Most outdoor activities can be more fun with a few friends to share the experience, and kayaking is no exception. But in order to plan a kayaking trip for a group of people, you will need to apply a little more effort. Whenever you go kayaking, you will need to check the weather and the tides, whether you are going with a larger group or not. However, when you are planning for a group, you will also need to consider other factors, like how fast the group will move, whether there is a enough room at launch and landing sites, or whether there are enough kayaks to accommodate the group. You may also have to deal with organizing a carpool to wherever your launch site is.The first thing you should do when planning a group kayaking excursion is to choose a time and location. If you have a small group of people interested in going, you might be able to organize the event by sending a group email. One of the many benefits of organizing for a small group is that it is easier to coordinate everyone's schedule. Otherwise, if you want to send an open blanket invite to a larger group of people, you can use Evite or create a Facebook event. You may also consider setting a date at least a month in advance, so that people in your group are more likely to have that day free. Don't forget that you also have to coordinate with Mother Nature's schedule. While tides can be accurately predicted long in advance, the weather may not be so forgiving. Make sure to remind your group of the possibility that the plan will have to be scrapped in case the weather goes bad. It's always better to be conservative when it comes to the weather.Another issue to be aware of is the timing of your launch. For instance, if you are planning to launch at a particular point in the tidal cycle for the day, leave some extra time for your group to meet and get ready. The larger a group is, the more slowly it moves, and the tide will not wait for you. If you planned to ride the tidal currents, then missing your launch time can make your outing much less enjoyable. For this reason, it is sometimes best to pick a day for the excursion when the tidal exchange is very small, so that any delay will not cause problems with regard to the tides and currents.Be sure to also plan for the slower speed of a large group. Take note of the experience level of the paddlers in your group, since novice paddlers will likely be slower. If you are planning to reach a particular destination, consider whether you can actually get there and back in the time that you have. While an experienced solo paddler can travel between 2-3 mph, a group can be slowed down to 1 mph or even less.If any of your friends are inexperienced at paddling, you should give them an overview of what to bring, how to dress, and what to expect. Do this at least a few days before the outing, so they have enough time to go shopping for gear or food they want to bring. In addition, before everyone gets on the water, you should give an overview of your plan - where you are going, what you will see, and, most importantly, where the bathrooms are located. Don't be discouraged by all the details of planning a kayaking trip - it's a great way to spend some time outdoors with friends, and will all be worth it in the end!
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Planning a kayaking trip for a group of people can require some extra effort to account for the timing of weather and tides. However, if done correctly, a properly timed paddling trip can run very smoothly.
Larry Kang writes about outdoor recreation topics such as hiking, kayaking, and wildlife photography. Visit BasicKayaking101.com for more information about kayaks and kayak trips. Note: If you find this article useful, feel free to reprint it on your website, e-zine, or newsletter as long as the credits above remain intact and the hyperlinks sta
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