British Canoeing EXPLORE Award

This course is training and assessment for the EXPLORE award. It recognises your ability to independently paddle your chosen craft in a sheltered water environment.

£99 per person

11th July 2026, 08.45-16.45

What's Included

Craft
Buoyancy Aid
Basic Map
Dry Bag
Professional Coaches
Certification Fee
Activity Equipment

What else we can provide on request

Waterproofs
Hire of Wetsuits
Hire of Drysuits

Cost includes your Paddle UK British Canoeing certificate.

Dates

11 July 2026

Requirements

Suitable for ages 12+ Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult 21 years and over. Participants should be confident paddling flat water with the basic ability to manoeuvre their craft or board. You can choose to complete this course using a Canoe, Kayak, or Stand Up Paddleboard. You do not need to have completed your DISCOVER Award to achieve the EXPLORE Award. Course Ratio is 1:6

Timings

1 day - start 08.45 am and finish at 16.45

Included

Craft
Equipment
Buoyancy Aid
Dry Bag (if needed)
Certificate

What you will need to bring

Bring comfortable clothing such as gym wear, shorts, a t-shirt or wetsuit, along with a pair of water shoes, or old trainers. Bring a towel and a change of clothes. No special equipment or clothing is required.

Location:

We have the perfect river location for paddlesports such as canoeing, kayaking and SUPs on the River Great Ouse, at Kempston Outdoor Centre near Bedford. It is well situated just 30 minutes from Milton Keynes, an hour North of London and half way between Cambridge and Oxford.

If you have a group of Scouts, club members or friends and want to run your own dedicated course then drop us an email

Award Details

Now you’re ready to Explore! Your Explore Award gives you ownership; allowing you to choose where you move next in the world of paddlesport. Working with a coach you will be able to develop a programme that suits what you need. Learning to make confident choices with this individualised approach. This award recognises your ability to independently paddle your chosen craft in a sheltered water environment.

The awards take place on sheltered water on our local river, The River Great Ouse, the 4th longest in Britain with structured coaching in bite-sized chunks. We also offer some awards as part of our expeditions and trips to other locations such as the Yukon River Canoe Expedition, Paddle and Camp the River Tweed. We have a range of paddlesport courses, so if you need a bespoke course such as a group introduction to bigger moving water or expedition training then please contact us.

The New Personal Performance Awards (Paddle Awards) are Paddle UK’s pathway to becoming a competent paddler from Novice to Intermediate and then onwards to more advanced water and techniques. The syllabus allows for a personalized journey to develop core skills to feel confident and safe on sheltered water in a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard.
If for any reason, dates may need to change at Canoe Trail's discretion. This will be notified in advance.

What does it involve?
There’s a strong emphasis on independence with this award, and the Explore award will fill in the gaps of knowledge you might have, so you can get out paddling safely on an adventure! The award covers areas like:

On the water etiquette and how to share the space with other water users
Different environments you can paddle (lakes, rivers, canals, estuaries)
Controlling your kayak, canoe or SUP safely
Clothing and equipment needs for different environments and weather
Safe exploration

What next?
Completed your Explore Award session? Great! You’re ready to get out and have some fun! As a starting point, why not think about:

Head out on a Paddle Trail
Plan a multi-day adventure
Make use of your new-found planning skills and create your own adventure
Become an instructor, coach or leader – find that path that suits you and develop your skills further!

Reviews

Very satisfied with the coaching expertise on offer at Canoe Trail. Learned a lot in one session. Great location, too, well worth driving 40mins to get to for kit & competence.
--Andrea

Frequently Asked Questions

What if it rains?

Unless you hear from us then your booking will run on the day agreed. Canoe Trail runs watersports, paddling, and adventurous activities throughout the year with people enjoying the river and our woodland campsite during the different seasons. On rare occasions (it only happens a few times a year) we may move or change your booking. This will be in freak weather conditions such as extremely high river flows in spate or during heavy storms with lightning. You can read our full FAQ here.

How does the booking process work?

During the season our hire of canoes, kayaks, and SUPs, and paddle and camp trips are scheduled for customers to book via an automated schedule. Typically Kempston base is open throughout the season 7 days a week whereas Bedford is usually weekends or holidays. At the time of booking you will need to enter medical information, any special requirements and sizes into the booking forms. You will also need to provide contact details and emergency contact details as a contingency. Depending on what you are doing (e.g. camping, expeds, etc), you can book optional extras such as wood (you need to bring your own otherwise), water, grills, tipis and luggage service, or if you're on an exped you can hire hire drysuits. Once you have booked and your information is captured by the system, you will receive an automated email including a QR code and parking information to help you arrive in good time for your booking and get checked in. See our Terms & Conditions - www.canoetrail.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

Why can't I select a date to book?

