This is our original and most popular program. You do not have to have any kayaking experience or have taken any of our classes. You can take one of our kayaks out for a short 20-minute paddle inside the protected embayment in front of the boathouse. We give you a life jacket, a kayak, a paddle, and some tips on paddling. You will need to stay inside our protected embayment out of the river currents, where we can keep an eye on you, but otherwise you are on your own to enjoy the river and the sunshine.
It runs at all of our locations on weekends and holidays from the middle of May to the middle of October, and on many weekday evenings, weather permitting. Check the Calendar Specific dates and check the specfic pages for Pier 40, Pier 96 and 72nd Street for updated informtion.
Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt. We have changing rooms, and a hose to rinse off at our Pier 96 and Pier 40 locations. We have no running water and provide no changing rooms at 72nd Street.
Rules
You must know how to swim. Before you go out, you must sign a waiver (one per person - good for the whole season) and put on a life jacket. Once on the water, obey all instructions, stay in the designated area, and stay away from the sea walls and the piers. Return to dock after 20 minutes and ask if we need the boat.
Persons under 18 can only go kayaking if a legal guardian is present to sign their waiver. The guardian must remain at our location while the child is on the water. Persons under 16 must go out in a boat with a suitable adult. Only one child may be in a boat at a time.
Group Visits
To be fair to the general public, all large group visits should give us advanced notice. All groups with children must give us advanced notice and must come with waivers signed by each child's legal guardian, and with a sufficient number of adult supervisors to maintain both discipline and safety. All supervisors going on the water must know how to swim.
We can run special programs for children during hours when the public program is closed (e.g. weekdays). Contact us for more details.
