I learned so much from Adam my instructor and by the end I felt more confident on the water. Cant recommend enough. If you dont see anything offered you like, consider donating because they offer these adventures and opportunities to our most vulnerable populations. Offering them the opportunity to have fun and learn something new safely. read more

Super cheap. Friendly staff. Convenient and nice location to go around the lake. There's essentially no wait as well so it's cheap and practical. read more

If you're tired of trying to dodge all the water traffic in the main section of Lady Bird Lake, give the eastern section a try! I was able to try stand up paddle boarding for the first time through a Google Offer for the Expedition School -- (5) 90-minute sessions for $30, um, no brainer. The place doesn't have a store front, just some shipping containers and tents. The workers are friendly and do a good job of explaining what to do when you're a newbie. The price is regularly $10/hour (I hear the other SUP places charge close to $20/hour, what?!). Their boards have seen a lot of use, so don't expect brand-spanking-new boards. The launch area is in a little cove so if you want to stay there you can or you can make your way out of the inlet and traverse the area towards the dam. There's a cute little island there and the greenery is gorgeous! While I love the main Downtown view you get from the downtown section of LBL, I must admit that I prefer this serene setting over Downtown. If you have visitors, take them here and save yourself some $$! read more

The Expedition School - quiet cove where you launch from - First Aid Classes Near Me

I completed my CPR + First Aid certification through the Expedition School and could not have had a more enjoyable experience. Adam and Ian were extremely knowledgeable and answered all of our questions to the best of their abilities. The class was engaging and hands-on, and not just a boring PowerPoint presentation. We were given plenty of time to practice the skills that were taught to us, whether it be bandaging a wound or practicing chest compressions on dummies. Bonus, they gave us plenty of breaks to get up and move around! All in all, a great experience and I would definitely get re-certified with them in the future. read more

The Expedition School - First Aid Classes Near Me

Jordan is amazing. Super helpful and friendly. They have lots of SUP and kayaks to choose from...drop in where the water isn't so gross..love the location and staff. read more

My girlfriend and I went stand up paddleboarding for the first time today. We chose Expedition School because it's only $10 per hour each and well yelped. It didn't disappoint :) Boards are fine, we got a quick tutorial, and we were off. We had both surfed in the past so balance wasn't an issue. The waters in this area are calm and open. We only ran into 4 other paddle boarders in an hour of paddling. We went to I35 and back in about 45 minutes then tried some yoga on the paddle boards for the rest of our time. Let me tell you, yoga on paddleboards is some seriously tough stuff! I'm told they have lessons here for it and might come back for it. Leave sunglasses or things you don't want wet in the car :) Can't beat the price, friendly worker, fine way to spend a hot day. read more

The Expedition School - Expedition School - First Aid Classes Near Me

Perhaps the best kept secret in Austin! This is my most favorite place to rent SUP or kayaks on town lake. They provide 5 star service and great equipment. The fees are extremely reasonable and the staff carry your equipment to the water and back to the storage shed for you. The staff at The Expedition School are knowledgeable, super helpful and very friendly. I recommend that you use Google maps to find them. This might be the only place in Austin with plentiful parking and lots of shade directly on Nash Hernandez senior Road. Bring a picnic and stay for a post-paddle picnic. It's a great spot. You can email and make reservations for larger groups. All around a wonderful company and a wonderful experience. read more

I was incredibly nervous about paddle boarding. Everyone laughed that I was taking a lesson, but I'm a lesson kind of person. Scheduling the lesson was easy. Call back time if you leave a voicemail is about a day. It was hard to find the location. I got super lucky and accidentally parked across the street from the entrance. I pulled onto the road that leads to baseball fields and thought I'm never going to find this place. Vehicles and trees were blocking the white flag that signaled the school until you were practically on top of it. My suggestion would be to move that flag out towards the road more. Tucker was our instructor and went threw all the equipment and how to paddle properly. He was super kind and patient. My son has autism and can be very hard to work with when we try something new and he's scared, but Tucker was a rockstar! If you are good with children with disabilities you are gold in my book. The dock is in a cove. It is great for beginners - especially on a windy day like today. We started on our knees and I thought this is where I'm staying. I was able to balance - thank the lord. Tucker answered all of our questions and even fell in the water to show us how to get back on our boards. After about an hour I finally got the courage to stand. I got over confident. I took some pictures and boom fell - luckily some other people boarding helped me get back up because my life jacket kept getting stuck. I'm definitely investing in a life jacket and not using the bulky ones they provide! All in all a great day, a great instructor, and a great time! I highly recommend lessons and the Expedition School! read more

