What we’re about
Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network (SMSKN) is an organization for ocean-going sea kayakers to meet paddling friends, learn about safe paddling, and plan trips together. We are an all-volunteer nonprofit and have been active since 1992. Our trips are mostly in the open ocean along the wild and beautiful coast of Maine. Except for some training sessions, all trips are on tidal waters.
We are an active group with trips, training sessions, and monthly membership meetings where we socialize (mostly on-line at this point) and hear interesting talks about many aspects of ocean paddling. Additional information, including recordings of past meeting presentations, are on our website, **smskn.net**, so check there for additional paddling resources. Sea kayaks with sealed bulkheads and static deck lines are required for our trips, as is the use of spray skirts, PFDs, and appropriate immersion protection and safety gear.
Most of our activity, including joining, event planning, and paying dues, is handled through our Meetup page, so please browse the upcoming and past events to learn more about us and what we do. If you're a long-boat ocean sea kayaker looking for paddling friends and skill-building opportunities within a fun and active year-round paddling community, you're in the right place. Come join us!
To join, please complete two steps:
- Join using your full name, please, on the Meetup profile. (The full name is for safety purposes.) Membership is $20 annually and helps pay for coaches, speakers, pool sessions, and other paddling resources.
- Please sign our online Participant Agreement, https://www.smskn.net/membership/participant-agreement/. Again, for safety purposes, this is required of all members.
Glen Gordon, President
Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network
Featured event
Wilderness First Aid with Todd Johnstone-Wright (Fee Required)
SMSKN is sponsoring a Wilderness First Aid certification course, which will be taught by Todd Johnstone-Wright. This is a two-day, 16 hour course, plus an evening for CPR. SMSKN has arranged to give the class in Portland, at a very steeply discounted cost for SMSKN members - $180 per person. You won’t find this course anywhere for this price! Payment is required at the time of signup. ** please read the SIGNUP INSTRUCTION BELOW. **
This class is suitable for all paddlers, whether you’ve never had first aid training before, or need to refresh a certification for the 27th time. This a great opportunity. Todd is an excellent instructor. As both an EMS professional and a professional educator, he is exceptionally qualified to help people at all levels learn how to treat illness and injuries in the back country. This course meets the requirements for ACA and Paddle UK leaders and instructors, Maine Guides, and most other certifications that require first aid/CPR training. Certification will be through SOLO and is recognized world-wide.
This class includes both classroom and hands-on training over one evening and two full days. Participation during the entire course is required for certification. Some exercises will be conducted outdoors, so dress appropriately to spend time outside (winter boots, jackets, hats, gloves are necessary - unless you want to be the subject of a hypothermia drill!)
SCHEDULE:
The class will meet Friday (February 27) evening from 6pm-8pm, Saturday (February 28) from 8am-5pm and Sunday (March 1) from 8am-5pm. The Class will meet at the MITA Office in Portland, Maine.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS TO SIGN UP:
To signing up you must email Ellen Gluckman at Lng@madriver.com Ellen will coordinate you payment by mailed check or Venmo. You will be added to the list once payment is received. Cancellations will be accepted and refunds issued if we can refill your seat. Contact Glen Gordon with any questions.
Upcoming events
3
Movie Night: Sleeping Giants
MITA office, 100 Kensington st., Portland, me, USJoin us for a reel good time as we watch "Sleeping Giants", an epic sea kayak film crafted by Online Sea Kayaking. The movie is a series of sea kayak highlights from a 10 day road trip around Iceland. James and Simon of Online Sea Kayaking used a rental car and stopped at various spots along the coast to showcase sea kayaking destinations in Iceland.
Date: Wednesday, January 28th
Time: 6:30 PM
Where: MITA Headquarters, 100 Kensington Ave, Portland, Maine
What to Bring:
- A comfy folding chair
- Water bottle or drink of choice
We will have some popcorn to share. The film runs about 40 minutes, just enough time to win you over with paddling inspiration.
More film details here. Mark your calendars and join us for movie night! Don't be too late, you won't want to miss any of this film.
