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The Seattle Sea Kayak Club is the place where novices and experts swap stories, share kayaking info, and have fun doing it. The club has an informal social atmosphere which fosters opportunities to meet other paddlers. The club offers a regular monthly newsletter, monthly meetings, and trips.

We are not a large club. We don’t even have business meetings or elections. We seek to maintain a friendly, personal type of atmosphere where club members can get acquainted easily.

Meetings at REI

Meetings cover a variety of topics and frequently include slides, videos, guest speakers, and story exchanges. Meetings are typically at the REI Flagship store in Seattle on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 pm, except for the Sept. 2009 meeting which was on the 3rd Tuesday, Sept 22. There’s no meeting in December. June is an outdoor potluck, and July and August we’re all gone paddling. Please feel free to bring guests.

Ivan Molton takes us on a 10 day journey from Flamingo to Chokoloskee, in the Florida Everglades. His subtitle is "kayaking in the heat . . . with bugs . . . in the mud . . . around alligators . . . and around bull sharks." The group of 5 camped the entire way, sometimes on beaches, and sometimes on raised platforms called chickees that have been built where there are only mangroves or mud. As there is no fresh water along this coast, he will tell us about the water management systems they devised. We'll also hear about the flora, the fauna, the fish you can catch, the fish you can't catch, and the fish you shouldn't catch!

Membership

Dues for joining the Seattle Sea Kayak Club and becoming part of this enthusiastic and creative organization of kayakers are only $15 per year – single, couple, or family. You may join at the club meeting or by mailing in an application form.

If you join between October 1 and December 31, pay $18 for a 15-month membership (that is, through the end of the following year).

Newsletter

The newsletter contains a broad variety of information related to sea kayaking, from updates on gear and environmental issues to events around Puget Sound, and reports from club members on trips and kayaking experiences. The newsletter also prints requests for people seeking paddling partners, ads for used boats, etc. We welcome (ok, beg for) contributions from members.

Trips

The kayak club offers trips which range from short evening paddles to long weekends and week-long trips. The 2009 trip schedule has over 50 trips and events. The trips are open to SSKC members and their guests. The club also assists members in getting paddlers together who want to do longer expeditions.

We have an annual Trip Planning Party for all members, usually in late January. You need not be an expert kayaker to offer a trip, but you should select a trip that is comfortable for your skill level. You may come prepared with ideas for trips or get advice at the planning party from other, more experienced members. Trip schedules usually come out in late February. We mail them with the newsletter, or upon joining the club, and keep the schedule up to date on the website (for members only) with additions and corrections.