I highly recommend the Expedition School for anyone who needs to learn or wants to feel more confident in their outdoor adventures. Their outdoor classes offer everything from CPR and AED certification to Wilderness First Aid, surf camps for the deaf to Safe Paddling classes. From my Safe Paddling flyer "individuals come away with a new or renewed self confidence, strengthened leadership, new perspective, practical skills, knowledge, extraordinary memories, and a steward of the environment .... and is committed to the environment and leave No Trace principles are taught in every class." My personal experience with them was the 1 hour Paddling Safety Course to learn how to safely roll and fall out and get back in my kayak, proper gear for overnight trips, understanding weather reports, water levels and currents and the importance of a safety plan - all for only 45.00. I was so inspired and empowered by this course I can't wait to go back for my CPR certification. read more

The Expedition School is my place to go when I want to go stand up paddling (SUP) in Austin. They offer great rates: $45 for beginners and $20 for returners. And that's for 2 HOURS of SUPing! Other places I've checked around Austin and Clear Lake (I'm from Houston) have those prices for 1-hour sessions. We scheduled via the phone, and the Expedition School was quick to answer or call back after we had left a message. And it was easy scheduling a time with them. My girlfriend and I had our session on a hot midday on Lady Bird Lake with instructor Mackenzie. Mackenzie was laid back but full of energy, and her teaching style was great. After giving me the initial lesson, she let me go out on the water on my own to apply what she had taught me. Yet, she would keep an eye on me and give me some great tips on how to improve my balance and be more comfortable in the water. She was easy to approach and only had words of encouragement for someone who fell in the water, initially, about every five minutes! I was a bit skeptical about SUPing at first, but, with the Expedition School's great rates and awesome instruction, I will try to SUP every time I go to Austin. read more

I took my friends out on a group paddle boarding lesson for a birthday party. It was a huge success! The instructor/guide made sure that we all got the individual attention necessary to get going, then took us on a very nice an relaxing sunset paddle. The instructor (Kim) was very personable and professional. She made sure we had a fun and safe experience. Thanks! read more

Had an amzing time here. The young people working the booth were very polite and helpful. They new what they were talking about and were very professional. I highly recommend this place to rent paddle boards and kayaks. Very peaceful and calm area. Although there were many people on Lady Bird there was plenty of room for everyone to relax and have fun. read more

The Expedition School - SUP with the hubby. Can not wait to go back! - First Aid Classes Near Me

My little cousin was in town visiting a friend and she got to come and spend the night with me. I was trying to figure out what to do with an 11 year old and she told me she knew how to SUP. I was like SCORE! I usually do SUP'ing on Lady Bird Lake at the Texas Rowing Center. However, I found a Groupon for $15 for 90 minutes for 1 person or $30 for 2. This is an exceptional deal because at the Texas Rowing Center, it's $15 for 1 hour so we got a bonus 30 minutes! There are a few teenagers working the joint, who were laid back and cool. They had us fill out the paperwork and we were off. My only suggestion for improvement is that they invest in some more stand up paddle boards. There seemed to be only about 10 or 12, so if a group came in to rent some boards and they are all out, you are outta luck. Oh, and to fix the one part of the wobbly dock before someone falls in.... The reason I really enjoyed this place is because it's not crowded and there is TONS of room. There is also a little cove like place where you can just chill if you want. I'd come back again, even without a Groupon. read more

This is a great place to paddle! The staff is amazing with experienced and beginning kayakers!

Could not find this place to save my life. No signage visible from the roads. I tried calling but no one picked up. Makes me wonder if this place actually exists. read more

Every weekend, my boyfriend and I would eye the stand up paddle boarders along the lake and yearn to try it out sometime. We didn't know much about it, so I took to the net to search for lessons nearby. I definitely recommend Graham at the Expedition School who leads lessons for 1.5 hours at $90 bucks for two people. He was not only a great teacher but very easy to talk to as well! We plan on renting from the Expedition school very soon to tackle SUP another time! After lessons, you can rent a board for a mere $25 bucks and go on your own. Great deal considering the boards they use cost upwards of $1000 if you were to purchase one....... read more

I really enjoyed my first paddle boarding experience at this place! I found a groupon and went with a friend and we were not disappointed. We went towards the end, around 7 pm and there was plenty of parking behind the baseball field. The guy giving us the tutorial on how to paddle board was professional and kind. For $15 we got 90 mins of paddle boarding. Make sure you keep track of time though, we went over by 30 mins and thus got charged $5 more, but that was on us. I definitely plan on going back. read more

This place is fantastic! This is the second time I've been- the staff is super friendly and they are relatively cheap compared some of the other spots I've been for paddle boarding/canoeing around town lake. They are a little further east which gets you away from the crowds if that's what you are looking for. Today in particular- they aren't typically open before 2 on Fridays, but I emailed them a few days before and they opened early just for me!! Ill be coming back for sure! read more

