Advanced Teen Kayak Camps
Teen kayaking day camps are transformative experiences that offer youth paddlers growth and development opportunities under the guidance of professional NOC instructors.
Overview
Teen Kayak Camps at NOC are designed to prepare your teens with the essential skills and knowledge for advanced whitewater kayaking. We focus on teaching advanced river running techniques, critical decision-making, and fostering a deep sense of responsibility towards their paddling environment. Our mission is to equip them with the necessary tools to succeed in the next stage of their paddling journey as they grow independently in the world of whitewater kayaking.
What You’ll Learn
We will be introducing concepts and developing traits that are conducive to creating responsible, self-sufficient young paddlers. These include time management, operating effectively on the water as a team, river etiquette, river running strategies, and risk assessment/reward balance. The rivers we use for this program not only allow our instructors to focus on these concepts, but also allow the paddlers to experience the beauty and excitement that these rivers have to offer.
What to Expect
Advanced Teen Day Camp
Paddlers will meet daily at 8:30am (Tuesday through Saturday) at NOC’s Paddling School in Bryson City, NC. Tuesday & Wednesday we will focus on preparing for the Iconic Ocoee River, honing fundamentals to become proficient in class III water. We will utilize the two days on the Nantahala River to lay the foundation for success by placing emphasis on comfort during inversion at the 2013 World Championship Freestyle feature, dissecting Nantahala Falls through numerous challenges and working on down river play/freestyle moves.
Thursday through Saturday, teens will experience the thrill of the Ocoee. We will approach the advanced venue in a methodical manner, introducing easier lines on day one, developing familiarity and comfort with advanced river running strategies as a team. The following days will build in difficulty giving teens “challenge by choice” opportunities to grow as kayakers, exercising decision making through self-assessment, choosing their own level of adventure.
We will return each day to the Paddling School for camper pick-up around 4:30pm. Lunch, gear, and area transportation is included along with a Paddling School t-shirt and discounts at our Outfitter’s Store, restaurants, and lodging.
A Full itinerary for both camps can be found in the Summer Camp Parent Handbook
Dates
Advanced Teen Day Camp
| Dates | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 22-26, 2025 | Bryson City, NC |
Location
Before You Visit
Open to kayakers 13-17 years of age with Class III kayaking experience with a reliable combat roll.
Participants must meet age, weight, and chest size minimums and maximums specific to this trip. Please read our General Participant Eligibility & Recommendations for more information.
Advanced Teen Day Camp
- All necessary specialty whitewater equipment including access to NOC’s extensive fleet of instruction boats for in-clinic use
- Lunch & In-Course Transportation
- NOC’s highly trained, ACA certified instruction
- Paddling School t-shirt, discounts at NOC’s Outfitter’s Store, Restaurants and Lodging
NOC Provides the primary gear needed for each course including boats, paddles, PFD’s, helmets, spray skirts, semi-dry tops, wetsuit bottoms, and booties. Exclusive discounts are available for participants at NOC’s Outfitters Store.
See the Summer Camp Parent Handbook for the full packing list.
Advanced Teen Day Camp
Daily lunch is included in the course fee.
Meet Our Instructors
The NOC Paddling School stands out because of its exceptional instructors, who are experienced, skilled paddlers, and creative teachers. Their expertise and dedication are why Outside Magazine named us the “Best Place to Learn”
Click here to view our full list of Paddling School Instructors
