Woah! Summer’s here Thursday! Can you believe it? Seems like we’ve been waiting for spring for an eternity and now it’s here. I’ve gotta get some plans together or else it’ll be fall and I won’t have taken the banking off the cellar windows or stained the deck.

I’ve been looking at purchasing a summer-weight sleeping bag, something I could stuff easily into my kayak right next to that little, single, stowable tent I found last winter at the outlet store. If I don’t make up my mind soon, I might just as well look at the winter-weight models!

Have you got your plans made? Mine are fluid. Heck, I had scheduled a week off in April and that didn’t happen. I’m going to take a week in July and a couple in August, however.

Don’t make plans for the first part of July or the middle of August, if you’re looking for good weather, because I’ll lay you odds it’ll be inclement when I’m off. If you’re looking for guaranteed good weekends, though, drop me a line and I’ll let you know when I’m scheduled to work Sundays. Those will be gems, like last Sunday was when I worked. I had very little sympathy for colleagues who showed up at work Monday with red patches of skin.

If you are the type who does make plans, there’s a kayak symposium coming up July 7-8 in Castine that will offer something for everyone. Reminiscent of the L.L. Bean sea kayak symposiums of yesteryear, Festival of the Kayak in Castine will offer a smorgasbord of skill-building lessons, discussions, on-water touring and opportunities to try out various brands of sea kayaks.

Hosted by Maine Maritime Academy’s Continuing Education and Castine Kayak Adventures, the weekend offers beginner to expert level instruction ranging from choosing a kayak and packing for touring to graceful entry and exit from your boat. There’ll be navigation classes, trip planning advice, information of tides and currents and more. On-water classes range from paddling basics to Greenland rolling, rescue workshops and navigation.

Instruction is divided into various tracks ranging from core skills to a Greenland track to advanced kayak skills, a navigation track and a sampler track. There’ll even be talks on safe boat lifting and car topping techniques to repairing a composite boat and places to paddle presented by the Maine Island Trail.

Boat and gear demonstrations will run 3-6 p.m. July 7 on the beach at Wadsworth Cove with boats from Boreal Designs, ZNecky, Old Town, Current Designs, Dagger, Feathercraft, Perception, Wilderness, Lincoln Kayak, Hobie, Native and Liquid Logic. Here’s a great opportunity to try out boats from various manufacturers and find one that really suits your needs and desires. And what better chance could you have to talk with others about sea kayaking than from those who are on the water often?

Saturday night (July 7) there’s a campfire, music and cookout at Wadsworth Cove and from 9:30 to 11 p.m. there’ll be Jammin’ with Julie Monroe at Dennett’s Wharf Restaurant on the waterfront.

The fun and instruction continues July 8 with such offerings as a rescue workshop, basic stroke and maneuvers, more Greenland instruction, advanced skills and classroom instruction on weather and how it affects paddling choices.

July 8 from 1:30 to 5 p.m. there is a group paddle to Holbrook Island.

Rates for the symposium are $125 per day, $235 for the weekend, or $75 for half a day down to $30 for a sampler.

Lodging options range from local B and Bs to academy dorm rooms (shared or single) and vary in price from $24 to $75 per night. Details are spelled out on the registration form on the Web site listed below.

Presenters for the weekend include Ken Fink, Bob Myron, Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson, Karen Francoeur (hostess of the event) and others.

Perry and Wilson describe themselves as “sole partners in Kayak Ways LLC, a venture based on the notion that the traditional kayaking skills and tools of the Inuit seal catchers offer valuable lessons for the modern day recreational kayaker.

“Cheri competed in the Greenland National Kayaking Championships in both 2004 and 2005, in events ranging from rolling to individual and relay races, winning a dozen gold medals. She has won several rolling competitions in the United States and is widely regarded as one of the best Greenland-style kayak rollers in the world.

“Turner competed in the Greenland National Kayaking Championships in July of 2005, in events ranging from rolling to individual and relay races, winning 6 gold medals.”

Ken Fink, is the owner of Poseiden Kayak Imports in Walpole and has been a fixture in the Maine sea kayak scene for 30 years. He was one of the originators of the L.L. Bean Sea Kayak Symposium and an authority on wind, waves and navigation.

Bob Myron has been a trainer educator for the American Canoe Association. He has been a Registered Maine Guide for 20 years, and a Wilderness First Responder and has led wilderness canoe trips in the Allagash, taught prep courses for becoming a Maine Guide and trained instructors from Maine to Maryland. He has participated in the British Canoe Union workshops including 5-star training, and he owns and operates Outdoor Leader Trainers of America in Durham Maine.

For more information check out Castine Kayak Adventure’s Web site at www.castinekayakcom or call 659-4831 for more information.

Journey for charity

Last week I got an e-mail from Karyn Roy, who wrote: “I saw your recent columns on paddling and the Maine Island Trail and thought my upcoming paddle along the Maine coast to benefit Maine Handicapped Skiing would be of interest to you and your readers.

“On June 23 I will set out on a solo kayaking journey starting in Kennebunkport and ending in East Machias to raise awareness about adaptive paddling and raise money to create more adaptive paddling programs through Maine Handicapped Skiing. I will cover over 350 miles of shoreline while stopping for paddling events along the way.

“I am an active volunteer with Maine Handicapped Skiing and a registered sea kayak guide and instructor. Prior to sea kayaking, my time on the water was spent in the Whitewater, which I hold a previous national title for Whitewater kayaking. This upcoming trip is an extension of my work life as a Special Education teacher and my passion for paddling.”

Roy went on to invite me to New Harbor on July 11 for a day on the water with Maine Handicapped Skiing participants and volunteers. I’ll be on vacation so I’ll have to see what end of the state I’ll be in, but I think her project deserves support. You can learn more about it on the Web at www.projectpaddleme.com.

Jeff Strout’s column on outdoor recreation is published each Saturday. He can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.