New 2024 Programme has been released!

So you’ve given paddlesport a go, decided it's for you and you want to find out where it can take you next.

Come along to our Woodmill Paddling Community session, where you too can become the master of the paddle. There’s no experience necessary on these sessions, our expert coaches will deliver high quality sessions to get you progressing skills fast. Each session is unique (check out the Autumn Itinerary below) and focuses on a specific skill to give you the confidence on the water.

Why take part in Woodmill Paddling Community session ?

1. Woodmill Paddling Community sessions allow you to have Taster of other advanced courses available at Woodmill, supporting the focus of your paddlesport pathway. We recommend regular attendance at our community sessions - allowing you to become a well-rounded paddlesport aficionado!
2. Sessions have specific goals allowing paddlers to measure their progress.
3. Paddlesport is amazing for fitness. You’ll develop your cardio, physical strength and flexibility.
4. Woodmill Paddling Community sessions are a great way to prep and benchmark your skills for Woodmill’s off site trips.
5. Community session are a safe environment to start levelling up the challenge under the watchful eye of our coaches.
6. Woodmill Paddling Community session's are about just that, building a community of like minded individuals who love getting on the water.

 Click here to buy 12 sessions for the price of 10!

All equipment is provided. If you have your own drysuit, you're more than welcome to wear this.

All equipment is provided, and the sessions all run from Woodmill’s four accessible waterways.

Adult Masterclass Plan

April – September 2024

As a Paddle UK* Delivery Partner, we structure all our coaching and instructing around the Paddle UK Paddle Awards Scheme: Start, Discover, Explore. See here for more information.

*Paddle UK is the new name for British Canoe

April

7th Kayak Skills

Whether you’re new to the sport of Kayaking or have done it before and want to go over the basics, this is for you. All our instructors and coaches are Paddle UK trained and will tailor the session to meet your needs. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at anyone and everyone. Topics that will be covered are forwards, turning, and stopping. Completing this session will give you a Paddle UK Start Award!

14th Kayaking Next Steps

Are you comfortable with the basics, and want to take it to the next level? Come and join us for a morning of coaching that will build on your basic skills, improve your efficiency, and help you have more fun in the boat. Our coaches will look to summarise the skills in a way that means you can share your knowledge with other people. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are either working towards Discover level or Explore level.

21st Upriver Trip – Kayak, Canoe, SUP

Join us for a leisurely paddle up the Itchen River, from our launch site at Woodmill all the way up to The White Swan. This paddle is open to any paddler that has a basic grasp of paddling a kayak. Our instructors will go over ways of making a river paddle more efficient, exciting, and safe. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are working towards Discover level.

28th Kayaking on Moving Water

Did you know that there’s white water at Woodmill? Well, you do now! The Woodmill weir can seem like a mystical and frightening feature, but our coaches are here to demystify and reassure, all while keeping you safe and giving you an experience you will cherish. Our coaches will match your level of paddling and can ease you in gently or give you a challenge. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are Discover level, working towards Explore level.

May

5th Tandem Canoe Skill

Whether you’re new to the sport of Canoeing or have done it before and want to go over the basics, this is for you. It’s tandem, so bring a friend, or make a new on the water. All our instructors and coaches are Paddle UK trained and will tailor the session to meet your needs. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at anyone and everyone. Topics that will be covered are forwards, turning, and stopping. Completing this session will give you a Paddle UK Start Award!

12th Solo Canoe Skills

Tandem canoeing is great, but solo canoeing offers a more meditative experience, just you, the boat, and the water. No previous experience is required, but it is recommended. Solo canoeing is all about being smooth and efficient, so that’s what we’ll be focusing on while going over skills for forwards paddling, turning the craft, and stopping with ease. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are working towards Discover level.

19th Canoe Development Skills

Are you comfortable with the basics, and want to take it to the next level? Come and join us for a morning of coaching that will build on your basic skills, improve your efficiency, and help you have more fun in the boat. Our coaches will look to summarise the skills in a way that means you can share your knowledge with other people. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are either working towards Discover level or Explore level.

26th Canoeing on Moving Water

Did you know that there’s white water at Woodmill? Well, you do now! The Woodmill weir can seem like a mystical and frightening feature, but our coaches are here to demystify and reassure, all while keeping you safe and giving you an experience you will cherish. Our coaches will match your level of paddling and can ease you in gently or give you a challenge. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are Discover level, working towards Explore level.

June

2nd SUP Skills

Whether you’re new to the sport of SUPing (Stand Up Paddleboarding) or have done it before and want to go over the basics, this is for you. All our instructors and coaches are Paddle UK trained and will tailor the session to meet your needs. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at anyone and everyone. Topics that will be covered are forwards, turning, and stopping. Completing this session will give you a Paddle UK Start Award!

9th SUP Development

Are you comfortable with the basics, and want to take it to the next level? Come and join us for a morning of coaching that will build on your basic skills, improve your efficiency, and help you have more fun in the boat. Our coaches will look to summarise the skills in a way that means you can share your knowledge with other people. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are either working towards Discover level or Explore level.