Our schedules are automated and are linked to the calendar and available resources. We have over 260 craft available (canoes, kayaks and SUP’s) so you can drop us a line if you want a date that you cant see. Our Kempston base is throughout the season every day whereas Bedford is only weekends and holidays. There is a cut off time of 30 mins prior to each time slot, so if you are making a last minute booking then call us and we can help!

Do you offer private bookings for a group?

Yes we do offer group, club and private bookings for all watersports including kayaking, canoeing, and SUP. As well as whitewater courses, qualifications, and our expeditions. Please contact us to discuss a private tailored booking for your team, friends and family. We run taillored sessions for youth charities, schools, family and friend groups, corporate and other groups to learn outdoor activities.

What happens if we're late?

You will need to arrive 10 mins before your booking time to allow for registration etc. If you arrive late, please note that you may not be able to do the trip you booked and may have to do an alternative route. In some cases, you may not be able to paddle on that day. If you are running late then please let us know ASAP by calling our mobile number. Please contact us to let us know if you are going to be late. Our staff work on tight schedules to load kit and reset trailers for the day. On expeditions and trips we aim to share our beautiful surroundings, wildlife and vistas with the group and cover the distance. We will travel at the speed of the group so occasionally an injury, participant struggling or inclement weather may affect our finish time. On courses we aim to start on time for the entire group to cover the course syllabus. occasionally an injury, participant struggling or inclement weather may affect our finish time.

What happens if I need to postpone?

When you make a booking you are reserving the equipment and space for your booking , your seat and place (as you would with an airline) and although we have multiple craft (over 300 ) they are not all available at every location. Please do let us know if you are going to have to postpone and in some instances with notice we may be able to move your booking in our calendar with an admin fee. Closer to the booking we are not able to accept a postponement.

Do I need a licence for a canoe, kayak, or SUP?

A common question we get asked is whether you need a licence for paddling canoes, kayaks or SUP's. The answer on rivers and navigable waterways is yes. As Canoe Trail we buy licences through our National Governing Body Paddle UK to cover all of our watersports activities. We recommend buying Paddle UK membership with many benefits including river licence and also discounts with key brands. The Paddle UK licence also allows access to certain private watersways such as Cambridge Backs, Norfolk Broads and waters managed by the Environment Agency. Other options for licences include the Canal and River Trust where you can purchase a 30 day Explorer Licence (this is limited to water controlled by them). You can also purchase licences for specific waters controlled by the Environment Agency such as River Thames, River Medway and Anglian Waterways. So to summarise Paddle UK is the best membership for access to the majority of waterways. Hire companies such as Canoe Trail provide the licence when you rent the canoe, kayak or Stand up paddle board.

How fit do I need to be?

You don’t need to be super fit to paddle, but a bit of stamina helps, especially around locks. Our 1-hour and half-day hires don’t include any locks, so there’s very little lifting. Full-day hires usually involve at least one, where you’ll need to move your craft a short distance on land (they do make great picnic spots though!). All of our routes for hire are considered 'Grade 0' meaning they're a great choice for beginners and we’ll give you plenty of tips before you head out. If you’re unsure, just give us a call. For expeditions then we often use the analogy of walking in the hills for a day with a light rucksack, its not lung busting effort but it does require up to 6-7 hours paddling in the great outdoors. We can provide guidance for customers on building Paddlefit endurance ahead of bigger trips.

How to find us. Transport? Parking?

The more rural locations have lay-bys and small car parks available. Please allow time for parking so you are not running late. Parking in Bedford can be more of a challenge but the council does have their own designated parking locations, please have a look online for the closest one to your start point and prices.

Do I need to be able to swim?

Participants should be confident in and around water although they do not need to be swimmers. We will provide all safety briefings and equipment for the day, including a buoyancy aid for all paddlers.

What are the golden rules for learning to SUP?

The golden rules for learning to SUP are of course lengthy but simple top tips can really help. 1) ensure your board is inflated correctly and the right size for you 2) wear a buoyancy aid as personal floatation 3) understand leashes and in particular quick release leashes where there is a risk of snagging 4) learn board position and skills kneeling as well as standing to determine best position on the board 5) Stand up on the board with the paddle at 90 degrees across the board with feet in a strong and stable position, keep soft knees and legs to reduce wobble 6) where you look will improve your stance and balance so avoid looking down at your feet and board 7) the paddle is your stabiliser so use it to balance when engaged with the water 8) learning to SUP paddle if you need to adjust your stance then put the paddle vertical in the middle of the board to make a tripod with your feet and shuffle your feet about 9) Learning to use your weight to drive the paddle into the water by semi squatting and ensure rotation from your supper torso to paddle efficiently 10) express yourself, learn to do tail spins and step back turns. Wear a smile.

