Overview of MIKCo Materials & Outlines
Paddlers, Visitors, Friends,
These Maine Island Kayak Co written materials, articles and outlines are part of MIKCo’s Ocean School curriculum. We have developed these to support our ‘on-water’ instructional programs. These are offered as a handout for each of the named courses. We find that paddler’s retention and access to the skill sets covered in the on-water sessions is enhanced by their review of written class notes.
You are welcome to peruse and review as you see fit, but these are not designed to substitute for real world training. We meet many paddlers who have an idea about for example, self rescues, but lack a functional, effective real world performance of this critical skill. So please don’t be fooled by memorizing and regurgitating an outline, its not enough. Go practice, go train, go to sea in a small boat.
If any of you have suggestions, improvements, critique about our materials we would appreciate receiving them. Also please send us any reworked examples that you develop out of them. If you are already an instructor who wants to use this information go ahead, but give us some credit and let us know how you improve upon them! That’s why these materials are offered to you, to improve our understanding of the wonders of the sea. So we hope you’ll share back with us here at MIKCo.
Until we get a paddle wet,
Tom Bergh
Guiding
On Being a Wilderness Guide - By Tom Bergh
The Guide as Conductor
Emergencies
Wilderness Survival
On Outdoor Leadership
Fundamentals and Fast Track
Fundamentals 1: The Foundation
Fundamentals 2: Beginning Seamanship
Fundamentals 3: Stroke Development
Fundamentals 4: Navigation and Route Selection
Topic Outlines
Rules of the Nautical Road
Rescues and Safety
Search and Rescue
Charts and Map
Crossing Currents
Plotting a Course
Hypothermia and Cold Water Paddling
Wind, Waves and Landforms
Tides
Environmental Skills: a checklist
Personal Skills: a checklist
Resources
Weblinks, charts, paddle stories, and basic how-tos