16th SUP Up-River Trip

Join us for a leisurely paddle up the Itchen River, from our launch site at Woodmill all the way up to The White Swan. This paddle is open to any paddler that has a basic grasp of paddling a kayak. Our instructors will go over ways of making a river paddle more efficient, exciting, and safe. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are working towards Discover level.

23rd Moving Water – Kayak, Canoe, SUP

Did you know that there’s white water at Woodmill? Well, you do now! The Woodmill weir can seem like a mystical and frightening feature, but our coaches are here to demystify and reassure, all while keeping you safe and giving you an experience you will cherish. Our coaches will match your level of paddling and can ease you in gently or give you a challenge. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are Discover level, working towards Explore level.

30th Sea Kayak Skill

Do you like the idea of paddling on the sea? Perhaps you have a grand adventure planned and you need a good starting point. Well come and join us for a morning of coaching that will build on your basic skills, improve your efficiency, and translate what you already know into what works for sea kayaking. Our coaches will look to summarise the skills in a way that means you can share your knowledge with other people. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are either working towards Discover level or Explore level.

July

7th She-Paddles – Kayak, Canoe, SUP

Backed by the Paddle UK initiative “She-Paddles” this is a social ladies-only paddle session. Designed to create a safe environment to explore and adventure together. Working with Woodmill’s female coaches for the development progression and participation of female paddlers.

14th Safety Essentials

A session to help build confidence in your chosen craft by learning some new safety techniques. Topics will include self-rescue, capsizing, towing, assisting others, planning a trip. At the end of this session, you will have completed a Paddle UK Paddle Safer Award.

21st Downriver Trip

Join us for a down the Itchen River on tidal waters. The trip will start at Woodmill’s Cafe pontoon and will go as far as we can in the time we have. This trip is open to anyone who is confident their craft and wants to paddle a good distance. Our instructors will go over ways of making a river paddle more efficient, exciting, and safe. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are working towards Discover level.

28th Kayaking Next Steps

Are you comfortable with the basics, and want to take it to the next level? Come and join us for a morning of coaching that will build on your basic skills, improve your efficiency, and help you have more fun in the boat. Our coaches will look to summarise the skills in a way that means you can share your knowledge with other people. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are either working towards Discover level or Explore level.

August

4th SUP Skills

Whether you’re new to the sport of SUPing (Stand Up Paddleboarding) or have done it before and want to go over the basics, this is for you. All our instructors and coaches are Paddle UK trained and will tailor the session to meet your needs. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at anyone and everyone. Topics that will be covered are forwards, turning, and stopping. Completing this session will give you a Paddle UK Start Award!

11th Tandem Canoe Skills

Whether you’re new to the sport of Canoeing or have done it before and want to go over the basics, this is for you. It’s tandem, so bring a friend, or make a new on the water. All our instructors and coaches are Paddle UK trained and will tailor the session to meet your needs. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at anyone and everyone. Topics that will be covered are forwards, turning, and stopping. Completing this session will give you a Paddle UK Start Award!

18th Solo Canoe Skills

Tandem canoeing is great, but solo canoeing offers a more meditative experience, just you, the boat, and the water. No previous experience is required, but it is recommended. Solo canoeing is all about being smooth and efficient, so that’s what we’ll be focusing on while going over skills for forwards paddling, turning the craft, and stopping with ease. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are working towards Discover level.

25th Upriver Trip – Kayak, Canoe, SUP

Join us for a leisurely paddle up the Itchen River, from our launch site at Woodmill all the way up to The White Swan. This paddle is open to any paddler that has a basic grasp of paddling a kayak. Our instructors will go over ways of making a river paddle more efficient, exciting, and safe. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are working towards Discover level.

September

1st Canoe Development Skills

Are you comfortable with the basics, and want to take it to the next level? Come and join us for a morning of coaching that will build on your basic skills, improve your efficiency, and help you have more fun in the boat. Our coaches will look to summarise the skills in a way that means you can share your knowledge with other people. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are either working towards Discover level or Explore level.

8th Kayaking Next Steps

Are you comfortable with the basics, and want to take it to the next level? Come and join us for a morning of coaching that will build on your basic skills, improve your efficiency, and help you have more fun in the boat. Our coaches will look to summarise the skills in a way that means you can share your knowledge with other people. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are either working towards Discover level or Explore level.

15th Upriver Trip – Kayak, Canoe, SUP

Join us for a leisurely paddle up the Itchen River, from our launch site at Woodmill all the way up to The White Swan. This paddle is open to any paddler that has a basic grasp of paddling a kayak. Our instructors will go over ways of making a river paddle more efficient, exciting, and safe. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are working towards Discover level.

22nd Moving Water – Kayak, Canoe, SUP

Did you know that there’s white water at Woodmill? Well, you do now! The Woodmill weir can seem like a mystical and frightening feature, but our coaches are here to demystify and reassure, all while keeping you safe and giving you an experience you will cherish. Our coaches will match your level of paddling and can ease you in gently or give you a challenge. In the Paddle UK Award scheme this session is aimed at paddlers who are Discover level, working towards Explore level.

29th Safety Essentials

A session to help build confidence in your chosen craft by learning some new safety techniques. Topics will include self-rescue, capsizing, towing, assisting others, planning a trip. At the end of this session, you will have completed a Paddle UK Paddle Safer Award.