Packraft Maine
Workshops and Group Trips
Group classes and trips designed to give you the skills and confidence to take your paddling to the next level.
Sign up on your own or with friends.
If you don’t see dates that work for you, we can plan a custom trip that covers the same content.
Winter Workshops- Bangor Area
Dates and location coming soon
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![2 people securing bicycles to their packrafts]()
Navigation- Land and Inland Waters
Improve your navigation skills. We will focus on the basic skills needed to find your way by map, compass, and digital device. Building on these basic way finding skills we will cover specific land and water based navigation skills to estimate distance, work out current location, and off trail travel. This class will give you the confidence to find your way in the woods.
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![Person looks at map while sitting in a red packraft]()
Route Planning- Paddling and Backpacking
An introduction to the skills needed to plan exciting trips that are appropriate to your groups skill level. We will discuss useful resources, estimating group pace, planning evacuation routes, common land use concerns, and other topics. This class will give you the confidence to plan backpacking and paddling trips on your own.
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![Dog reading a book siitng in a basket on a bike rack]()
Route Planning- Bikerafting and Bikepacking
An introduction to the skills needed to plan exciting trips that are appropriate to your groups skill level. We will discuss useful resources, estimating group pace, planning evacuation routes, common land use concerns, and other topics. This class will give you the confidence to plan bikepacking and bikerafting trips on your own.
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![Two people cooking dinner at a campsite picnic table]()
Trip Food- Planning and Cooking
Eat better in the woods! In this class we will cover menu planning, food packing, and basic camp cooking for overnight trips. We will share recipes for some tasty camp meals and home made snacks, you can prep before your next trip.
Spring Workshops- Bangor Area
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![2 people securing bicycles to their packrafts]()
Bikerafting Skills
A one day workshop combining bicycle riding and packraft paddling. This workshop is designed to give you the basic skills to begin bikerafting: loading boats on your bike, attaching your bike to the raft, route planning and safety considerations.
2027 Dates: 5/22
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![Person paddles over a small waterfall on a river in New England.]()
Whitewater Packrafting
An introduction to the skills needed to paddle whitewater in a packraft. This course is designed for beginner to intermediate whitewater paddlers. We will practice: catching eddies, peeling out, S and C turns, ferries, surfing, paddling hydraulics, and more.
2027 Dates: 5/23
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![Two people practice whitewater rescues on a river.]()
Whitewater Rescue
A two day Whitewater Rescue Workshop, designed to help personal boaters, river guides, and professional rescuers develop skills to respond to whitewater emergencies. .
2027 Dates: 4/24-25
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River Running (Paddling and Rescue)
A two day workshop with a focus on paddling skills and river rescue. This workshop offers you the chance to practice the skills needed to run whitewater on expeditions or to lead less experienced friends on day trips.
2027 Dates: 6/5-6
We will meet in the Bangor area. After introductions and reviewing the plan for the day, we will typically start with an introduction to biking and boat safety and discuss our land and water route for the day. Early on we will cover loading the boats onto your bike as well as attaching your bike on the boat. After this we will cover basic paddling techniques and biking with a load. Most of the day will be spent learning by doing and in this case that means bikerafting.
We will meet in the Bangor area. After introductions and reviewing the plan for the day we will typically start with an introduction to whitewater safety and a practice swim in whitewater. Early on we will cover Packraft specific skills such as boat reentry, minimal gear rescues, and others. After this we will cover basic paddling techniques and whitewater maneuvers. Most of the day will be spent learning by doing and in this case that means paddling rapids.
We will meet in the Bangor area. After introductions and reviewing the plan for the 2 day we will typically start with whitewater wading and swimming skills. We will spend time learning and practicing more advanced rescue skills. Much of our second day together will be spent practicing the skills you have learned in scenarios. In addition to the standard ACA curriculum we will focus on Packraft specific skills such as boat reentry, minimal gear rescues, and others.
We will meet in the Bangor area for the 2 day workshop. Rivers will be chosen based on water levels. After introductions and reviewing the plan for the day we will typically start with whitewater wading and swimming skills. We will spend time reviewing river dangers and learning basic rescue skills. Much of our day will be spent practicing managing rapids safely through a mix of paddling, discussions and scenarios. In addition to the standard ACA curriculum we will focus on Packraft specific skills such as boat reentry, minimal gear rescues, and