U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary paddle sports specialist Dick Hilmer demonstrates proper paddle use at a weekend kayak safety symposium at Jackknife Cove.

ACA-certified instructor Linda Fisher-Hilmer shows Pat McKinley of Brentwood, Tenn., how to use a bilge pump during Saturday?s Paddle Smart safety class.
                        Cape Cod Times, July 2007

Explore the best of Cape Cod by kayak in 2008 – spectacular Nauset Marsh and Pleasant Bay, rich in native culture, led by gracious local guides, permitted within the Cape Cod National Seashore – on an unforgettable half-day journey that immerses you in the past and present history of our coastal community.


2007 Testimonials:

“Thanks again, Dick for the adventure. It was the highlight of our week.”

“The other leader and scouts all expressed a new found knowledge of our coastline.”

“I just wanted to say to you that you do have a wonderful gift to educate and relate to young and old.”


Half day trips are excellent for those short on time or tentative about trying kayaking. We offer daily half day kayak tours both in the morning and the afternoon.

Since 1998, our professional guides have introduced thousands each season to kayaking in a safe, fun, and comfortable manner. Almost anyone can do kayaking. Each daily kayak tour is professionally designed for safety considerations by an ACA certified kayak guide, a licensed earth science teacher, and by guides who spend 280+ days on our waters in order to know just where each migratory flock of shorebird is resting, where herds of seals may be swimming, and where local winds are blowing.

For first timers we recommend double kayaks. Our doubles are stable, roomy and fun to paddle. Groups are limited to 6 kayaks per guide. Equipment is of excellent quality. We do not use open cockpit tandem kayaks, sit on tops, nor inflatable kayaks.

Daily Kayak Tours

Sample 2008 schedule:
OspreySeaKayak.com

May 1 Herring River
May 6 The River, Orleans
May 12 AM Nauset Marsh             PM Chatham 
May 13 Pleasant Bay
May 18 Salt Pond, CCNS
May 19 Strong Island
May 20 Oyster River
May 25 Boat Meadow
May 26 Nauset Marsh
May 27 Pleasant Bay
May 28 Strong Island
May 29 Meetinghouse
            Pond
May 30 Herring River

For a daily schedule of 2008,
June, July, August, Sept
dhilmer@explorecapecod.com

"In every out thrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth"
- Rachel Carson

Girl Scouts
Hostelling
Pole, Paddle and
We Don't Roll - IP
Shore to Sea - IP
Studio 2B - Charms
Makin' Waves
Parks Matter

Boy Scouts
Nickerson State Park
Geology-Merit Badge
Birding-Merit Badge
Water safety-Merit Badge

Recommended Waterways

1. Nauset Marsh
2. Pleasant Bay
3. Bass River
4. Herring River
5. Waquoit Bay

Travel Information www.insidecapecod.com

• Accomodations
• Things to Do
• Places to Eat
• Cape Cod National     Seashore
• Transportation
• Contact for more info

“You do not merely want to
be considered just the best
of the best. You want to be
considered the only ones
who do what you do”
- Jerry Garcia 

The Explore Cape Cod Educational Program
introduces students to the excitement of kayaking and the wonder of the natural world. Through investigations on salt marsh habitats, students paddle to barrier beach environments, where lesson plans have been developed in accordance with the National Standards of Science and Technology.

Customized Cape Cod
Lesson Plans

Available upon request.
Sample lesson plans

Biological Invaders -
Threats from Aquatic Invasive Species.

The Four Forces of Erosion - Wind, Wave, Water, Gravity.

Five Themes of Geography -
Bring Coastal Ecology into the Frameworks.

Coastal Seascape Profiling - Beach, Dune, Marsh habitat profiling.

Group sizes from 10 - 40

For Recreation, Team Building, Excitement of trying something new.

Cost

$39 per person sea-touring tandem includes all equipment, instruction and guide service.
$49 per person sea-touring solo kayak (chosen to match your body size and ability).

Youth organizations and groups of 8 or more are $30 and under per person, depending upon how large the group and how long the tour. Most youth paddles are three hours in length.

CancellationPolicy: Half day trips have a 48 hour cancellation policy. A credit card is required to reserve your spot.

Rain policy: We do not consider your vacation to be an extreme sporting event. We believe in "glide and relax" kayaking. We believe your kayaking adventure is about communing with nature and for us, passing along our extensive knowledge of the area. Sea kayaking can be a very enjoyable activity in the rain. Showery weather is commin to Cape Cod coastal environs and usually means that there will be less wind. Our policy is not to cancel for rain, however should there be driving rain and wind we will likely cancel. In addition you will be snugly cocooned by your life jacket, and we bring lots of extra clothing just in case.

For more information on how you can book an individual outing, a group or scout tour, a school environmental education program, or a team building activity:

contact Dick Hilmer directly at dhilmer@explorecapecod.com.
Because we spend so much time on the water, email correspondences work best.