Personalized, Safe, and FUN Lessons for all Levels
Discover personalized whitewater lessons at Outdoor New England, meticulously crafted for every skill level and individual. Our expert instructors, enriched by extensive self-travel and training experiences, ensure a comprehensive learning environment. Explore the upper Winni's class I-II river section which is great for a beginner's learning experience and the challenge of the lower Winni's class III-IV section, both conveniently located within a 20-minute drive from downtown Franklin, NH. Benefit from walkable features for targeted practice in an adventure-packed setting. Elevate your whitewater skills with us for an unforgettable and skill-enhancing experience.
BEGINNER LESSONS
Kayak Rolling and Stroke Practice
Let's Roll!
Wednesday Nights are for kayak rolling and stroke skill practice! We will paddle in the safe water just upstream of the Mill City Whitewater Park. This takes place during the community surf night so you can take breaks and watch paddlers practicing freestyle moves!
Rolling a kayak is essential for anyone who wants to paddle whitewater. Whether you are a first timer, not quite comfortable or looking to get some tips to improve, our patient and knowledgeable instructors will help you navigate the challenges and learn to roll.
This course offering can be taken multiple times, and is tailored to those participating and to ensure improvement at each and every session. All equipment is provided, if you do not have your own.
For the first timers, we will review equipment and learn to Wet Exit and T-Rescue. Then begin breaking down the steps to roll a kayak, focusing on body and paddle positions and movements.
Don't miss out on the opportunity for personalized coaching and take your paddling to the next level of style and control on the river!
Every Wednesday 5-7pm
$50/person | 2 hours of Instruction
Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking
Beginner Kayak Instruction 2-Day Course
If you’re new to whitewater kayaking, this course is the perfect place to start! Over two days, we’ll introduce you to the basics of whitewater kayaking, helping you build a solid foundation to confidently paddle Class I and II rapids.
What to expect during this 2-Day Beginner Kayak Course?
Day 1:
We’ll start on land, introducing you to the essential gear, proper setup, and fitting of your kayak. Afterward, we’ll move to flat water, where you’ll practice exiting the kayak, swimming techniques, and basic strokes. These foundational skills are designed to build confidence before tackling moving water.
Day 2:
The second day takes place on the scenic Winnipesaukee River. Here, you’ll progress from slow-moving water to Class II rapids. You’ll practice strokes, bracing, and boat handling, including essential maneuvers like eddy turns, peel-outs, and ferrying. We’ll also cover river reading, self-rescue techniques, and safe paddling practices.
$375/person | 10 hours of Instruction
Kayaking Skills Refresher
Feeling a bit out of practice? Looking for the motivation to hit the water again? Our Whitewater Kayaking: Skills Refresher course is designed specifically for intermediate kayakers who want to brush up on their paddling skills and regain confidence on moving water. Whether you’re looking to refine your techniques or rediscover your rhythm on the river, this course is perfect for taking your skills to the next level.
Under the guidance of our expert instructors, you’ll revisit essential maneuvers and fine-tune your technique, focusing on both precision and control in dynamic river conditions. This course will reinforce your understanding of key whitewater kayaking skills while introducing new strokes to help you maintain stability and flow when things get a little tricky.
We’ll emphasize core concepts like leaning, edging, and maintaining an active paddle blade, while introducing new strokes to help you move fluidly and stay upright when things don’t go as planned.
$150/person | 3 hours of Instruction
INTERMEDIATE LESSONS
Intermediate Whitewater Kayaking
This two-day intermediate course builds on the foundational skills taught in our Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking class. Designed to advance your confidence and control on the water, this course will introduce you to the techniques and strategies needed to navigate rapids with purpose and precision.
Under the guidance of our experienced instructors, you’ll learn and refine essential paddling maneuvers such as:
- Peeling out from calm water into a current
- Catching eddies (calm spots behind rocks and river structures)
- Ferrying laterally across moving water
We’ll emphasize core concepts like leaning, edging, and maintaining an active paddle blade, while introducing new strokes to help you move fluidly and stay upright when things don’t go as planned.
As your skills progress, you’ll tackle swifter whitewater with confidence and exhilaration. Along the way, our instructors will provide expert coaching and guidance, setting up paddling drills to solidify your learning as you journey downriver to the take-out point.
$375/person | 10 Hours of Instruction
Class II River Running
This course offers an exciting opportunity to build on concepts from previous whitewater courses in a dynamic river-running environment. Participants will refine paddling techniques, such as strokes, ferrying, peel-outs, and eddy turns, while also gaining valuable knowledge about river trips, scouting rapids, and setting up safety measures through practical exercises. The focus is on improving proficiency, efficiency, and confidence on the water.
Perfect for paddlers transitioning from beginner to intermediate skill levels, this course acts as the ideal “bridge” to expand your abilities in whitewater kayaking.
