SEA KAYAKING EXPEDITION TRIP INFORMATION

GROUP A (Salt Spring Island/Wallace Island. September 28-Oct 2, 2025

GROUP B (Ucluelet) UPDATED PLANS: Early return due to anticipated high winds in Tofino/Ucluelet. The group will be returning to Victoria late afternoon on Tuesday, Sept 30. Local day trips on Oct 1 and 2.

Sept 30:

  • Early return due to anticipated high winds in Tofino/Ucluelet. The group will be returning to Victoria late afternoon on Tuesday, Sept 30.

  • Pack up camp. Depart Ucluelet ~10:30 AM

  • Return to DERBY at ~4:45-5:00

Oct 1:

  • 12:30 pm. Students arrive at Derby.

  • Afternoon activities with the guides (snacks, skills, movie, fun) at Derby

  • Prep for Oct 2 Sooke day trip outing

  • 3:15 pm. Return to Derby. Students return home/to boarding for the night

Oct 2:

  • 8:15 am. Students arrive at Derby

  • Depart for day trip to Sooke beaches/surf locations

  • Camp fires, possible surfing, SUP, food, snacks, fun in Sooke while checking out the surf beaches

  • 3:15 pm. Return to Derby. Students return home/to boarding for the night

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP: This 5-day overnight sea kayaking and camping trip is designed to introduce students to sea kayaking while paddling on the ocean. During this expedition the students and sea kayak guides will paddle in relatively protected waters while they develop and refine their paddling, navigation and rescue skills. As an overnight camping trip, students will also develop their camp skills such as cooking over camp stoves, setting up tarps and tents.

With respect and recognition for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation there are no OED day programs running on September 30 and the school is closed. For the overnight trips, which are away across that time, formal and dedicated programming is embedded within the trip on September 30 to recognize and emphasize the significance of the day. One of the goals of the OED program is to foster a connection to place and community, including learning about the Indigenous communities and territories the groups are visiting. 

TRIP PRE-REQUISITES:

  • Students must be able to swim 25 meters

  • A current tetanus immunization (generally good for 10 years).

GROUP EQUIPMENT: The guides will bring activity-specific equipment for the group. This will include kayaks, paddles, PFDs, paddling jackets/pants... The guides will also bring emergency response equipment (emergency communication device, first aid kit…).

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: We have a wide range of clothing and equipment available to students for the trips. This includes sleeping bags, foamies, rain coats, rain pants and clothing items such as fleece layers and puffball jackets. Yes, please try to borrow gear and clothing from friends and family first, but if you get stuck, we can help. Students will do a gear check with their guides prior to departing from Derby on Day 1. At that point the guides will outfit the students with any missing items. The following link will allow you to access the SEA KAYAKING EQUIPMENT LIST.

WHAT TO WEAR ON DAY 1 TO DERBY: Students should wear normal clothes when they come to meet the guides at Derby. Once the gear checks are complete, students will depart with guides by school bus for the launch site. Once they arrive at the launch, students will change into paddling gear for their trip and can leave their regular clothes in the gear van.

ELECTRONICS/PHONES: Students should not have electronics, cell phones or headphones/earbuds on the outtrip. Guides will collect all electronics/phones and return them at the end of the trip. Guides are not responsible for any damage to devices on the trip.

For photography, if a student would like to bring a dedicated camera (digital, film, or disposable), they may bring that with them during the activity.

MEALS/FOOD: With the exception of lunches noted in the itinerary below, all meals will be provided. Students will be cooking meals in camp under supervision of the guides.

TRANSPORTATION: Students will be traveling by school bus or in a school van driven by one of the guides.

DAILY ITINERARY: Note: This is a tentative schedule that may change due to weather, water conditions, etc.

Sept 16: Pre-trip meeting during Community time

SEA KAYAK EXPEDITIONS:
Group A (updated: now Salt Spring/Wallace Island)
Day 1:

  • Updated: 8:00 AM. Meet guides at DERBY (the OED building at 3410 Shelbourne)

  • Students in group A should bring a bag lunch with them. Boarding students, please make a lunch sandwich at breakfast in Sun Centre.

  • Students in group B should have a bank card/meal money for lunch en route to and from Ucluelet. Meal money will be provided for boarding students.

  • Gear distribution and equipment check by guides

  • Group A: Departs for Salt Spring Island
    Group B: Departs for Ucluelet (Barkley group)

Day 1-5

  • Camping and kayaking activities in the Gulf Islands (group A) and Barkley Sound (group B)

Day 5:

  • Pack up camp. Depart for Victoria.

  • Students in group B should have a bank card/meal money for a lunch stop on the way home. Meal money will be provided for boarding students.

  • Return to DERBY. Pick up at 4:30 PM

ACCOMMODATION: Students will be sleeping in 2-4 person tents or under tarps.

ACTIVITY and CAMPING LOCATION: Expedition locations may include the following: Tofino/Ucluelet (Clayoquot Sound, Barkley Sound), S. Gulf Islands (Salt Spring, Wallace Isl). Camping locations will vary depending on the activity location, and may be at wilderness campsites or front-country campsites.

STAFFING: SMUS hires professional outdoor guides to lead the trip or a company to provide the guiding services. In some cases, guiding services and kayaking equipment are provided by a company such as SKILS

INSTRUCTOR/STUDENT RATIOS: 2:10

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: This is a school-sponsored outing and school rules will apply. Participants are expected to follow the guidelines set by the instructional staff. A failure to meet these guidelines or a failure to follow school rules may result in the participant being removed from the activity at their own expense. 

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT: The Leader-in charge has immediate access to: An appropriate first aid kit, Cell phone or pre-established means to communicate with the school or emergency services, Emergency Call Plan, Student Medical Information

EMERGENCY MEDICINE: Students should not be self-administering ANY medication, even if it is part of their own regular routine, without discussing it first with the guides. Students with asthma, severe allergies and medical conditions should bring a clearly labelled set of the appropriate medication and discuss the treatment plan with the guides prior to the trip.