Kayak Instruction, run by the Olympic Outdoor Center, offers weekly summer kayaking camps in San Marcos and Austin, with San Marcos sessions meeting at the Power Olympic Outdoor Center. The day splits into a morning session, 8am to noon, covering kayaking fundamentals and paddling adventures, and an afternoon session, 1pm to 5pm, on rolling and surfing; families can book one session for $150 or both for $300, and campers may return for as many weeks as they like. The program is deliberately low-key and low-pressure; its youngest participants have been five years old, with separate time available for children under seven.
The practical details
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Kayak Instruction directly before you register or pay. Last checked August 2026.
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★★★★★Pridepuppy21Went for a day to swim on the river and Ben was the nicest guy ever, truly. The day was absolutely perfect and our son had the time of his life with friends we can’t wait to go back.
★Morgan MurphyI had booked April 24th for June 5th for 8pm for the glow tour. The first location he had sent showed permanently closed. He sent the wrong location first and then sent the “correct” location. We showed up Friday for our tour, he sent the wrong location again and took us to a residential neighborhood. We reached out about the location, heard nothing back. We went to the other location that he also sent. Still no one was there. I confirmed on 31st, literally 5 days ago. This was two hours out of our way. He then reached out to me saying I canceled due to my child qualifying for a swim meet… this was for my dad for Father’s day. I do not have a child nor mentioned anything about canceling. Then he blamed the weather saying most people cancel at the slightest bad weather… we still didn’t cancel. He then said he didn’t show up or see any messages because it was actually due to the SPURS FINALS. He kept lying and changing the excuses. Was reimbursed for gas money for taking down my review Friday night. Which is illegal to do so, but I wanted to be reimbursed for my time and gas after showing up to two locations. Also was $15… lol. DO NOT BOOK!!! Him and the company are a complete joke and scam for the whole ordeal.
★★★★★Anquette AndersonI took my kids glow in the dark kayaking on Valentine’s. The team is very nice and are great with people with no experience. Our guide stayed with us the whole time and told stories and talked about the river. Loved everything. Thank you guys for helping celebrate my twins bday!!!
★★★★★Raphael HevroniMy family and I came today for Kayaking and John gave us a gracious price. The water is clear and there are waterfalls that you will see along the path. John helped us and showed us around the place. You can bring food for after you finish kayaking to barbecue with their grills. It’s a great place for kids and they have swings and mini slides to jump into the water. They have an outdoor trampoline as well. A really good deal and really nice service.
★★★★★Justin Shinn⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Learning to roll a kayak with Ben Kvanli at the Olympic Outdoor Center was an incredible experience! Ben is not only a world-class paddler and coach, but also someone who truly cares about people and their journey on the water. His teaching style is patient, clear, and confidence-building—he breaks down every step so you feel safe, supported, and capable. What really sets Ben apart is his mission beyond just kayaking. Through the Olympic Outdoor Center and his work with Heroes on the Water, he dedicates his time to helping veterans, first responders, and their families heal and find peace through paddling and outdoor adventures. It’s about more than learning a skill—it’s about building community, resilience, and joy on the water. I walked away not only knowing how to roll a kayak, but also inspired by the way Ben uses his passion for paddling to serve others. If you want top-notch instruction and to be part of something bigger, this is the place to be. Highly recommend!