North Carolina | Kayaking | Teen Leadership Expedition
Discover North Carolina’s waterways, as you explore the wilderness on a summer kayaking expedition!
Questions? Call NCOAE Support (910) 399-8090
At-a-Glance
At the National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), we know adventure. Immerse yourself in outdoor adventure, while learning the technical skills to travel & explore remote destinations in wild North Carolina!
- Ages:
- 13+
- Duration:
- 7 days
$1,485.00
See Available DatesCourse Information
Adventure First
During this 7-day North Carolina - Teen Leadership Expedition, you’ll find yourself exploring one of North Carolina's most iconic rivers.
Explore one of America’s oldest river – the French Broad. Travel along cold-mountain streams, discover hidden swimming holes, and hike to cascading waterfalls!
During this 7-day teen leadership expedition you’ll learn basic outdoor survival skills and partake in numerous adventure activities that promote teen leadership. Rated as one of our favorite North Carolina overnight trips, this summer camp adventure excursion features kayaking, hiking and camping through the beautiful North Carolina wilderness.
During your expedition, you will have the opportunity to sharpen your kayaking skills, as you travel along French Broad river, exploring one of North Carolina’s most iconic river trails. Learn wilderness camping skills, backcountry navigation, leadership skills, Leave No Trace ethics, and more as you discover North Carolina’s backcountry.
- Duration: 7 days
- Minimum Age: 13
- Tuition: $1,485.00
- Credit Hours: 0.5
Course Registration
Education Always
- Leave No Trace (LNT) Awareness certification
- Expedition planning and logistics
- River Kayaking skills
- Remote wilderness camp craft, including map & compass, stove use, and backcountry cooking.
- Itinerary
- FAQs
- Credits
- Outcomes
- Downloads
Itinerary Highlights
- NCOAE core curriculum
- LNT Awareness training
- Gain experience in expedition planning, wilderness risk management, environmental studies, backcountry navigation, outdoor leadership, and more!
Why Take This Course
- Develop Kayaking skills
- Explore the French Broad River & Blue Ridge Mountains
- Advance your knowledge of environmental science and outdoor leadership — while discovering in North Carolina’s wild, beautiful places
- Acquire the skills needed to travel in remote, pristine destinations around the world!
Where You’ll Be
- French Broad River
- Appalachian Mountain Range
- Carolina Beach, NC
The course is a multi-day wilderness, teen leadership expedition during which you’ll participate in kayaking and camping activities – while learning how to travel in the backcountry.
You’ll explore the French Broad River and surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains as you practice the basics of camp setup, map & compass use, kayaking, backcountry cooking, and other outdoor skills.
You and your group will travel more than 20 miles down cool mountain streams and hike to cascading waterfalls, while practicing kayaking and camping skills needed to explore rugged, remote areas around the world!
We’ll be living in tents and enjoying our evenings in different areas most nights, identifying the stars and sharing highlights of our learning.
This course is best suited to those who want to challenge themselves and learn new skills in the outdoors!
We offer this course in a variety of locations and during different periods throughout the summer to accommodate the destination and schedule that works best for you. You can also explore North Carolina or the Pacific Northwest on other multi-day teen leadership expeditions!
You do not need to be an “Ironman” to participate in this course. That said, you will be required to paddle your own boat, with your own gear and some group gear.
Each group has two or three instructors and eight to 12 students. We maintain an instructor-to-student ratio of no less than one instructor for every six students.
Students enrolled in this course are 13-14 years old.
NCOAE provides all necessary group gear and food, but you will want, or be required, to bring certain items for yourself. We encourage you to contact NCOAE with all of your gear questions as early as possible. Start planning now by viewing the pack list.
Your tuition with NCOAE covers all major costs related to your room, board, and lodging, except when specified in the itinerary. Students should bring a small amount of spending money for personal items; such as souvenirs, extra snacks, and gifts.
Since we will be carrying all of our food in our boats, we’ll be eating many of the items that begin in their dehydrated forms; water weight is not something we want to carry. Expect meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, and even fresh baked bread and pizza! Of course, you’ll be making them all from scratch — learning to cook backcountry gourmet on the trail.
Academic Credit
Learning achieved through NCOAE’s Teen Leadership Expedition may be eligible for high school credits through Blueprint Education, an accredited distance learning school for grades seven through 12 with a mission of inspiring students to make better choices and be champions of their own learning.
Academic Course Hours and Credits
The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) curriculum maintains and exceeds U.S. high school standards for seat-time. Students may be eligible for the following high school credits:
- Physical Education: Achieved through learning and showing proficiency in mountaineering, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, surfing, standup paddle boarding, alpine, and/or backpacking activities.
- Outdoor Leadership: Achieved through learning and showing proficiency in interpersonal development, small group dynamics, critical thinking, and decision making.
- Environmental Studies: Achieved through learning about and showing proficiency in water conservation, astronomy, environmental sustainability, Leave No Trace (LNT), cycle of rain clouds, and oceanography.
In our beautiful home state, you’ll acquire self and group assessment and management skills. This 7-day course will additionally expose you to a unique variety of environmental settings, as you paddle, camp, explore mountains and rivers, and encounter remote flora, fauna, and landscapes.
Where do you want to go (physically, mentally, socially, academic, etc.)?
This course will prepare you with the self-reliance and skill necessary to travel in remote locations. You will learn effectual communication skills, understand the importance of making positive personal choices for your life, and help you understand how to become an influential member of your community.
How will NCOAE help you get there?
The Teen Leadership Expedition is the affordable adventure option if you are seeking extraordinary outdoor skill development, including: wilderness risk management, kayaking, backcountry cooking and living, and expedition planning.
Best of all, you’ll advance your opportunities to travel in the wilderness, and to affect positive changes in the world.
Upcoming Dates / Reserve Your Spot
This 7-day North Carolina - Teen Leadership Expedition is only offered through NCOAE.
Available Dates
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