Shelburne Kayak Festival celebrates sixth year
Event happens Aug. 17-18. Registration deadline is Aug. 3
Now in its sixth year, the Shelburne Kayak Festival has become a major destination for people who love paddling.
The 2018 Shelburne Kayak Festival runs from Friday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 19 at The Islands Provincial Park. This year’s festival follows the template set in previous years, but this time with new board of directors.
In past years the Town of Shelburne and the Municipality of Shelburne organized the festival. This year, a board was established to oversee the festival, with the town and municipality providing advisory roles.
“We have a completely new set of volunteers as board members who are offering their time and assist- Kayakers from a previous Shelburne Kayak Festival. ance in order to make this another All instructors are certified and exsuccessful kayaking event,” says perienced in the skills they teach. Andrew Steffensen, who chairs the First aid responders will be on hand board of the newly formed Shelall three days. burne Kayak Festival Society. Friday and Sunday feature a
After Andrew and his wife Sheila half-day of events, while Saturday’s moved to Shelburne County in 2016, schedule runs all day long. Saturday they attended a beginner’s session starts off with a mandatory safety at the festival and fell in love with briefing in the morning, followed by kayaking. Former festival organizer a guided paddle across the harbour Sheila Bird invited the Steffensens to the Shelburne Farmers’ Market. and others to join the board, and Clinics are available all three days they signed on. for adults, ranging from beginners
The board members include Anto intermediate paddlers with more drew Steffensen, chair; Gail Daniels, kayaking experience and training. secretary; Gabriel Jones, vice chair; Some sessions — like Saturday’s Anne Slater, treasurer; Zea Jones, full-day guided paddles to Cape logistics; Matt DeLong, online regisNegro Island and McNutts Island tration platform, social media; Lisa and Sunday’s introduction to whiteLandry Locke, municipal support; water kayak surfing at Lockeport Sheila Steffensen, logistics; Robin Beach — are open to intermediate Walker, town support; Heather paddlers only.
Davis, website; Adam Zita, coaches, A free kayak session, for adults schedule, social media; and Elaine only, is once again being hosted by Howatt, registration logistics. the municipality. That session will be
As with previous years, clinics and open to the public on Saturday, from guided tours are part of the lineup. 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Registration for the full festival is not required, but participants need to reserve a spot in advance. Call the municipality’s recreation department at 902-8753544 ext. 230.
Social events include a meet-andgreet barbecue Friday night, a Saturday night social and a yoga session, followed by a treasure hunt and poker rally Sunday morning.
Naturally, these outdoor events are dependent on the weather, Steffensen says. Last year several Saturday events had to be cancelled due to bad weather. “Safety has to be our priority. So if the instructors feel that, for whatever reason, they can’t go out, then they’re not going to go out. We leave that to their discretion.”
The society’s cancellation policy is posted on its website.
This year’s sponsors include the Town of Shelburne, East Coast Outfitters, Nova Scotia Natural Resources, Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia, the Municipality of the District of Shelburne and Candlebox Kayaking.
Registration for the full festival costs $155. People can also register for individual clinics. To earn Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Basic Skills Training certification, participants will take all four specified clinics over the three-day festival.
The registration deadline is Aug. 3.