Essex River Basin Adventures

05/19/2023

Join Woodman's and Essex, MA as we spring into a new season of warm weather, good food at Village Restaurant C.K. pearl Shea's Riverside Rest. & Ripple_onthewater_Essex Great Marsh Brewing Company and great shopping at Sea Meadow Gifts and Gardens and get in touch with nature with Essex River Cruises and Charters, Essex River Basin Adventures or Cape Ann SUP + Surf Co.

08/08/2020

After 25 years of bringing Sea Kayak Tours, Instruction and Sales to all ages of paddlers in Essex, Massachusetts and the waters of Cape Ann, owners, Sandy and Ozzie are retiring. As of August 2020, ERBA is closed.
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Thank you to all of our fantastic guides and customers! – Sandy and Ozzie

07/03/2019

Shea's Riverside Inn & Motel

Calling all guests staying with us July 13-16.....you don’t want to miss this!! Call ERBA direct to book!! Recreation Fun in Essex!!
Saturday - Tuesday, July 13 - 16, 2019 from 7pm - 10pm each evening
Essex River Basin Adventures, 1 Main Street (corner of Western Avenue)
ERBA's moonlight tour is a truly unique experience. Paddle to Crane Beach as the sun sets over the Essex River Basin. Enjoy a beach campfire, s’mores, hot chocolate and coffee. Paddle back under the light of the full moon and see the Essex River Basin in an entirely new way. $80 per person. Call to reserve 978-768-3722

08/11/2018

Guide Lindsay is training her 2 year old nephew to be a future ERBA guide!

08/05/2018

Guide Lindsay and some friends traveled to the Grand Canyon - ERBA shirts are adventure shirts!!!

07/04/2018

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

07/03/2018

It's always fun to see a tour come home. Great job Guides Tim, Cole, Kate, and Jackson - everyone had such fun out there 🙂

06/30/2018

Where in the world is Guide Kara? Iceland and wearing her ERBA shirt! (But it was cold, hence the jacket)

Where do you wear your ERBA gear?

06/19/2018

We've seen a few of these out there already during our paddles. Very cool to see. Just be careful as they do sting.

Across the pond along Cedar Point, Cranes Beach today...Lion's Mane jellyfish....watch for them off Plum Island too!

06/18/2018

Learning something new everyday... and it's better when it's local knowledge!!!

Did you know that the lobster trap was created in Swampscott? It’s 210 years old!
Go Ebenezer!

06/12/2018

😢

Sadly, what has been identified by the New England Aquarium as a Pigmy S***m Whale has washed ashore on the Ipswich River side of Steep Hill Beach. The whale passed away shortly after running aground. The whale passed away before any rescue attempt could be made. Researchers from the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH are responding to examine this rarely seen whale.

05/27/2018

On Thursday we had a lovely paddle through Walker Creek!

05/25/2018

All of our guides also have other unique talents off the water - If you go to Newburyport sometimes you might even catch Guide Paul playing the banjo. Though we have to admit, once you get to know Paul better, we all have a similar reaction.... (just kidding! We love his musical talents!)

05/21/2018

It's that time of the year when living dinosaurs are busy making babies!!!

A visitor shared this with us a few days ago! Come at high tide and see how amazing these creatures are! Check the tides at http://nh.usharbors.com/monthly-tides/New%20Hampshire/Squamscott%20River

As always please remember to take only pictures, and give them space.....they are busy making the next generation 😊

05/20/2018

Today was "Yard Day" for our Ultimate Sea Kayaker class. We covered how to fit ourselves and others to boats as well as proper lifting and carrying techniques. And it is our last landlubber day - we'll be on water from here on out!

05/18/2018

Essex Police Department

Please be alert and take this into consideration when making plans!

Mass DOT - Highway Division has just notififed us that they will be undertaking emergency repair work to the Rt. 133 bridge (Main St. in the area of #80) starting early on Saturday May 19, 2018. Traffic will be reduced to one lane, and you may see a temporary set of working traffic lights. Motorists should expect delays .

05/14/2018

***TIME IS RUNNING OUT***

There is still time to sign up for our Ultimate Sea Kayak course! The class starts THIS Thursday at 5:30 pm and will run until June 10:

Cost: $375 for 40 hours of instruction
-Sundays 9-2
-Thursday 5:30-8:30
-Tuesdays 5:30-8:30 optional fun paddle/class make-up.

