Expedition School

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.

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.

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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!

By far one of my favorite places to stand up paddle at!

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 Unilocaled. 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.

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 $$!

I took my wife and 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!

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.

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…

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.