About CraneOutdoors: Once Around the Islands
Circumnavigating an island is one of the great joys of kayaking, providing a constantly changing perspective while giving you a great sense of accomplishment. The Crane Wildlife Refuge, home to seven islands, offers an excellent opportunity to do this, suitable for even beginning paddlers. These islands provide a haven for wildlife and have a rich cultural history spaning from when Native Americans summered on these shores, harvesting the shellfish for which this area is known, to their purchase by Chicago industrialist Richard T. Crane, Jr., who made them part of his vast early-20th-century summer estate.
On this adventure, we’ll paddle around three of the bigger islands, the largest of which—Choate (formerly Hog) Island—supports myriad birds and mammals including egrets, herons, deer, and coyote. We’ll land on Long Island and take a short hike to a hilltop that overlooks the tide marsh that interconnects the islands. From here, we’ll enjoy a splendid view of the c.1778 Proctor Barn and the c.1725-40 Choate family homestead.
Please note: Participants must be competent swimmers and age 15 or older. While appropriate for all levels of kayak skill, this trip is physically demanding.
Equipment policy: For the safety and convenience of all participants, CraneOutdoors provides lifejackets, paddles and single kayaks for all paddle events. Note: for safety reasons, tandem kayaks are not used for guided events. The use of personal kayaks is not permitted for any CraneOutdoors event. Thank you for understanding.
Program Refunds/Cancellations: In the event that a program is cancelled due to severe weather, low enrollment, or other circumstances, we will notify you as soon as possible by email and issue you a full refund within 14 days of the cancellation. If you cannot attend a program as planned, contact the Trustees property 7 days prior to the start of the program to receive a full refund or to be rebooked into a future available event. Refunds will not be granted for registration cancellations placed fewer than 7 days before the start of the program for any reason. There are no refunds for missed events or late arrivals. The Trustees reserves the right to change program locations, schedules, or instructors when necessary. Note: Summer Camps and our inns and campgrounds each have separate cancellation policies.
The starting location and other relevant details for all hikes, kayak paddles, and boat trips will be emailed to registrants approximately 24 hours before the event start at the address provided upon registration. Please note that registration closes 24 hours before the start of the event and we will not be able to accommodate walk-ins or on-site sales. Thank you for understanding.
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