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NORTON - Put away those iPods, iPhones and whatever else begins with a lower case 'i' these days. Step away from the computer and TV set and for a change and soak up a little sunshine and natural splendor.

That's the message Dave Lennon is trying to get out, anyway. Lennon is vice president of the Norton Kayak Co., based at Norton Reservoir and offering three-hour kayaking tours of the water body seven days a week. Lennon, who does the tours for beginners and experienced kayakers, is a ACA-certified instructor and guide.

The company started offering tours last year and began as the brainchild of Lennon, who worked with the town to make it happen. Lennon said he had been looking for a place to start a kayak business, and heard that the town was looking for ways to put the reservoir to use. Norton officials were thrilled with the idea of kayak tours, Lennon said, and this year even supplied him with wood chips for the launch site. In the future, the town plans to put in a ramp to improve the launch area, he said.

The company supplies kayaks, life jackets, paddles and dry bags to keep your camera from getting wet even if it falls overboard. You supply the paddle power and take in the beauty of the reservoir as Lennon points out such wildlife as cormorants and baby mute swans.

This is not a rental company. A tour guide goes out with every group and groups do not exceed eight people. For larger groups, an intern will join the guide. Lennon said they keep groups small for a reason. "It's more intimate and individualized. You can get into the history and wildlife more," he said.

Last week, my tour weaved through the reservoir's islands (including an aptly named Blueberry Island), into a small cove and near an old, unused bridge in a narrow passageway. If you ask, the tour will stop at an island and let you explore and swim.

The tour also includes a healthy dose of history. Lennon talked about buildings that used to be nearby and how the reservoir was originally a farm in the 1800s. A dam was built and the farm flooded in 1868 to create a water supply for the Wading River Reservoir Co. in Dighton, but Norton Reservoir is no longer a water supply.

Lennon also referenced the story of a nearby farmhouse that was reportedly part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. The house is said to have had a tunnel that would now be underneath the reservoir and would have come out on one of the islands. The story, Lennon admitted, has never been proven.

Lennon has lived in Norton for 25 years and says he goes out on the reservoir 150 days a year. As a result, he is very familiar with the wildlife in the habitat. He knows where a heron lives and where mute swans nest. He even talked about the freshwater mussels found along the bottom of the reservoir.

On my tour we witnessed several mute swans in their nests, sticking their necks out inquisitively at the passing kayaks. Lennon kept a respectful distance of 50 feet, though that was enough to stir a few mother swans out of their nests and pace in front of us.

Don't be afraid if you have never kayaked before. Lennon explains the three different types of kayaks the company has and the safety precautions that are taken. Each lifejacket has a whistle on it in case you need to get the guide's attention, and the guide carries a compass, knife, GPS, and his Blackberry, which Lennon considers the key lifeline.

When an intern is out in the water with the guide, they have walkie-talkies to communicate. And Lennon has a way to tow people back to shore if something happens, a "hippo patch" if a kayak springs a leak, and a man-made bouy in case sunglasses or some other item are dropped into the reservoir and sink to the bottom. The bouy will mark the spot and someone will try to retrieve the item later.

"There are always eyes and ears out there. We use our sense for everything. There is always a guide," Lennon said.

Though a dip in the water may be refreshing in the hot summer sun, flipping the kayak over is pretty hard to do. For one, the reservoir tends to be very still. And even if you do tip over, it's very shallow, 5 feet deep in most places and only 10 feet at its deepest. Lennon said the best times to go out kayaking is in the afternoon or evening. The company's permit is from sunrise to sunset, which works out well for fishermen who are looking to get out first thing. And they do offer tours for specifically for fishermen.

Some of the best times to see animals are during the full moon, and Norton Kayak offers several programs catering to just that. Lennon said he will also modify the tour based on your level of experience and how you handle the kayak.

A few weeks ago Lennon brought a group of 70-something-year-old women out on the reservoir in the kayaks and, he said, they had a great time.

One of the company's goals is to have mostly, if not all, American made products with additional supplies from local companies that specialize in more eco-friendly items.

"We try to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible," Lennon said. "We are trying to cut down on our environmental impact."

If you go ...

WHAT: Norton Kayaking Co.

WHERE: 237 Mansfield Ave., Norton. The launch site is off Route 140 across from the Cumberland Farms and behind the insurance building.

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset.

COST: $60 for adult 18+, for youths 13-17 $55. Groups of 8 get a $5 discount per person.

DETAILS: Kayakers must be older than 13. They should wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring binoculars, if they have them, and water to drink.

CONTACT: 508-740-7728, www.nortonkayakco.com