ACA L2 Canoe Touring Instructor

Join Jeff Atkins and RiverCoast for an Instructor Certification Workshop for ACA Level 2: Essentials of Canoe Touring Instructor Certification Workshop (3 day/24 hour minimum).  Note – limited registrations (space on first paid basis).

Course Description:  This course is to prepare candidates to certify as ACA Instructors in Essentials of Canoe Touring.  Although we teach from a fun and continuous learning approach, ACA Instructor Candidates must meet the Instructor Criteria and Assessments to certify (either during this workshop or subsequent check-off).

Please review in advance the following ACA documents (particularly the Instructor Criteria and Paddling/Rescue Skills Assessment):

• Instructor Criteria:  https://americancanoe.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/sei-courses/l2_ect_instcrit.pdf
• Skills Assessment (not including teaching skills): https://americancanoe.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/sei-courses/l2_ect_assessment.pdf
• Sample Skills Course: https://www.americancanoe.org/resource/resmgr/sei-courses/l2_ect_skills.pdf

Course Waivers: Please review in advance the ACA/RiverCoast waiver as all paddlesports can be risky.  Please contact Lynne (see info below) if you have any questions or clarifications or trouble accessing any links or other information that you may need.  Please feel free to contact your legal counsel in advance before signing this waiver or the COVID-19 waivers.

NOTE:  COVID-19 is a viral disease transmitted by respiratory droplets. It can cause a wide range of serious effects, including death. The disease can be transmitted by individuals who are not experiencing any symptoms, making it particularly difficult to control. Any contact among people introduces the risk of transmission including RiverCoast courses and events. As ACA Trip Leader or Instructor candidates, please understand ACA’s guidelines on COVID-19.  RiverCoast will adhere to these guidelines.  However, each participant must take responsibility for choices regarding participation in any and all activities.  Participants who are not fully vaccinated will wear an appropriate mask at all times.

Course Dates:  All day Friday – Saturday – Sunday on March 25 – 26 – 27, 2022.  We will meet no later than 9am on Friday and plan to conclude by 6 pm each day.  Please note the 24 hour minimum for this ACA course.

Course Location:  We begin each day at the Chapel at the San Marcos River Retreat at 444 Pecan Park Drive San Marcos, TX 78666.  Note that you can stay overnight at this building ($20 per night) or make independent arrangement to camp ($10 per night).

Course Venue: This primarily on-the-water course will be on the San Marcos River or nearby lake.  Course conditions specify protected water near shore with winds up to 10 knots, waves up to 1 foot (0.3 meter) or current up to 1 knot.  We may move to a nearby lake if conditions warrant.

Course Ratios:

• Tandem: 6 Instructor Candidates: 1 Instructor Trainer (with additional instructor or qualified assistant, 12:2)
• Solo: 5 Instructor Candidates: 1 Instructor Trainer (with additional instructor or qualified assistant, 10:2)

Prerequisites:  Completion of the appropriate level skills course, assessment course, or demonstration of equivalent skills.    In addition, ACA requirements for all Instructor Certifications include:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Meet the appropriate essential eligibility criteria
• Successfully complete an Instructor Certification Workshop (IDW & ICE)
• Be a full ACA member
• Upon successful completion, register with the Safety Education & Instruction Council
• Have and maintain First Aid and age appropriate CPR
• Demonstrate a general knowledge of paddlesports and the ACA
• Demonstrate the ability to appropriately perform and teach all of the following material
  unassisted in the appropriate venue

At Level 2, ACA allows for the Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW) to combine an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) with – for those who are ready – the subsequent Instructor Certification Exam (ICE).

The IDW part of this workshop helps prepare participants on how to teach the skills with a minimal amount of time devoted to refining skills.  For evaluation as Instructor Candidates at the ICE, ACA instructor courses expect that participants should have the paddling skills, technical knowledge, rescue ability, teaching ability, group management, and interpersonal skills commensurate with this level of certification. Note that our approach is to help people succeed so often an Instructor Candidate can demostrate incomplete skills at a later date (by meeting again or video submission).

Instructor Trainer: Led by Jeff Atkins, IT L3 Coastal Kayaking with assistance from an assisting instructor).  Jeff Atkins has over 25 years as a Park Ranger with South Carolina State and County Parks.  His experiences include instruction with the Outward Bound School throughout the USA.  Jeff is a Level 5 Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor and Level 3 Instructor Trainer IT) in Coastal Kayaking and Level 2 IT in Canoeing. In addition, he is a SUP Instructor, Wilderness First Responder and Leave no Trace Master Educator.  Jeff’s credentials are detailed on Jeff’s website at WavePaddler.com.

Contact:  Questions or clarifications?  Feel free to contact Lynne Andrus at RiverCoast.com or at Lynne@RiverCoast.com, 512-917-0939 (cell/text) or voice messate 512-292-9968 (office).  Registration accepted via the secure PayPal (or your credit card) below.