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Education ~
Motivation Inspiration
Since 1974
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Sea kayak vacations and adventures in British Columbia Canada. Ocean touring west coast Vancouver Island, paddle Brooks Peninsula, Bunsby's, Kyuquot Sound, Rugged Point, Mission Group. Guided kayak tours and kayak instruction courses |
About West Coast Expeditions
Over the years; as more adventurers spend their precious vacation time sea kayaking; some of the once serene ocean side paradises of the west coast have become uncomfortably crowded. Kyuquot Sound and north to the Brooks Peninsula is still slightly off the beaten track, and so hasn’t suffered the ravages of being “discovered”.
Since 1974, West Coast Expeditions has introduced adventurous visitors to these still wild places on the remote west coast of northern Vancouver Island
The west coast we will introduce you to has beautiful surf-kissed white sand beaches, interspersed with an incredibly rugged coastline. There are many idyllic little island paradises, bathed in a pleasant maritime summer climate. Often the only sound you will hear is wind in the trees, surf on the beach and the cry of an eagle soaring high overhead.
Kayaking is one of the best ways to explore this spectacular coastal wilderness. At West Coast Expeditions we facilitate your experience of Kyuquot Sound’s rich and varied marine life, magnificent old growth forests, and fascinating geologic history.
Learn More > |
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West Coast Expeditions also has a close bond and commitment to the Checleset and Kyuquot environment and community. We cherish the friendship and trust we have built between our First Nations friends and the community of Kyuquot. We also work closely with conservation and government agencies to help foster understanding and stewardship of the local environment.
At West Coast Expeditions:
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Our tenure on Spring Island has enabled us to establish a very comfortable base camp on Spring Island at the mouth of Kyuquot Sound.
We have extensive kayak guiding expertise in the area and employ highly qualified, licensed, certified guides
We have kayak programs suitable for groups, individuals and young families.
We guide novice paddlers who have never paddled previously to experienced kayakers. |
The major focus of our novice to intermediate paddling
trips is the Mission Group of Islands at the mouth of
Kyuquot Sound.
We also specialize in guided expeditions for experienced
kayakers. One of our premiere trips is a nine-day
adventure up to and along the Brooks Peninsula to Clerke
Point via the Bunsby Islands and the Acous Peninsula.
Rugged Point, Thornton’s, Grassy Islands, Tatchu Point,
and beyound. |
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All our guided trips provide:
Opportunities to improve paddle and related skills Eco-sensitive nature studies of sea otter colonies, marine birds and other rarely seen wildlife
Visits to locations rich in natural, geological and First Nations history
Experiencing the thrill of true west coast paddling under the guidance of highly qualified certified guides and instructors.
Sea kayak trips designed to provide just the right mix of paddling, land exploration (hiking and walking), educational opportunities and relaxing.
At the end of the day, our guests feel a wonderful sensation of having experienced something special without having been too rushed to enjoy the moment. |
What we're about: West Coast Expeditions’ primary
goals are to
motivate,
educate, and inspire while facilitating an unforgettable
-- and relaxing -- adventure
We accomplish this though sharing our skills and knowledge,
hosting instructional weeks, encouraging paddlers of all
ages and experience levels to find new limits, providing the best camp facilities possible, giving our guests many opportunities for self discovery and to explore this beautiful area.
We aim to create a memorable and rewarding kayaking experience that will leave our guests with a heightened awareness of their own abilities and a deepened appreciation for the beauty and fragility of this unique coastal ecology.
We are also pleased to customize sea-kayaking vacations for guests with special interests. Contact us
to see if we can make it work for you!
West Coast Expeditions Team:
We are passionate about the coast and genuinely enjoy
people.
Your
guides are highly experienced professionals. Their commitment to sharing their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for kayaking, this area, its ecosystems and nature in general, are an important part of every program. We endeavor to make your adventure a comfortable, safe and memorable one.
All
of our kayaking guides are certified with the SKGABC (Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC). We operate strictly within the SKGABC guidelines
and operating standards for guide to guest ratios, safety
equipment, and guide qualifications.
