"Robyn" said:

My question (finally) for those of you with some experience, or who
may even be instructors, is, what do you think should be included in
each class level? Does it depend on location (lake, bay, etc.)?

A lot of it depends on the type of water you will be paddling - ie ocean,
bays, lakes, etc. Check out the BCU (British Canoe Union--remember kayaks
are called canoes in England) 1 star and 2 star tests as a good basic. The
info can be found at http://www.bcuna.com/Pages/Main-Pages/Literature.shtml

The ACA (American Canoe Association) also has a good program that you can
look at.

In addition, don't forget your local kayaking club. A lot of informal
instruction can be had at no cost at a lot of clubs. Welcome to a great
sport.

Steve
Southern CA.