Kayak Tripping Level 2 - Expedition Leadership & Guiding Certification

Course Overview

Kayak Tripping Level 2 (KT2) is the advanced expedition component of the ORCKA Kayak Tripping Program; a hybrid course designed for paddlers who are ready to lead. The theory portion (KTL2T) builds advanced judgment and expedition systems, while the field portion puts those decisions to the test in complex, real-world conditions.

This is not a casual trip. Every participant must arrive prepared, organized, and accountable. We will check your receipts: logged trips, certifications, and leadership experience will all be verified before the course begins. KT2 is about stepping into responsibility: leading others, making judgment calls under pressure, and navigating open coastlines with participants.

What You’ll Learn

• Expedition-level route planning and environmental forecasting
• Group leadership and decision-making in variable weather and sea states
• Risk management systems and emergency response in remote environments
• Advanced chart work, tidal planning, and current analysis
• Expedition logistics: provisioning, efficiency, and field repairs
• Coaching and leadership presence on the water
• Professional guiding ethics, communication, and safety culture

Who This Course Is For

• Paddlers who have completed KT1 (KTL1T + KT1B) and are ready for the next step
• Aspiring guides seeking certification and insurance eligibility under ORCKA
• Experienced trippers ready to test their skills on true coastal expeditions
• Anyone looking to move from “participant” to “leader” in backcountry sea kayaking

Format

• Hybrid delivery: online theory (KTL2T) + 5–6 day expedition
• Includes weather, navigation, and leadership modules followed by on-water assessment
• Real expedition environments: exposed coasts, variable conditions, live leadership rotations

Prerequisites

• Completed KT1 (KTL1T + KT1B) — verified prior to registration
• ORCKA Coastal Kayaking Level 1 or Paddle Canada Level 2 (or equivalent skill)
• Minimum 500 km of logged sea kayaking experience (verified)
• 25+ nights of backcountry camping, including one near-wilderness trip of 5+ days
• Minimum age: 17 years old

Documentation will be requested. Experience logs, references, and certifications will be reviewed. There are no shortcuts, this is a professional-level standard that reflects real guiding responsibility.

Certification & Pathway to Guiding

Graduates of KT2 meet the leadership and judgment standards required for personal guiding insurance through ORCKA’s recognized pathway. This certification signals readiness to operate independently as a coastal leader or guide on overnight expeditions in real conditions.

Once certified, KT2 graduates can:

Enroll in the ORCKA Online Trip Leader Module, which entitles them to lead overnight kayak trips in conditions aligned with their certification level (KT1 or KT2).

• Apply for personal guiding insurance to lead non-commercial trips.
• Assist or co-lead instructional tours and expeditions.
  
• Work toward ORCKA Instructor status.

ORCKA’s updated modular structure provides a clear, progressive pathway for leadership at every stage:

• CK1 / CK2 / CK3 paddlers can take the Online Trip Leader Module to lead day trips in the conditions of their certification.

• KT1 and KT2 paddlers can take the same module to lead overnight trips in the conditions of their certification.

• KT3 stands apart — its leadership and guiding components are built in, representing the pinnacle of the Kayak Tripping pathway.

While demanding, the reward is tangible — professional credibility, real autonomy, and the trust to make decisions that matter in the Great Lakes’ most dynamic environments.