Online Sea Kayaking is an amazing resource for sea kayak learning. Check it out at https://www.onlineseakayaking.com
If you sign up before the end of the year, you can get 20% off using discount code CLUB-SMSKN2024-520 attendees
SMSKN Pool Session: Bowdoin College, Brunswick
Watson Arena, Bowdoin College, Route 123, Brunswick, ME, USPlease join other SMSKN paddlers for a two-hour session in the Bowdoin College Greason pool (35 Watson Dr, Brunswick, ME 04011 - see below for more specifics). The session offers the chance to work on rolls, self and assisted recoveries and other activities designed to strengthen skills for our open-water paddles. Though specific instruction is not necessarily offered, you will always find others willing to help with skills and offer top tips.
We are following the same approach as last year. We will not limit the number of sign-ups–you may arrive at any time in the two-hour session, but be aware that you may have to wait to get into the pool. Only ten boats will be allowed in the pool at a time. As one boat leaves, another may enter. Feel free to share a boat with a friend. Please stay in the water as long as you wish, but be aware of others who are waiting to get in. While you’re not in the water–before or after your practice–enjoy the opportunity to talk with fellow SMSKN members in the stands. Please arrive with clean gear and unload boats at the back entrance of the pool and then park in the main lot. The best way to access this entrance is from Coffin Street extension (which dead-ends at the pool). Heading south from Brunswick on Route 123 (Harpswell Road), turn right on Longfellow Ave. Look for Coffin St. in a couple of blocks. Turn left on Coffin St. and go through the gate at the end and onto the small access road. The rear door of the pool is on your left.
For insurance purposes, all who attend this session must have signed two waiver documents prior to getting in the pool:
- If you have not done so already, sign the SMSKN participant agreement, which you can do online: Participant Agreement - Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network
- The American Canoe Association (ACA) waiver form. The appropriate form must be completed online prior to the pool session. SMSKN strongly encourages all its members to join the ACA (annual membership dues $40: Join the ACA)
- ACA members: ACA Member Waiver
- Non-ACA members ($10 per pool session): Non-Member Waiver
While these sessions are free to SMSKN members, donations in any amount are welcome to help defray the cost to the club (and thus allow us to offer more sessions). Donations may be made in cash or check (made out to SMSKN) and given to the coordinator at each session.
Please address any questions to Tom Allen.13 attendeesWilderness First Aid with Todd Johnstone-Wright (Fee Required)
Maine Island Trail Association, 100 Kensington Street, Portland, ME, USSMSKN is sponsoring a Wilderness First Aid certification course, which will be taught by Todd Johnstone-Wright. This is a two-day, 16 hour course, plus an evening for CPR. SMSKN has arranged to give the class in Portland, at a very steeply discounted cost for SMSKN members - $180 per person. You won’t find this course anywhere for this price! Payment is required at the time of signup. ** please read the SIGNUP INSTRUCTION BELOW. **
This class is suitable for all paddlers, whether you’ve never had first aid training before, or need to refresh a certification for the 27th time. This a great opportunity. Todd is an excellent instructor. As both an EMS professional and a professional educator, he is exceptionally qualified to help people at all levels learn how to treat illness and injuries in the back country. This course meets the requirements for ACA and Paddle UK leaders and instructors, Maine Guides, and most other certifications that require first aid/CPR training. Certification will be through SOLO and is recognized world-wide.
This class includes both classroom and hands-on training over one evening and two full days. Participation during the entire course is required for certification. Some exercises will be conducted outdoors, so dress appropriately to spend time outside (winter boots, jackets, hats, gloves are necessary - unless you want to be the subject of a hypothermia drill!)
SCHEDULE:
The class will meet Friday (February 27) evening from 6pm-8pm, Saturday (February 28) from 8am-5pm and Sunday (March 1) from 8am-5pm. The Class will meet at the MITA Office in Portland, Maine.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS TO SIGN UP:
To signing up you must email Ellen Gluckman at Lng@madriver.com Ellen will coordinate you payment by mailed check or Venmo. You will be added to the list once payment is received. Cancellations will be accepted and refunds issued if we can refill your seat. Contact Glen Gordon with any questions.14 attendees
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