Women in Paddling: Women's Work Too

June-July 2000

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Marika Wilson

Photo Alan Wilson

Growing up on a small island, quite isolated from the wider world, I decided after graduating from high school that I would travel and work in a several different provinces. So I spent time in Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan doing community service with the federally funded Katimavik program. The experience opened my eyes to career prospects in Tourism and since returning to the island, I've been working as Editorial Assistant with WaveLength while preparing to enter post secondary studies in Tourism/Recreation at a local college.

As part of my research into Tourism, I have been conducting interviews with those in the sea kayaking industry. I have spoken to inspiring individuals-mostly women but some men too-who are working in eco-tourism as guides, instructors, retailers, manufacturers, managers and owners. Their career paths form a sort of road map for those who want a change of career, or like me, a start. Here's what I learned.

Guiding

To be a sea kayak guide, you need Wilderness First Aid training, a VHF radio operator's license, some time on the water, and at least one intensive guide course. Some who entered the industry early on were able to get in on sheer experience and even today, many companies give experience and miles logged on the water more weight than they give to instruction-so be sure to keep a record of your own trips.

A good way to get started is to attend a kayak festival as a volunteer or participant, meeting those in the industry, taking workshops, etc. A next step would be to apprentice with a guide you like. You could be a volunteer assistant on local trips, then progress to a paid Assistant Guide and build up your hours towards eventual certification as a Full Guide.

Employers are looking for knowledge of the marine environment, a cheerful attitude, teamwork, responsibility, leadership, trip prep skills, navigation, knowledge of tides and currents, maintenance and repair of kayak and camping equipment, knowledge of communication devices, proven ability in paddling (surf landings, rescues, etc.), low-impact camping (pack it out, fires, sensitive areas), site selection, risk management, cooking, dealing with wildlife encounters, strength, stamina and a sense of humour. How's that for a job description!

It helps to be a natural teacher, have good communication skills, and a knowledge of group dynamics, being able to draw people out. Assets include the ability to maintain a sense of humour and enthusiasm, especially when you're visiting the same site you've been to many times before. It helps to identify with your clients, watching their excitement in discovering the environment for the first time.

"The biggest responsibility is for the lives of your clients. That's not totally overwhelming if you have good judgment and experience with ocean weather conditions. The other responsibility is for the equipment, which might be a fleet of 10 kayaks and gear worth over $30,000!"-Sue Handel, guide

Patience, maturity, responsibility, the ability to work well under stress and handle problems calmly, with authority, and good judgment, are important attributes for a guide. Not to mention a good memory for details such as the number of vegetarians on a particular trip!

Guides plan and carry out all aspects of a trip, and in doing so are required to wear several "hats"-leader, educator, problem-solver, and entertainer. They greet and transport guests, plan the daily itinerary, describe and interpret the natural environment and local culture, answer a million questions, advise guests on safety issues and procedures, deal with emergencies when they arise, and give all sorts of personal assistance.

A large percentage of guides are in their 20s. Some in the Pacific Northwest paddle the forested coast of BC or Washington State in the summer and then travel to Baja, Belize, or beyond in the winter-or work as ski guides or instructors. This lifestyle is great for people with no attachments (i.e. mortgages, relationships, pets, etc.). Some are in the enviable position of having a full-time income (i.e. teaching) that provides financial security with periods of time off in the summer.

Kayak guiding is a good summer job, and many guide positions are filled by college/university students. You can expect to be mostly paid by the hour, or possibly on a per-tour basis. Starting wages are approximately $75 per day, improving to $110 for second year, $125-135 plus for experienced guides. Pay is higher for fully catered trips. Average pay for a full time, year round guide are $25,000/year.

Money aside, this is a wonderful job because it gets you into the outdoors, keeps you in good shape, exposes you to beautiful areas of the world. It also gives you a chance to help your clients push their comfort zones and get past their fears. At the same time, it's a challenge physically and mentally. It can be exhaust ing to spend long hours on the go, in all sorts of weather conditions, trying to please all clients and ensure their safety.

There is the danger of falling victim to the common ailment of burnout due to back-to-back trips. This is a 24 hr/day job, unless you're just leading day-trips. And of course you're at work while the others are on holiday! Another downside is that your work schedule is highly uncertain as trips sometimes get canceled due to weather or lack of enrollment.

Instructing

Guiding and instructing really go hand in hand so it's not surprising there's a large overlap between the roles. There is also a lot of room for volunteer instructing to youth, special needs or club groups. Professional and volunteer instructors both need the same credentials as guides, plus instructors' courses. Prospects include commercial kayak instructor positions, work for community centers, contracts for agencies and private operators, school groups, summer camps, parks and rec. programs, events, clubs, etc.

