Thanks for your interest in joining Sebago Canoe Club.
We are currently unable to accept new membership applications.
As a small volunteer club, we have limited capacity to take on new members and provide on-water opportunities and training.
Each year, a limited number of applicants are invited to join in strict order based on their time of application.
Please check back again in June 2026 for information about adding your name to the 2027 waiting list.
We do reserve spaces for potential members from the local community (zip code 11236). Proof of address required. To inquire about community memberships, please contact membership@sebagocanoeclub.org.
The American Canoe Association’s Atlantic Division maintains a list of other paddling clubs in the greater New York City area, many of which offer public programs.
Look for our Open House events in the summer of 2026 for a chance to tour the club, get out on the water, and meet our members!
» CLICK HERE to sign your electronic annual waiver for the 2025 Season.
All members must sign a waiver each year.
(Our insurance policy requires that all members fill out an annual liability waiver each year. The terms of the policy requires those waivers to be on file by April 1. Please make sure you complete your waiver annually. Noncompliance means that you will not be considered a member in good standing).
Sebago offers programs in kayaking, canoeing and sailing, from novice to expert, as well as opportunities for those interested in rowing and racing.
We are a volunteer-run, recreational co-op and expect all members to contribute 15 hours of volunteer work to support club activities and maintain our grounds and equipment.
We offer group paddles as well as introductory coaching to all our members, though we do not have volunteer capacity to offer comprehensive training. We expect that all members will develop the proficiency to paddle independently and will seek out additional training through the American Canoe Association or other accredited instructional programs. Membership are entitled to use club equipment (sailboats require certification) when participating in a club sanctioned group activity. Boat storage is available, as space allows, for active club members in good standing.
There are also a limited number of expedited memberships available for prospective members who possess significant and demonstrated skills and knowledge related to human-powered boating (sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and rowing). These memberships must be vetted and supported by the relevant activity chair and approved by the board of directors. Candidates must also show a willingness to commit volunteer hours in support of the club’s efforts in training, coaching, and mentoring others in developing on-water skills, as well as assisting in the general operations of this all-volunteer club. If you would like to be considered for an expedited membership, please reach out to membership@sebagocanoeclub.org.
Sebago’s kayak paddles and classes are not appropriate for children under 16. A parent must accompany all minors during club activities.
Please explore our website for additional information about Sebago. We suggest you check out calendar for the range of club activities. You may also want to check the kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rowing, and racing sections of our website and contact the chairs of those committees. (Be sure to review the sailing page if you are particularly interested in sailing.*)
You are welcome to come to the Sebago Canoe Club any Saturday or Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to take a tour of the facilities. There is always an “officer of the day” on site to show you the grounds and answer questions.
Join us for one of our monthly Open House events during the summer. Reservations required.
Review the membership details and fees below.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION:
1. To join, prospective members must come to Sebago Canoe Club to sign up. Contact membership@sebagocanoeclub.org for available sign-up times.
| Membership Type | Dues | Boat Storage |
| Family | $340.00 | Fee Schedule: see below in Section 5 |
| Individual, 18 and over | $250.00 |
Family memberships consist of two adults and children 16-18 (or 22 if full-time student) living at the same address. Most of our activities are limited to those 16 and older. Younger children are welcome to join family activities, but do not consider a family membership with the expectation of family boating opportunities.
The calendar year at Sebago runs from 10/1 to 9/31. Annual membership renewals are sent by 10/15 of each year.
2. Upon joining Sebago, members are granted conditional status with limited privileges for a probationary period of at least a year.
3. Sebago Canoe Club is an all-volunteer club and members are required to contribute a minimum of 15 work-hours annually. To assist members in finding eligible tasks, jobs are regularly announced on the club email list, or a member may contact the Commodore or Vice Commodore for onsite or remote assignments. To receive credit for volunteer hours, all tasks must be logged in club workbook.
Members who fail to meet the above work-hour requirements will be assessed additional fees upon renewal as follows: More than 7.5 hours completed but less than 15 hours: $75.00. Less than 7.5 hours: $150.00
The Board of Directors may grant work-hour exemptions for such reasons as health, age, or distance.
4. All members agree to read and to comply with Sebago’s Operating and Safety Rules and the information outlined in the Membership Handbook. These two documents must be read BEFORE participating in any club activities.