Skills You’ll Learn
- Proper use and fitting of whitewater kayaking equipment
- Body positioning, basic strokes, edging, and bracing techniques
- Understanding river dynamics and hydrology
- Maneuvers: eddy turns, peel-outs, and ferrying across currents
- Strokes: forward, reverse, sweep, and draw strokes
- Scouting rapids, boating safety, and practical rolling techniques in flat and moving water
The course begins in slow-moving currents to establish confidence before advancing to stronger flows.
$160/person | 3 Hours of Instruction
Class III River Running
Step up your whitewater game in a stunning New Hampshire setting!
This workshop, led by Outdoor New England Paddling instructors, is designed for intermediate paddlers ready to tackle big waves and dynamic river features with confidence. The day features personalized coaching, skill-building exercises, and practical application of techniques such as boat angle, stroke choice, ferrying, and eddy turns to build confidence in navigating more challenging rapids.
This course will take place on the lower section of the Winnipesaukee River which offers an exhilarating stretch of continuous whitewater, ideal for honing Class III/III+ kayaking skills.
What to Expect:
- Morning Session: Flatwater fundamentals review and practice ferrying, eddy turns, and boat angles. This will be followed by kayaking iconic rapids such as Coliseum, Railroad, and Zippy’s, with opportunities to scout and strategize line selection.
- Lunch Break at Mill City Park
- Afternoon Run: Build on the morning's progress during a second river lap, with focused coaching on specific skills.
$160/person | 3 Hours of Instruction
Intro to Freestyle Kayaking
As one of our good friends says, "Surfing is fun!" There is nothing more true.
Surfing is a perfect game of equilibrium but it needs a beautiful wave or hole at the right flows. We are very lucky to have Franklin's Whitewater Park steps from our front door. The wave is always in, which makes any day a perfect day to start building skills.
This course is designed to give you the skills and knowledge to start surfing competently. You will learn body positioning, boat angle, tilt and edge control. How to attain your first surf while being under control and how to exit the wave when it is time to go. You will learn the technique to get your first spins, have more control of your front surf, learn to side surf, and back surf and (perhaps most importantly) have a blast doing it!
$100/person | 3 Hours of Instruction
Freestyle Kayaking - Intermediate Moves
How vertical will you go? The choice is yours.
This fast-paced course builds on the foundations of freestyle kayaking introduced in our beginner sessions. Whether you're aiming to refine your style or master the essential moves of freestyle, this course is designed to accelerate your learning curve and take your skills to the next level.
There’s an almost infinite number of freestyle combos, but it all starts with the basics. Our focus will be on mastering cartwheels, loops, and blunts—the cornerstone tricks that form the building blocks of more advanced maneuvers. With expert guidance, you’ll break these moves down step by step, learning practical techniques to execute them with confidence and precision.
Set against the backdrop of Franklin’s renowned whitewater park, this course offers the perfect training ground at all water levels.
$100/person | 3 Hours of Instruction
Whitewater Kayaking: Gripper to Ripper
Master the Rapids—From Newbie to Class II River Pro
Embark on the ultimate whitewater adventure with 28 hours of expert instruction, tailored to your schedule! Whether you're just starting out or ready to level up, this course is designed to help you become a confident and competent Class II whitewater kayaker in no time.
Why Choose Us?
- Flexible Scheduling: Learn at your pace—spread sessions throughout the year or immerse yourself in an intense week-long program.
- Exclusive Perks: Enjoy a 10% discount on the full package and participate in free outdoor roll sessions for hands-on practice!
- Unparalleled Expertise: Our experienced instructors prioritize safety and skill-building through personalized coaching.
What You'll Learn
Our structured progression ensures you'll build confidence and mastery step by step:
Intro to Whitewater Kayaking (2-days)
Basic paddling techniques, equipment safety, and river reading.
Intermediate Whitewater Kayaking (2-days)
Advanced paddling maneuvers, self-rescue techniques, and river navigation.
Class II River Running
Apply your skills to confidently navigate moving water and tackle Class II rapids.
What's Included?
- Professional Instruction: Small group sizes for personalized attention.
- Gear Provided: All kayaking equipment, including boats, paddles, helmets, and PFDs.
Ongoing Support: Join our free outdoor roll sessions anytime to refine your skills.
$820/person | 23 Hours of Instruction
CUSTOM LESSONS
Private Custom Lessons
Want to focus on a specific technique or skill in a 1:1 setting? Get personalized instruction and coaching from our expert guides. We will provide you with feedback and help you continually grow!
Reviews
FAQ
If you have your own gear, it is highly recommended but if you need gear for your lesson, we can definitely provide it. You will want to bring a change of clothes, water, depending on the weather you will want to bring appropriate paddle gear i.e.. winter dry suits, gloves ect.
Most lessons will meet at the shop, some will meet elsewhere which will be specified on the booking confirmation and in the description when you are booking. You will also be sent a reminder of the booking, what the lesson is, the date, time, and location with the google map address.
Nope! For our beginner lessons, roll/pool sessions and gripper to ripper program you don't need to know anything about whitewater. We will go over the basics and get you comfortable in a boat!