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Kim Letson is West Coast Expeditions' Owner, Office manager, booking agent, grocery shopper, book keeper, and camp organizer. She is an avid kayaker, has assistant guided for WCE for the past two seasons, and now operates behind the scenes to ensure your pre trip planning runs smoothly. Kim is a retired military logistician and even though you will seldom meet her - she runs the proverbial tight ship! |
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Past Owner of West Coast Expeditions, Mike Simpson, a retired Military Search and Rescue Specialist, was a storehouse of BC coastal history and folk lore. He plied the west coast of Vancouver Island for the past 14 years in a multitude of planes and boats. Under sail, by motor vessel and as a kayaker, he experienced these waters and shores in all seasons and weather conditions. Having also solo circumnavigated Vancouver Island by kayak in May 2003, he was well acquainted with the kayaking opportunities the west coast has to offer. South Brooks to Kyuquot Sound was one of his favorite areas due to the rich variety of marine life, the stunning beauty, and the lack of crowds. Mike was a SKGABC (Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC) certified lead guide and instructed with guide training programs at Capilano College. He was a certified, enthusiastic and skilled instructor of "all things kayaking."
His legacy to the kayaking world is West Coast Expeditions, offering educational, inspirational, motivational experiences for all who come.
He is greatly missed. R.I.P Mike.
Certified Level 3 Guide with SKGABC, Licensed Instructor with CRCA |
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Dave Pinel has been kayaking,
boating, and instructing on the west coast since 1985. He
coordinates the North Island College Coastal Adventure Tourism
Certificate Program and has a passionate interest in
coastal ecology and culture. Having guided for West Coast Expeditions since 1995, Dave has in-depth knowledge of the Kyuquot area and community
-- it's his second home! His 1998 Master's thesis
and subsequent consulting work has been a part of
community and economic development in this remote area. Dave is a SKGABC (Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC)
Guide Trainer and Examiner. He also feels honored to be
a Lifetime Member of the Georgia Strait Alliance after
being a Director from 1998 to 2004, including a term as
President. West Coast Expeditions guests have
consistently commented about Dave's inspirational
and intuitive guiding style.
Certified Level 3 Guide with SKGABC
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Chris Nagle has been
paddling and guiding on the BC coast for almost 10
years. His passion for wild places and paddling is
infectious. Chris is a major contributor to
standards and certification in the sea kayaking sector
in his role as executive director of the Sea Kayak
Guides Alliance of BC. Chris is father to 2
beautiful girls.
Certified Level 3 Guide with SKGABC, Paddle Canada
Instructor |
Image coming soon! |
Scott Jackson, while new to West Coast Expeditions this season comes to us with an impressive depth of knowledge and skill.
Bio to follow.
Certified
Level 3 Guide with SKGABC |
Image coming soon! |
Paul Aitcheson, a retired search and rescue technician, is our new camp manager. His knowledge of all things nautical and his abilities to think outside the box make him a perfect asset to the team.
Further bio to follow.
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A valued member of the team, Greg Shea, is a SKGABC guide, instructor and examiner of phenomenal talent. As well as guiding our guests, testing and certifying of new guides, he also teaches kayaking for various colleges and schools. Greg’s range of guiding experience is vast, as he has guided in numerous locations around the BC coast as well as in Belize. Rarely seen without his camera, he is a professional photographer whose pictures appear in many publications (including this web site and our brochure) His hobbies include white water paddling, sailing,
and as of Dec 05 being a first time dad.
Certified Level 3 Guide with SKGABC, Licensed Instructor with CRCA |
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Caroline Fisher, has been guiding and working in outdoor education
since 1990. Outside of kayak guiding, she has also
been faculty with the Capilano College Outdoor Recreation
Diploma, and the North Island College Adventure Tourism
Programs. Caroline has a BA in Tourism Management, consults in community based tourism planning,
has worked for the Wilderness Tourism Association, and
has been a Director with the Georgia Strait Alliance. Certified as a
Level 3 Guide with the SKGABC (Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC), Caroline brings lively energy and a keen sense of fun and humour to our WCE family,
and her own family as "Mom" to son Morgan, born October
2007. Certified Level 3 Guide with SKGABC |
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A schoolteacher in the “off Season”, Joli Shea adds further depth to our outstanding cast of star performers. She has a vast range of experience having guided in many different places around Vancouver Island and coastal BC. Joli has also spent a number of years guiding sea kayak tours in Belize. She has fantastic interpretive skills, a detailed knowledge of the west coast environment, and enjoys passing on her love of all things natural to our guests. She is also an excellent cook and is known for dishing up some truly amazing kayak meals. Joli has recently given birth to a baby boy. WCE wouldn't be suprised to hear that baby Shea has learned to paddle before he learns how to walk!!
Certified Level 2 Guide with SKGABC |
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Toll free Canada and USA:
1-800-665-3040 |
West Coast Expeditions
310-2202 Lambert Dr.,
Courtenay, BC
Canada V9N 1Z8
westcoastexpeditions@shaw.ca
1-800-665-3040
(250) 338-2511 (Canada)
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