concerns.
• Introduction to basic equipment.
• Launching and landing from a bank.
• Introduction to how body, boat and blade work together.
• Basic body mechanics and efficiency of stroke.
• Forward and reverse paddling.
• Sweep strokes.
• Draw strokes.
• Turning on the move.
• Communication with partner.

WHAT TO BRING & HOW TO DRESS:

• Dress only with synthetic clothing (no cotton shirts, no blue jeans)
• Work-out or gardening clothing comfortable to movement and made to dry up quickly work best.
• Wear long pants and long sleeves shirt to avoid sun burn and insects.
• Cycling or workout gloves can prevent blisters and sunburns.
• Large brim hat with under chin strap.
• Old snickers or water shoes; no crocks, flipflops, rain or hiking boots; your feet will get wet.
• Sunglasses with retention device (i.e. Croakiest, Chums, etc)
• Half gallon of water, a fruit or snack bar
• Sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellant, towel

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WHAT'S INCLUDED / WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Premium quality fiberglass Mohawk Blazer 16 ft. canoes
• Top of the line life jacket
• Single blade canoe paddles (wooden bent or straight shaft)
• 10-liter dry bags, auxiliary equipment (bilge pump, tow rope, throw rope, etc), group first aid kit.
• Convenient destination with access to restroom/changing room.
• Event still pictures at no additional cost.
• Flexibility (the class curriculum, paddling distance/time, etc., can be tailored to fit the student's needs and based on circumstances)

LIMITATIONS:

This class requires an easy to moderate fitness level. Our canoeing gear comes rated for weight/size, and we can accommodate students only up to 250 lbs. each.

NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR YOU? Take a look at our pictures: