A group of people in kayaks gather together for a smiling group picture.

A middle-aged man in a red shirt and baseball cap stands on the shoreline with small rocky island behind him and a red kayak on the far right.

A bearded man works to pull himself up the rear of kayaking while doing a wet exit and self-rescue called "cowboy."

John Chase ACA Skills Weekend
Thursday, September 18 – Sunday, September 21, 2025 (3 nights)

We know this trip is an investment in both your skills and well-being and we will strive to deliver an amazing experience. We’ll have:

  • Multiple Paddling Excursions
  • Demonstrations & Lectures
  • Skill-Building Sessions
  • Navigation Exercises
  • Rock Garden Exploration (conditions permitting)
  • Campfires
  • Sunsets
  • Kayak Camping Q&A

Come play and learn kayaking skills over a full weekend in the Les Cheneaux Island this September with American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer, John Chase. John is the host of the Paddling the Blue podcast, author of Power to the Paddle: Exercises to Improve Your Canoe and Kayak Paddling, and a Team Paddler for P&H Sea Kayaks. 

Previous guests of our WOW! trips have been impressed by the high-quality food, gear, accommodations, activities, and guides (who are your assistants for this offering) and felt that the price was worth every penny and that the experience in itself was priceless. We hope you'll agree and join in forming new memories and honing skills that will pay dividends for years to come during this inaugural adventure.

Meals are catered by Chef Anne who graduated from the Les Cheneaux Culinary School; we promise this is more than a boxed sandwich because good food both feeds and fuels our souls (and if you have dietary restrictions, talk to us about accommodations)! We’ve had stuffed poblano peppers, all-day smoked rubbed pork shoulder, flank steak with fresh roasted corn on the cob, homemade gnocchi with a lemon-dill sauce, garlicky shrimp scampi, fresh sourdough bread, crème brûlée, fruit crisp, quiche, spring roll wraps, curried chicken salad, Thai peanut noodles, and the list goes on. Guests always ask when they are eating again because they are so excited to discover what’s being delivered next!

There are cabins and beds available at the cozy and comfortable home-base nestled right on McKay Bay just east of Cedarville. Participants are the only people at the lakeside property. Book quickly to secure your first-choice on-site lodging! Lodging includes sheets, towels, access to a washer & dryer, and for some guests — a private bath or having a whole cabin for your group. As an FYI, short-stay lodging is often difficult and expensive to find "up north" which is why we worked to provide this lodging option. If you have cottage to stay at locally, you will participate in meals but skip lodging costs. 

What’s Included:

  • 8 Chef-Curated Meals (3 dinners, 2 lunches, 2 breakfasts, and 1 brunch), some snacks, plus Coffee, Tea, and Hot Cocoa

  • ACA Instructor Trainer John Chase leading a weekend of curriculum

  • P&H Sea Kayaks (solos; most boats are only 1–2 years old) and Current Designs tandem sea kayaks

  • PFDs (aka life jackets), Wetsuits (if needed based on conditions), Skirts, and Werner Paddles (with a chance to try bent shaft, low & high angle, etc.)

  • 1 or 2 Personable and ACA-Trained Guides (you will always have one fully-dedicated local guide)

Notes:

  • Suitable for all levels of paddlers.
  • Participants wanting to utilize their own kayak, upon approval of the boat's suitability, will be given a $100 discount. 
  • Lodging is not included in the base price. 
  • Alcoholic and other soft drinks are BYO.
  • 6 participants per trip minimum.