Specialties
Bay Country Kayaking is a family owned and operated kayak eco-tour company founded for the purpose of sharing our love of the scenic waters of coastal Virginia and educating others on their ecological, cultural and historical significance.
B.C.K.'s goal is to offer the most personalized kayak eco-tour experience of any operator in the Chesapeake Bay region. To reach that goal, we secure ongoing education and training for our guides, utilize quality equipment and offer premier locations for our guests to paddle and enjoy.
With bases in Gloucester and on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Bay Country guided tours are convenient to area residents, as well as visitors to the Eastern Shore, Matthews, Richmond, Newport News, Hampton, and the historic triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, VA. Our kayak excursions are of Gargatha and Mobjack Bays. Our kayak excursions are of interest to those who enjoy wildlife, birding, sightseeing, and simply being outdoors.
History
Established in 2012.
Previous involvement of family members in the charter boat and kayak industries, combined with their participation in social outreach events with organizations such as the National Audubon Society, Boy and Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, Wounded Warriors and Dragon Run Day, provided the impetus for going forward with a kayak guide service on our home waters.
Meet the Business Owner: Shannon A.
Born in Williamsburg, but raised on the Outer Banks of N.C., Shannon has always had a deep level of respect and love of nature. After obtaining her B.S. in Environmental Science from UNC Wilmington, she went on to work as a naturalist and outdoor educator in TX, MA, NY, and ME, and traveled internationally.
She then earned her M.S. in Coastal Zone Management from Nova Southeastern University in FL, completing her dissertation primarily from data accumulated during three months of volunteer work with a NPO/NGO in Thailand.
Getting back to her roots, she chose to work as a kayak guide on the Outer Banks for the 2011 season, and so the dream of a kayak eco-tour company in the place of her birth was born. With kayaking adventures in New Zealand, Thailand, and all over the east coast of the U.S. under her belt, she went on to become an ACA certified Level 1 and 2 Instructor and is ready to continue sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge of both paddling skills and environmental science!