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! We hosted our 9 year old son's birthday party here. It was a BLAST!!!! Chase was our instructor from the Expedition School. He taught the kids how to SUP and then went out into the water with them to keep an eye on them & help as needed. He played games with them & had fun! I was impressed by his ease with the kids. Very kind but at the same time direct in giving instructions and guidance. Couldn't have asked for a better host! The kids learned how to SUP in just a few minutes...they were naturals! A few adults kayaked with the little brothers (ages 3 & 4) and had a BLAST in the lagoon! So easy to paddle! Some things to think of: * we brought a table to set up down by the water for food and drinks. * we also brought blankets to lay on the ground for kid seating. * the dock is incredibly nice, but in the sun, so we parked our food and ourselves under a grove of trees...just perfect. * send out detailed instructions for driving to the Expedition School along with your invitation. We were coming from Round Rock. Folks got different directions from their navigation systems and several parents got lost. Of course, Chase helped them find their way! And from the 9 year old guest of honor? "BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY EVER!!!" read more

We saw their offer on groupon and used it. We had family visiting and we all had a blast. They provide life vest for kids and adults gave us a quick tutorial and we were on our way. Our kids (6,4,2) rode with us in a canoe with our ice chest while the rest of the family had fun on the paddle boards. We all enjoyed our time and it was a memorable day for the family :) read more

E-School was a great partner with our charity and helped get our race done for two years running. We thought so highly of them that we asked them to partner with us and offered to pay them. That did not work out and they did not do what they contracted for, as well as charged us so much money, they almost put us out of business. We tried to negotiate with them due to the drought here in Texas and we were not given the time of day. They could see we had a 60% drop in attendance. From the time they got here, the advance staff were on texts, emails, ph calls and more leaving us to feel like we were not important to them even though they ended up with over half of our net proceeds! They were 24 hours late arriving, left early and put stress on the whole shootin match. Not happy with the customer service at ALL. Most business owners would give a discount, refund a partial payment or at least do something if a customer was this dissatisfied- they never even acknowledged that we were unhappy. Being as how we are a charity, we thought they would have tried to be more giving. In their favor, i am sure they give good lessons and have lots of enthusiasm. read more

Some friends and I just got a Groupon to rent stand up paddle boards from Expedition School, so we thought it would be something fun to try. We had a great time and I definitely recommend trying them out. They operate on a first come, first serve basis. They were out of SUPs when we first arrived because they had a large party booked. We only had to wait 20-30 minutes though, and it was definitely worth it. After signing a quick liability form and picking life jackets, we headed to the dock for a quick tutorial, and then they turned us loose. It was my first time to paddle board but I feel like I picked it up quickly, especially with their initial guidance. We launched out of a small cove, so it's a very protected area if you need some time to get used to it, or just don't want to venture too far out. If you are comfortable then you can head out under the bridge and onto Lady Bird Lake. Even if you head out on the lake, it didn't feel too crowded since they are located on the East side near Festival Beach. We had a blast and would definitely go back. Even without a Groupon, the prices at Expedition School seemed very reasonable at $15 per hour, per person. They also offer a couple of package deals and party rentals. The equipment was used (some cosmetic scratches on the boards, etc.), but nothing that hindered the use or performance of the boards (as far as I could tell). The staff was friendly, and we all left our shoes on the dock while we were out with no problems. You can leave valuables in the car, or they can stow a bag if necessary. Not sure I would do that if you had any big valuables, but we left a bag with the staff up front and didn't have any issues. They also offer classes on mornings and evenings. read more

I didn't think I was going to be able to get it. They took their time to help me and they pulled out all of the tricks to get me going. I will select this place every time! read more

Our Cub Scout Pack was well received for lessons in canoeing, kayaking, and SUP. The staff were friendly, encouraging and fun to be with. The equipment was in top shape and well maintained. There were lifeguards as well as instructors so it was a safe environment. The instructors took into consideration the different levels of experience and tailored the program and excursions accordingly. The program is top notch. The lagoon and lake where the facility is located were pretty and tranquil and tucked away in a revitalized part of East Austin and on Lady Bird Lake. Thanks Kimery, Elliot, Kerstin and everyone else - we had a great time and we'll be back. read more

We spontaneously decided to learn to stand up paddle today, and this is the place to learn. First, we were running late to our appointment, and our guide was flexible and accommodating, patiently staying late for us and treating us in a cheerful and professional manner. Our group included adults and children, and she was excellent managing the range of ages and needs. We were all standing in minutes. Next, the location is awesome. If is a quiet corner of the city park, and there are not a lot of people, so the setting feels natural and relaxed. You launch from the lagoon, which is the perfect place to get comfortable on a board and try things out. Once you feel more comfortable, you can head out to the river, which is less crowded at this end. If you are just learning to paddle board or want a great place to rent, this is the spot! We can't wait to go back. read more

We have been to the other places on the lake, this is the best location!!! Closed area for younger kids. Great Staff!!!