Last day to cancel and receive a refund is August 18, 2022. Please notify the Event Manager, Robin Smith, at violaswamp7@yahoo.com if you need to cancel your registration. After August 18, 2022, you will only be refunded if we can replace your registration with another person.
Our last annual Event in 2022 takes place in the lovely and always popular San Juan Islands on beautiful Orcas Island, Washington, on September 15-19, 2022, Thursday-Monday (4 nights), paddling on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Paddles are level 2-3. There are no level 1 paddles. Paddles are in salt water, although there is a nice lake for games and rescue practice on the island. We are camping at West Beach Resort, which has a store, restrooms, free showers, a hot tub, a beachside bar, and its famous beachside campfire and popcorn. Daytime temperatures range in the 60s, and it gets into the 50s at night. Ferry reservations are necessary.
Orcas Island paddles to and around other islands give trip planners plenty of chances to work with currents. The popular destination of Jones Island takes you through passes and around small islands to a pretty island park with a resident deer herd, sandy beaches, and trails through madrona groves and meadows. Or paddle to the more isolated and protected Yellow Island, owned by The Nature Conservancy, and home to amazing wildflowers and frolicking seals, and hike around it for a 360-degree view of the San Juans. Take a trip to the many bays and islets of the horseshoe shaped Sucia Island and gaze at the interesting geology and strange rock formations. Paddles from Orcas give you a chance to see jellyfish, seals, and perhaps its namesake whale. Visit Mt. Constitution, rising above Orcas half a mile high, with its fantastic vistas of other San Juan Islands and Mt. Baker in the Cascades. Orcas has excellent pubs, wineries, restaurants, and shops, as well as the oldest pottery studio in the northwest, with a beautiful garden and view of Waldron Island.
Please note that Level 1 trips cannot be guaranteed.
Waitlist: If an event registration category is sold out, please use the waitlist option to be placed in the queue for possible registration. You do not need to pay the registration fee to join the waitlist; you will only pay it if you complete the registration process once you're notified that there is an opening.
Special requests: We can’t accommodate special requests for campsite, ex. non-snoring camp partner. If you have special needs, please use the off-site registration category. Remember, you can still be at the same campground if you want to be. You just need to procure your own specific campsite.
RVs or trailers: Not all events are able to accommodate RVs or trailers. When we can, the campsite still needs to be shared with a tent camper. Your trailer should be a maximum of 18' in length. If you want to guarantee that you will be able to use your RV or trailer, please use the off-site registration category. Remember, you can still be at the same campground if you want to be. You just need to procure your own specific campsite.
Covid vaccine notification: TOs are empowered by the Board to choose whether to allow unvaccinated people on their trips at the event, just as they presently are on daily trips. This notification is part of the trip description TOs will provide at the event.
Your volunteer on-site staff:
Event Manager: Robin Smith, violaswamp7@yahoo.com
Trips: David Smith, davlsmith@yahoo.com
Assistant Event Manager: Jennifer Alkezweeny, programs@oopskayak.org
Additional information:
You will find event information on the OOPS website in the Activities Section: Annual Events. Find the event, click on the link, then scroll until you find the current year.
Oregon Ocean Paddling Society - San Juan Islands Images and Information (wildapricot.org)
The Fine Print:
1) EVERY PERSON, including Trip Organizers and On-site staff, must fully complete this electronic registration.
2) Registration fees for this Event are inclusive and cover all days of camping, any additional extra vehicle fee, and other Event expenses, including firewood for group gatherings when fires are allowed, and staff and trip supplies.
3) OOPS Cancellation Policy: For all pre-paid events (except pool sessions) cancellations will be allowed a full refund up to within 4 weeks before the beginning of the event. After that, refunds will be provided if, and only if, we are able to find a replacement. Cancellations are done through the Event Manager only. Thank you. Refunds may occur after the event is complete.
4) You must be a paid-up member of OOPS to paddle at this event, and you must be wet-exit certified prior to attending the event unless you participate in only Level 1 trips (when available) and you are NOT wearing a sprayskirt. Non-members are welcome but will not be allowed to participate in OOPS paddling trips unless pre-approved to do so. Please be certain to review the Trip Level criteria on the OOPS website if you have any questions: OOPS Rating system:
https://oregonoceanpaddlingsociety.wildapricot.org/Trip-Rating-System
5) Watch for future emails from the Event Staff about paddle trips, campfire meetings, classes, hikes, and other group activities.
6) Immersion protection may be required, pending water temperature/conditions. See the club website under Resources/OOPS Documents/Activity Policies and scroll down to section Q, Cold Water Protective Clothing. Please be prepared.
7) Registration Categories. You will only choose ONE.
- OOPS Camp Site, shared (includes all OOPS event and camping expenses for one member; trailer or RV need pre-approval)
- OOPS Member Off-site accommodation (for OOPS members not using OOPS' campsite; a non-member non-paddling travel partner does not need to register)
- Staff – Event Staff Only (Event Manager, Trip Czar, and Assistant Event Manager)
- Trip Organizer (confirmed by Trip Czar prior to registration)
- Trip Organizer Off-site (confirmed by Trip Czar prior to registration; a non-member non-paddling travel partner does not need to register)