How long does it take to learn to kayak or canoe?

Learning to canoe or kayak is like many outdoor pastimes you can take to the water quickly and be paddling around within the space of a few minutes and learn the foundation taster skills in 2-3 hours. The Paddle UK Start Award reflects this simple 'taster' or 'have a go' option where you learn to paddle forwards, stop, turn and effect some basic steering strokes. Then like most sports it then takes a lifetime to master, perhaps changing the environment to sea or whitewater or paddling perfomance craft. This paddling learning curve can be broken into bite sized chunks and aided by professional coaching, experience of different locations and conditions and of course qualifications. The Paddle UK personal performance awards PPA, mvoe from the Start Award to then Discover (a full day of coaching to develop skills further) followed by Explore which can be a further 1-2 days of tuition. From there you can hone skills and keep learning.

Which is easier to learn kayaking or canoeing?

The foundations and basic strokes of kayaking and canoeing are extremely transferable from one to the other. Many people find learning to kayak slightly easier with less to think about with a double ended blade. Solo canoeing requires participants to master paddling on one side with a goon or J stroke which combines forward paddling with some steering or course correction. Usually within a first session most people are able to paddle their canoe or kayak in a straight line and an manoeuvre it about.

How easy is it to learn to stand up paddle board?

Like all paddlesport it is realatively simple to get onto the water to have a go at stand up paddle boarding or SUPing within minutes and a few hours you can nail the basics, paddling forwards, stopping and turning. The majority of SUP's on the market are inflatable offering space and weight saving benefits and have a fin underneath to help them track or go in a straight line. People usually start on their knees for convenience and then learn to stand up. Once stood up then the paddle becomes part of the stabilising motion as you paddle forwards etc. To avoid wobble then soften your stance, knees, ankles and body to reduce shaky legs and the 'Elvis look'. Top tip use your paddle like a tripod in front of you to shuffle your feet around to balance your feet either side of the central handle. On our hre sessions then a simple briefing means people are out and about paddling within minutes. You can speed up your learning curve by joining one of our SUP Intro sessions with 90 minutes with a professional instructor. Mastering SUP Skills such as step back turns, walking the board, guide stance and cross deck manouevres can take a life time to master. Always wear a buoyancy aid and learn safety and rescue skills including self rescue is important.

How can I learn canoe, kayak and SUP safety and rescue skills?

There are various courses that include an introduction to safety and rescue courses including the Paddle UK Discover which offers and some self rescue techniques and also the PSRC (PaddleSports Safety and Rescue Course ) which is a great 1 day course with a mix of theory, practical skills and lots of rescue including deep water rescue, unconscious / entrapped, self rescue and others. There is also specifically the SUP safer course which is a SUP specific skills include prone paddling, self rescue and rescueing others. Kempston Outdoor Centre is a great venue to learn safety and rescue skills with over 300 craft and professional coaches.

What are the best qualifications for learning to kayak and canoe?

There are several different options for learning to Canoe and Kayak in Bedford which is only an hour North of London by train or car. You can opt for private lessons or group lessons or alternatively book onto a Paddle UK Qualifications course called PPA, Personal Paddling Awards which include the Start Award (couple of hours), Discover Award which is a day or the Explore Award which can be one or two days of coaching from a professional outdoor instructor .

What is the best qualification for learning to stand up paddle board?

Try tackling the our Intro to SUP course which is 90 minutes of stand up paddle boarding tution from a professional paddlesports coach. In that time you will learn to launch the SUP, stand up, self rescue, step back into the guide stance, paddle forwards, turn your board and steer. Its the perfect into to paddle boarding in Bedford based from Kempston Outdoor Centre. You can also book independent lessons or alternatively join our 3 x 3 week block course with three levels, level 1, 2 and 3 which include the Paddle UK, Start and Discover Awards and also the SUP Safer Award as the Level 3. If you want to progress further then Canoe Trail can also provide the Open Water SUP leader award, Paddlesports Leader or Touring Leader (both of which can be chosen on SUP's) or the Paddle Sports Instructor or SUP Instructor options.

Location

Kempston Outdoor Centre, Park at the Mill Car Park upstream

Paddle UK British Canoeing Explore Award

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