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Building Connections to the Natural World

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March 13, 2025

It has been just 3 years since Clay Kern and his wife Jen took the leap into business ownership when they purchased the long-standing Bearskin Neck kayak business, North Shore Kayak. Since then, they have been very busy expanding and growing the business.

Holding a Masters degree in Marine & Environmental Science, Clay has a passion for teaching and helping people connect to the natural world. In addition to renting kayaks, North Shore Adventures offers guided tours out of Rockport Harbor to Straightmouth and Thacher Islands, as well as mobile tours out of Gloucester, Ipswich, and Essex. All tour guides are trained in the biology and history of the area.

For those not inclined to be on the water, they also offer beach cruiser bike rentals and ebike rentals. They have even developed a self-guided bike tour that takes people to places of interest while they listen to tour info on their phone.   

Taking technology one step further in 2025, North Shore Adventures is introducing Escape Cape Ann, an augmented reality experience through an iPad. Several adventure options will be available that take players around Rockport, solving puzzles and riddles through use of a toolkit. Clay plans on involving other local businesses as part of the challenge.

Learn more about North Shore Adventures  through their Member Spotlight at: https://capeannchamber.com/member-spotlight-north-shore-adventures/

Building Connections to the Natural World

Cape Ann Conversations is a weekly podcast with new episodes posted weekly on Thursdays.

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