You can bring payment and fill out the necessary forms Thursday.

For more information: https://www.erba.com/kayak-lessons

05/11/2018

Who Wore It Better: Facial Puncture Wound Stabilization

Vote for your favorite guide getting a fake facial puncture wound stabilized! Is it Guide Lindsay? Guide Matt? Or Guide John?

Vote in the comments section!

Don't worry - these look messier then we would normally do them if you really were impaled as each guide also has a head compression wrap on. Multitasking with our bandaging practice! ERBA is nothing, if not efficient :)

And if you are interested in taking a Wilderness First Aid Afloat class (we highly recommend it!) check out North Star Adventures LLC

05/07/2018

Rare right whales spotted off Marblehead

Very cool!

MARBLEHEAD — The town has been treated to some rare sightings of an elusive mammal over the past several days with a number of right whales showing up in the

05/07/2018

Who Wore It Better: Human Burrito

Vote for your favorite guide surviving hypothermia in a human burrito wrap! Is it Guide Paul? Guide Lindsay? Or Guide Matt?

Vote in the comments section!

And if you are interested in taking a Wilderness First Aid Afloat class (we highly recommend it!) check out North Star Adventures LLC

05/07/2018

May 5-6th, a number of ERBA guides took a Wilderness First Aid Afloat course. Enjoy the hilarious photo opportunities that ensued.

05/04/2018

May the Fourth Be With You!

04/29/2018

CNN

Whoa! We are very happy that everything worked out and the kayaker and first responders stayed safe during the entire incident!

This kayaker was pulled from a raging river in North Carolina after getting stuck in debris — and the dramatic rescue was captured on live TV

04/28/2018

Osprey Watch

Ever wanted to be a "citizen scientist"? Now is your chance!!!

Essex Greenbelt is looking for volunteers to document the behavior of Ospreys in Essex County by visiting an adopted nest at least once a week, recording observations and taking photographs. For more information:

http://www.ecga.org/osprey_watch

Please submit an application below and you will be assigned to a geographically appropriate nest or if you already have a nest in mind you would like to watch please tell us in the message field on the application. You will also receive an Osprey Monitoring guide below.

04/26/2018

Brad Hill

The Mass House of Representatives just approved the request to fund the green crab trapping program for $50,000. This program is vital to the survival of the Great Marsh ecosystem. We unfortuenly see many of these crabs while we paddle in the area, but since the program was instituted, there has been a noticeable decline.

We want to thank everyone from lawmakers, clammers, wildlife management, and everyone else who has dedicated time and support to manage this problem over the years!

Some great environmental news to report for my district: the House has approved my budget request to fund the green crab trapping program at $50,000, along with a policy proposal I co-sponsored to increase the annual cap on the Conservation Land Tax Credit from $2 million to $5 million over the next three years.

The green crab trapping program is critical to reversing the damage that has been done to the Great Marsh by this invasive species, which have proven to be particularly harmful to the local clamming industry. This new funding appropriation reaffirms my ongoing commitment to address this serious problem.

I’m also happy to report that the House has unanimously approved an increase in the current cap on the Conservation Land Tax Credit. Since it started in 2011, this popular program has provided over $12 million in tax credits to permanently preserve 11,479 acres of donated land across the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, the current cap is making it difficult for the program to keep up with the growing demand for the tax credit. Raising the cap will allow the state to clear up the current backlog of pending applications and will provide the state with more protected open space.

http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0009747

04/25/2018

Flow's Journey Ends

We are sad to report that last October, our resident Osprey Flow died while migrating to Cuba for the winter. We are hopefully that this year will see more osprey chicks being born in the Basin.

http://ecga.org/Property/Flows-Journey-Ends

On a sad note, we report that Flow, the 3-year-old male Osprey hatched at the Cox Reserva…

04/25/2018

Friendly PSA: New sandbars have formed in the Ipswich river and the channel markers have been adjusted accordingly. Stay safe on the water!

Beautiful day on the water. Channel Markers are in, and storm debris has been cleared.

If you have not heard, the Channel in the river has changed, and new sand bars have formed. Be sure to follow the Channel Markers as they have been adjusted to the changing river.

