Labor Day last chance for lake rentals

The NIC beach rental shack is open 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Monday – Friday now through Labor Day, weather permitting. After Labor Day rentals are still available by appointment only.

Students receive a generous discount close to 50% off. Rates are per hour or daily, after two hours of use the rentals role over to the daily price. Equipment available for rent includes paddle boards, kayaks, tandem kayaks, sit on top kayaks, canoes, and sail boats. They also sell snacks and beverages.

Beginners are welcome to try out any of the equipment and the interns working the rental shack are happy to help. Outdoor Pursuits intern Leigha Pennington, 24, says, “We can absolutely give them a little lesson on how to hold your paddle and what strokes or techniques work best.” Students are welcome to rent out any of the equipment.

“Even with the sailing, as long as the weather is not too light or too hard, we can send beginners out with a lesson on how to manage your sail boat,” Pennington said.

If you get stuck out on the lake, the interns have a motor boat they can come rescue you with.

“We use the boat for emergencies, or if they need to get towed in. We’ve got eyes on the lake in case,” said Pennington.

You can use the rental equipment on the entire lake because the equipment is non-motorized; other motorized boaters will have to yield the right of way. Pennington said that if you are going in a group, try to stick together so that fellow boaters are not waiting for a long line of ducks to move out of the way.

So far this summer there have not been any real emergencies. “We give a lot of warning when conditions aren’t ideal,” said Pennington.

If you are wanting more instruction than just the short lesson before you hit the lake, Outdoor Pursuits has classes that take place Monday -Thursday evenings that are $5 per class for students. The meeting times and information can be found on Cardinal Sync, where you should RSVP that you will be attending.