Gulf Islands Sea Kayak Tour: 10 Days
Pre-Expedition (3 days)
Day One – Two:
-Get to know each other including an introduction to the expedition and program.
-Equipment fitting and discussion on preparing for the expedition, which includes packing, food, safety and overall plan.
-Lake water Kayaking which will include introduction to kayaking, techniques, safety, boat knowledge, equipment overview, handling skills, communication and overall safety precautions.
Day Three:
Overall expedition preparation which will include discussions on packing, organization of equipment, group food preparation, transportation, meeting times, individual responsibilities and overall idea of what to expect during expedition. Also, peoples will be divided into tenting/cooking groups.
Expedition (7 Days)
Day One:
-Bus to Vancouver area, board BC Ferry at Tsawassen Ferry Terminal to Swartz Bay Victoria. From here, bus will load another ferry to Fulford Harbor on Saltspring Island. (Overall trip; approx 8 hours)
-Take bus from Fulford to Ruckle Provincial park to set up initial camp.
-Discuss safety and responsibilities while on site
-Local Ecology Discussion and waling exploration
-Getting to know each other activities
Day Two:
-Marine environment study and safety discussion
-Boat Packing lesson and considerations
-Assigning of paddling partners in double boats
-Day Trip: Group paddling strategies (launch and return to same site)
Days Three-Six (Island to Island Padding):
-Morning boat packing
-Launch boats and paddle from departure island to destination island (time varies).
-Establish Camp
-Environmental studies (tides, marine life, topography, vegetation)
-Understanding of Fist Nations’ history and island lifestyles
-General camping activities
Day Six:
-Short final paddle back to Saltspring Island
-Visit local town of Ganges for exploration, shopping, sightseeing, etc.
-Return to Ruckle Provincial Park
Day Seven:
-Return to Vernon via Ferry and Bus.
-Debriefing of expedition
