Welcome to the UKC
The University Kayak Club (UKC) is a sports club sponsored by the University of Washington's Department of Recreational Sports Programs. The Club promotes a wide variety of human-powered boating activities. Over the past several years, most club members have been involved in recreational whitewater and ocean kayaking, but some have participated in related sports such as canoeing and even dragon boat racing. Traditionally, members of the club have competed in whitewater slalom racing, kayak polo, and sea kayak races. Boaters of all skill levels are welcome, and those who are new to the sport are especially encouraged to join.
The Pacific Northwest is one of the best areas in the country for canoeing and kayaking. We enjoy a year round season, with easy access to a multitude of paddling opportunities. For river kayakers, there are over 15 good whitewater runs within a 90 minute drive of Seattle. Local rainfall throughout the fall and winter and snowmelt through the spring and summer keeps nearby rivers flowing for most months of the year. There are also several whitewater slalom races within a couple hours drive of Seattle. Sea kayakers enjoy many nearby islands, especially the San Juans, that provide an abundance of prime destinations.
Join Us
This year we have a new membership process!
- Pay the HUB ticket office located on the first floor of HUB. Hours: Monday to Friday 8am - 4:30pm. They will issue you a blank membership card
- Come to a pool session or club room orientation at the Waterfront Activities Center (check the calendar). Bring your membership card. We explain all the rules for taking care of the club equipment, teach you how to wet exit a kayak, then give you the validation sticker for your membership card. You will be required to get in the water for a few seconds, so bring a swimsuit and towel.
- Paddle to your hearts desire
| Quarter Joining | ||||
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students | $20 | |||
| Faculty, Staff, and Spouses | $41 | $34 | $27 | $20 |
Trips
Sea and river trips... the real fun of the club. There's pretty much no better escape than floating down a roaring river or witnessing an orca breach off a San Juan island. But to do that, the club needs paddling insurance! You must join the American Canoe Association to go on our trips. The cost is $30 and a membership includes a one year subscription to Paddler magazine. You will receive a membership card and you must bring that with you on club trips.
Join the ACA. On the second page of the membership form pick the Paddle America membership option and put "ukc" in the club name field.