Women’s Kayak Retreat
Join a group of like-minded women for a weekend of paddling, yoga, and companionship. All skill levels welcome to paddle as a group, learn from each other, and from NOC’s Professional female instructors.
Overview
Join a group of like-minded women under the supportive instruction of NOC’s rock star female instructors for a weekend of paddling, yoga, and companionship. Our Women’s Kayak Retreat aims to bring together a group of women who share a passion for paddling whitewater. Participants from any skill level, from beginner to advanced, will paddle together, work on strokes, concepts and build confidence in a supportive environment with instructor coaching.
Enjoy spending time together over meals and choose from lodging options on NOC’s campus – convenient and central to all the action. A one-hour yoga session is also included to stretch out your limbs during a fun weekend of paddling!
What You’ll Learn
- Boat Design, Whitewater Gear & Proper Fit
- Strokes, concepts, and kayak maneuvers
- Scouting, water reading, and picking your line
- River Safety and communication
- Carving, edging, and redirecting momentum utilizing the water
- Wet exits and swimming your gear to shore
- Rolling Techniques
What to Expect
Participants will check in on Friday evening and have a meet and greet with NOC’s lead female instructors as well as other women paddlers. Saturday morning, ladies work on flatwater skills assessment and building Fundamentals. After a lakeside lunch, we will head to a stretch of river appropriate for the group. In the evening, we will swap stories and catch up over dinner. Sunday morning starts with a one-hour yoga session, followed by breakfast. For the remainder of the day, the class will focus on river running, practicing strokes, concepts, strategies for overcoming fear, self-doubt, and building confidence.
Base price does not include lodging. There are various private and shared lodging options for any budget available to choose from during booking.
Dates
Upcoming Dates
| Dates | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 6-8, 2025 | Bryson City, NC | |
| Sep 5-7, 2025 | Bryson City, NC |
Location
Before You Visit
NOC provides most meals and paddling equipment. Lodging selections are based on availability and priced accordingly in the entire course fee.
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and lunch Sunday are included in the course cost.
- In-Course Transportation
- All necessary specialty whitewater equipment
- Access to NOC’s extensive fleet of instruction boats for in-clinic use
- NOC’s highly trained, ACA-certified instruction
- One-hour yoga session
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 course participants at the Outfitter’s Store.
Any guests lodging at NOC’s Basecamp will need to bring sleeping bag/linens, pillow, towel and bath supplies.
Necessary Items (for All Courses)
- Shorts/swimwear
- Water shoes or old sneakers
- Synthetic T-shirts
- Sunscreen/lip balm
- Towel and change of clothes each day
- Reusable water bottle
- Yoga appropriate clothing (if participating)
- Clothing and personal items
- Rain gear
- Synthetic long underwear
- Light fleece hoodie/pullover
Optional Items
- Nose clips
- Sunglasses
- Eyeglass strap
- Hat or visor
- Earplugs (if sensitive to water)
Participants must be 18 or older.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and lunch Sunday are included in the course cost. Additional meals, snacks, and beverages can be purchased at NOC’s two onsite restaurants or the General Store. Exclusive discounts are available for course participants.
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