"My first class was a Level 1 (tandem) course for adults and I was so nervous! But I soon relaxed when one of the participants entered the canoe the wrong way, facing the stern. When he said he remembered there being more leg room in canoes when he was a kid, I figured that no matter how new I was to teaching, I still knew more than my students, so I'd be OK!"-Janet Boxwell, instructor

"The hardest thing, for me, is to step back and watch their struggle. They want to see if they can do it themselves", says Mercia Sixta who organizes the annual Coast Kayak Symposium on Thetis Island. The role is one of safety, to step in if something goes wrong, she says. You're there to facilitate their learning process, not to control it.

Management

If you have the rare talent of an organized mind, plus the experience of being both a sea kayak tour client and guide, you may want to try working as a tour manager. This is an ideal job for someone with attachments to home, or a guide looking to diversify or earn year-round income. And you may still have the opportunity to do some guiding when you get tired of the office.

Sheila Malcolmson, who manages the office for Gabriola Cycle & Kayak says, "I've got the best job on the island. After all, kayaking isn't such a treat when you do it for a living. So don't feel sorry for me when I'm 'stuck' in the office." Sheila reports the qualities she likes include a flexible schedule, a lot of variety, talking to many happy people (vacationers are at their best).

Sheila handles the phone and trip logistics, helps customers make choices, writes training manuals for guides, distributes information, plans meals, advertising, hiring, etc. She handles all business in winter when the owners, Peter and Ana, are in the Baja. She describes her job as "Organizing people" and obviously has a talent for shuffling schedules.

Ownership

There's nothing like owning your own business, being a free agent and setting your own priorities instead of having them set for you. According to Dorothy Baert of Tofino Sea Kayaking , it's a learn-as-you-go kind of process. "You don't need all that much paddling experience to get into it, just interest and a love of the sport." But it certainly helps to know basic accounting skills and how to develop a business plan, as well as having some kind of initial capital to invest in the business, and knowledge about insurance. Guiding experience is an asset, of course, helping you to assess, hire, train, and advise your guides, as well as giving you a more hands-on approach to your business, rather than just being an office onlooker. Business options might include renting kayaks, running tours in conjunction with a Bed and Breakfast, opening a paddling shop, or even running a Mothership operation. Some combine two or more of these.

If you decide to go the mothership route, you need to have a boat captain's license, says Sharon Comeau of Mothership Adventures. Sharon has her 60 ton master's ticket, which not many women do. You need to be certified skipper by a Marine Training Institute, fulfilling a series of requirements taking six months or more, culminating in an oral exam, plus accumulated sea time/experience. A suitable mothership should carry roughly 8-10 people, with space on board to stow kayaks and accommodate the crew.

Owning your own tour operation can be a rewarding career. But it is vital that you have a good grounding in business practices. You're on your own. You make the decisions, and you're responsible for the outcomes. Your income rests in your hands every day.

One could start out as a part-time operator and expand as the business grows. But you can expect to work very long hours, at a livable but not extravagant wage. There are so many companies out there offering similar services/programs, that it's vital to get your message out and promote yourself. Knowing how to write, having a graphic sense, and having knowledge about website design would be useful. All this takes money, planning and time. In addition to this, if you're running a mothership (or B&B) business you've got to keep the boat (or rooms) clean and serviced, and then on trips you become server, innkeeper/head kayak guide, medical person. And don't forget bookkeeping and record-keeping, money handling, and human resource management, engaging in regular professional development-workshops, festivals, symposiums, guide-exchanges, company training programs.

While there is a natural progression in kayaking from guide to instructor to manager to owner, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that there are many other related sectors to be found in kayaking-retail, manufacturing, transportation, and accommodations. Jobs in kayak and gear design, promotion, travel writing and photography... these and many other careers branch out from the simple decision to try a sport like kayaking. It could be a good investment in yourself and your future.

Sources

Many thanks to the following for making time to talk with me: John Dawson, Bonny Glambeck, Dan Lewis, Dorothy Baert, Mercia Sixta, Sheila Malcolmson, Brian Henry, Sharon Comeau, Sue Handel, Liam Edwards, Angela Lee, Sheryl Bell, Janet Boxwell, Kristina Castle, Robert Brett. I also consulted the following: Human Resources Development Canada: "Job Futures" Report, part 1, & Occupational Outlook, "Careers in Tourism", Economic Services Branch, Guidance Centre Career Monograph, and Ecotourism Market Demand Assessment. ©