July 17 - 21, 2024

"This place will change your life"

  What to bring to the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium

Must Haves:

• Kayak – Appropriate for the environment    
• Paddle 
• Spray skirt 
• PFD/Life jacket 
• Whistle 
• Adaptability 
• Ability to pack a lunch
• Laminated emergency card – with information you want emergency services to have (ie. insurance, blood type, emergency contact, etc.)
• Pictured Rocks Parking Pass (Any vehicle that will be in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will need to purchase a park pass)
• Smile and open attitude to learning

Strongly Suggested:

• Good water shoes or wetsuit booties. Required if renting a drysuit.
• Gloves or pogies 
• Helmet – required for the surfing, playing around rocks or in caves but – it’s a good idea!
• Drysuit/wetsuit
• Nose plugs
• Water bottle
• Drybags for lunches, spare clothing
• Sunscreen
• Tow Belt – not strictly mandatory but you want one, or more specifically, your paddling friends really want you to have one.
• Synthetic layers underneath drysuit can be tailored by thickness for the right amount of warmth.  
• Hat or helmet visor
• Sunglasses with retaining strap
• Bug Spray 
• White light – required if you paddle at night (sunset paddle)

*Kokatat and NRS are providing  a limited number of demo drysuits to the event.  These are available on a first come first served basis and sizes are not guaranteed.  If you want to rent a drysuit for the event, we recommended contacting Kayak Academy in California