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100 Wild Islands, Nova Scotia
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100 Wild Islands, Nova Scotia

100 Wild Islands, Nova Scotia

$1,095.00 CAD

The 100 Wild Islands on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore is one of the most spectacular sea kayaking environments in Atlantic Canada: a labyrinth of exposed granite islands, sheltered passages, and open Atlantic crossings that reward every skill you've built. This course runs out of Norse Cove, right on the water, with the islands as your classroom from day one.

If you've been waiting for a reason to get to Nova Scotia, this is it. Same certification and curriculum quality as our Ontario locations, in an environment that's in a different league entirely.

PC L2 Paddle Canada Level 2 CK1 Coastal Kayaking Level 1 1:4 Instructor Ratio 0 Gear to Own
Our Training Partners: ORCKA, Coaching Association of Canada, CanBoat NautiSavoir, SafeSport Training, and Paddle Canada. Contact us at info@kayak-ontario.com

One course, two awards. This is a Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2, and that's the standard the course is built around. Because we deliver both the national and provincial streams, meeting it earns you an ORCKA Coastal Kayaking Level 1 as well. Two cards, one course, one price.

What You'll Learn

Full days of hands-on training with evening sessions on theory. Four skill domains across four days of Atlantic coastal paddling.

Navigation & Seamanship
Navigate coastal waters, handle tides and currents, and build the judgment that separates touring paddlers from people in kayaks.
  • →  Chart reading and route planning through island passages
  • →  Compass navigation and bearings
  • →  Tidal reading and Atlantic swell interpretation
  • →  Crossing strategies and group management
Knots, Tarps & Expedition Behaviour
The camp and group management skills needed for extended kayaking trips, the stuff that separates a day paddle from an expedition.
  • →  Key knots for rigging and rescue
  • →  Tarp setups for coastal camping
  • →  Expedition behaviour and group dynamics
  • →  Loading, launching, and landing in conditions
Risk Management & Weather
Assess risk, predict weather patterns, and make decisions that keep the group moving safely when conditions shift.
  • →  Marine weather forecasting and interpretation
  • →  Risk assessment frameworks for trip leaders
  • →  Decision-making under uncertainty
  • →  Emergency planning and contingencies
Boat Handling & Rescues
Advanced strokes, towing techniques, and on-water rescues, refined in real Atlantic coastal conditions.
  • →  Level 2 stroke refinement and power transfer
  • →  Towing setup and techniques
  • →  Assisted and self-rescue in conditions
  • →  Introduction to rolling

Sample Instructional Progression

Curriculum focus and locations may shift based on weather and conditions. That flexibility is part of the learning.

Day 1, Norse Cove Safety debrief, skill reviews, and Level 2 rescue exercises.
Day 2, Ship Harbour Navigation, seamanship, and weather forecasting.
Day 3, Owl's Head Coastal touring, Level 2 strokes, and towing introduction.
Day 4, Taylor's Head Rescue and towing scenarios, rolling, and course wrap-up.

Built for Lifelong Learning

Every Kayak Ontario course includes access to your personal online learning dashboard, a hybrid system offering clear preparation before the course, structured learning on the water, and continued support afterward. Track your progress, complete short modules on preparation, gear, safety, and theory, and return any time to review lessons.

Together, the dashboard and on-water instruction create a learning path that is unique in paddlesports: structured, supportive, and designed to keep you growing long after the course ends.

  • ★   Online learning dashboard access included with your course
  • ★   Full-colour Kayak Ontario Course Manual available as an add-on: take it to the shoreline, mark it up with notes, and keep as a lasting reference

What's Included

  • ✔   Course instruction and assessment across four full days of on-water training plus evening theory sessions
  • ✔   Expert coaching at 1:4 instructor ratio
  • ✔   On-site camping at Norse Cove for the duration of the course
  • ✔   Online learning dashboard access
  • ✔   Assessment and certification for both Paddle Canada Level 2 and ORCKA Coastal Kayaking Level 1

Available to Add

  • —   Kayak + drysuit rental: available to book with your course. Own your boat? Bring it.
  • —   Course manual: full-colour workbook with step-by-step breakdowns and diagrams
  • —   Safety gear: pump, whistle, and 15 metre floating rope available for purchase
  • —   Camping gear: some rental tents and sleeping bags available if needed

Good to Know

  • —   Norse Cove has graciously allowed us to camp on their land for the duration of the course. Evening theory sessions happen on-site.
  • —   Participants are responsible for meals. We'll visit local spots when time permits, plus camping meal prep is part of the experience.
  • —   Participants are responsible for parking permits at launch sites.
  • —   The course runs rain or shine, though we reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms.

Equipment Needed

Don't own a full kit? No problem. Rentals are available for the essentials.

  • ✔   Sea kayak: with two bulkheads
    Rentals available
  • ✔   Dry suit: for cold-water immersion training
    Rentals available
  • ✔   Safety gear: pump, whistle, 15 metre floating rope
    Available for purchase
  • ✔   Camping gear: tent, sleeping bag, essentials for 4 nights
    Some rentals available

Prerequisite: Paddle Canada or ORCKA Level 1 sea kayak certification, or equivalent experience. You should be comfortable with wet exits, basic re-entries, and a full day on the water. Not sure? Get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.

After your Level 2 → Continue building with the Skill Building Series clinics, explore a Coastal Explorer touring day, or start working toward Level 3. Your coaches already know your abilities, so the progression is seamless.

Questions

Do I need my own kayak or gear?
No. Kayak and drysuit rentals are available to book with your course. Safety gear is available for purchase. You don't need to own anything to take this course.
What certification do I get?
Both a Paddle Canada Level 2 and an ORCKA Coastal Kayaking Level 1. The course is built and assessed to the Level 2 standard, and the Coastal Kayaking Level 1 syllabus sits inside what we cover, so meeting the standard earns you both cards. If you have outstanding items to clear, we'll work with you on a plan to complete them.
Where does the course operate from?
The course is based out of Norse Cove on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore, right on the water with direct access to the 100 Wild Islands. Norse Cove has graciously allowed us to camp on their land for the duration of the course. Evening theory sessions happen on-site.
How is this different from the Ontario locations?
Same curriculum, same certification, same coaching quality, but the 100 Wild Islands are in a different league environmentally. Atlantic tides, exposed granite coastline, and open crossings that don't exist in Ontario. If you've done your Level 1 on Georgian Bay and want to see what the Atlantic adds to your paddling, this is the answer.
What if the weather is bad?
The course runs rain or shine, and paddling in varied conditions is part of the learning. We only reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms or conditions that pose a genuine safety risk.
I did my Level 1 a while ago. Am I ready?
If you're comfortable with wet exits, basic re-entries, and a full day on the water, you're ready. If it's been a while, our Skill Building Series half-day clinics are a great way to sharpen fundamentals before committing to the full Level 2. Not sure? Email us and we'll help you assess.
Can I take my Level 2 somewhere else instead?
If you mean at one of our other locations, yes, we run this course in multiple environments with different challenges. If you mean at another school, sure, you can, but then you won't get the 100 Wild Islands 🌊🏝️👈 your loss.
What's the online learning dashboard?
Our online learning system with structured modules covering preparation, gear, safety, navigation theory, and more. Access is included with your course, and it extends your learning before, during, and long after the on-water days.

Norse Cove Sea Kayak Centre is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people, whose traditional lands, known as Mi'kma'ki, span across Nova Scotia, including the Eastern Shore. We acknowledge and honour the enduring presence, knowledge, and stewardship of the Mi'kmaw Nation, past, present, and future, and recognize the ongoing responsibility to build respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous peoples.

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