The Ipswich Police Departments Marine Patrol will be posting updates and advisory’s on this page, so be sure to turn notifications on. We Look forward to seeing you on the water.

04/23/2018

Ugh.. who wants to be stuck inside and bag groceries all summer?!?!?! I'd rather be on the water, toasting s'mores under a full moon!

If you are a high school or college age student who is looking for a more exciting job to do this summer, then consider becoming a kayak guide with ERBA.

To be eligible for employment, you must first take our course, but after that there is a lot of work opportunities throughout the summer and early fall (moonlights, day, sunset, hike and paddles, etc). There is a lot of support from other guides to ensure that you are comfortable doing tours and there is a lot of leadership potential.

We are also very flexible and understanding about your other commitments and responsibilities and will work with you to ensure that you can meet them.

The class will run: May 17 - June 10
Cost: $375 for 40 hours of instruction
-Sundays 9-2
-Thursday 5:30-8:30
-Tuesdays 5:30-8:30 optional fun paddle/class make-up

On Saturday May 12th at 12 pm we will host an info meeting where you can talk to guides and instructors to see if this is right for you.

For more information: https://www.erba.com/kayak-lessons

04/21/2018

While literally running up a bunker during the 5k to support marine mammals and the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point State Park Guide Lindsay (in the attractive blue hat) ran into fellow kayaker Caitlin and her husband Ross, who both took our kayak course a few years ago. What a small world!

04/15/2018

Ummmm.... yes please!

04/13/2018

Step Outside

Thank you Step Outside for this honor!!!

We’re excited to inform you that Essex River Basin Adventures has been selected as one of the featured Places for Beginners to Kayak in Massachusetts by Step Outside.

Check out the link to the article!

Whether you’re searching for bucolic hikes in your area or charming local campsites, Step Outside is the leader in outdoor exploration. Between spotlighting the best local shops and retailers to covering all of the outdoor recreation you can dream about, Step Outside will get you pointed in the right direction.

Share this post with your followers and tag us

04/12/2018

Ipswich Emergency Management Agency - Ipswich, Massachusetts

Some of our guides attended the forum last night in Ipswich and there are two more planned for Essex and Gloucester. The presentations covered many topics about climate change ranging from very local and specific (such as the flooding of the Causeway in Essex or flooded roads in Ipswich during the Nor'easter's and high tide) to broader issues like 100 year storms.

If you missed the Coastal Resilency workshop last night in Ipswich and are interested in seeing this excellent presentation about sea level rise, climate change, and disaster mitigation planning you have two more chances to see it.

April 18th @ Gloucester City Hall
April 25th @ Essex Town Hall

The seminar runs from 6-830pm.

These seminars are being brought to our communities by a grant from Coastal Zone Management in cooperation with the Cape Ann Emergency Planning Team with presentations by local officials, the National Wildlife Federation, and the MAPC.

http://www.essexma.org/Pages/EssexMA_News/025E2A27-000F8513

04/07/2018

Given that one of our guides is an archaeologist, we sure do love learning about it. And since we love everything nautical we are always excited when the two can be combined!

If you have ever wanted to learn more about shipwrecks (like the Ada K. Damon on Crane Beach) and how to protect them, there is a local-ish opportunity April 21/22 in Middleborough MA.

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

04/04/2018

*** I KNOW I PADDLE LIKE A GIRL - SO TRY TO KEEP UP ***

Are you a woman who is looking to just get out there and DO things? Do you want to meet new friends in the area? Or are you ready for an adventure that will give you more empowerment and support in your life? Come join us for our kayak course and meet a diverse group of women of all ages and careers!!!

Most people think kayak companies like us are only staffed by young, college aged men, but at ERBA that couldn't be farther from the truth! At least 50% of our staff are women (if not more) of all ages and we are always looking to expand our guide pool. Join us and our instructors (3 of whom are women) for this incredible opportunity:

May 17 - June 10
Cost: $375 for 40 hours of instruction
-Sundays 9-2
-Thursday 5:30-8:30
-Tuesdays 5:30-8:30 optional fun paddle/class make-up

On Saturday May 12th at 12 pm we will host an info meeting where you can talk to guides and instructors to see how perfect this will be for you.

For more information: https://www.erba.com/kayak-lessons