5. Self-storage for kayaks, canoes, rowing shells and sailboats is available for an additional fee, subject to availability and the approval of the appropriate Committee Chair or their designee. Contact admin@sebagocanoeclub.org
| INSIDE (and sailboat) STORAGE SPACE: | OUTSIDE STORAGE: |
| 1 slot: $125 | 1 slot: $75 |
| 2 slots: $275 ($150 increment) | 2 slots: $175 ($100 increment) |
| 3 slots: $450 ($175 increment) | 3 slots: $300 ($125 increment) |
Boat storage is not guaranteed.
⇒ Join the SCC members-only email list.
The Sebago Canoe Club is a longtime member and supporter of the American Canoe Association. We share in the ACA’s mission to make the world a better place to paddle. Many of our members serve on various committees of the ACA in support of its efforts. We are fortunate to be the stewards of a cabin in partnership with the ACA at Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park, about 45 minutes north of the George Washington Bridge. We encourage all Sebago members to join the ACA.
The calm waters of Lake Sebago are perfect for learning to kayak or canoe, and there are instructional courses at the Lake throughout the season. In addition, there is a swimming dock and a pavilion for the many on-land events at the camp. Throughout the season, and particularly on weekends, the cabin is enjoyed by many club members, whether they have come to paddle or just enjoy relaxing at one of the state’s prettiest parks. The cabin is available to ACA members only.
For additional questions, submit an inquiry through our contact form:
*If you are interested in sailing at Sebago, please review the sailing page of our website to get an idea of the scope of our program and the scheduled activities. We like to meet and interview any potential sailing member, schedule a time for you to visit the club, tour the facilities, speak to a sailing representative, and see if our program is right for you BEFORE YOU JOIN the club. Contact sailing@sebagocanoeclub.org for questions and to schedule a tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to paddle?
We welcome all prospective members, from novice to expert. Be aware that novices may not take club kayaks out on their own. Members have frequent opportunities throughout the season to paddle with trip leaders who will offer guidance and skills practice.
Do I need my own kayak?
No. Club-owned kayaks are available to all members for use on any paddle led by a trip leader. Trip size will be determined by the ratio of available trip leaders to paddlers. Trips are announced on our email list.
How often are there organized group paddles?
Please see our calendar for dates. There are typically paddles every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day, usually on Saturdays. Additional paddles are occasionally posted on our email list throughout the season and during the off-season. All members are welcome to query the listserv to see if any trip leaders are available for a paddle.
Can I take out a club boat without a trip leader?
Members may use club boats independently after they have been assessed for the skills necessary for safe and effective paddling. Among other things, paddlers must demonstrate proficiency with a variety of strokes, as well as the ability to self-rescue and assist in a rescue.
How do I get assessed for independent club boat use?
Assessments are made by the kayak chair or their designee. Level two skills, as outlined by the American Canoe Club (ACA), will be assessed. Please review these skills carefully, and if you believe you are qualified, reach out to kayak@sebagocanoeclub.org.
Do you offer training?
A limited number of classes are offered in Brooklyn. There are other opportunities at Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park, where we have a lakeside cabin (with club boats available for member use) at a camp managed by the American Canoe Association (ACA). Sebago Canoe Club, along with other metropolitan clubs, offer training sessions open to all ACA members. We encourage all members to join the ACA ($40) and take advantage of what the lake has to offer. Please see our website for more detailed information about Lake Sebago and our cabin policies.
I have kids. Can they learn to kayak?
Conditions in Jamaica Bay can be challenging. Thus, paddles are limited to those 16 and older. We do not offer classes for children. Children are welcome at Lake Sebago, which offers opportunities for swimming.
What if I have my own boat?
Members with their own boats are welcome to paddle independently. For safety reasons, we strongly discourage solo paddling and recommend paddling in groups of three. Boat storage is available for active and participating members for an additional storage fee.
May I bring a guest?
We encourage all members to bring guests to our seasonal monthly Open House events, at which we offer short, guided tours suitable for novices. Guests may be included on a club paddle, contingent upon if the trip leader’s assessment of has assessed the conditions and the guest’s experience. and deemed it safe.
What else can I do?
Kayaking is our largest activity committee, but we also have an active community of sailors, and smaller rowing and canoeing committees. Please reach out to any of the committees below if you have questions or see the website for information.
How do you do all this?
Sebago is an all-volunteer club, and our members volunteer their time to run our activity programs, support our community outreach, manage the grounds and care for equipment, as well as the administrative operations. This all-volunteer club has been operational since 1933.
For more information, please visit our website, which includes our membership handbook and fees, as well as detailed information about the programs and policies for each of our activity committees. Members should take the time to familiarize themselves with this information.
Hope to see you on the water!