An outdoor recreation professional who leads paddling tours and teaches kayaking skills in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
What kayak guides do
Kayak guides plan paddling itineraries, brief clients on safety and stroke technique, lead groups along scenic routes, and interpret wildlife and ecology along the way. They constantly read wind, current, and weather to keep tours moving safely.
Training path
Most guides hold the American Canoe Association instructor or coastal kayaker certification, plus a wilderness first aid or wilderness first responder credential. Sea-kayak guides on big water often add swift-water or surf-rescue training.
Work setting
Outfitters in coastal Maine, the San Juan Islands, Florida’s Everglades, Lake Powell, and Alaska’s Inside Passage employ kayak guides during the warm season, while river outfitters operate on rivers from the New River Gorge to the Grand Canyon.
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Kayak Guide starts with K and ends with E. Browse other professions along the same letter.
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