ACA Community Paddlesport Certification

Join Jeff Oxenford, Jeff Atkins. and RiverCoast to achieve the Community Paddlesports Leader certification in canoe or kayak and concurrently review parts of the newly developed flatwater course for L3 Canoe Touring.  Note that the three-day format includes the prerequisite skills assessment.  Want a tune-up or private instruction in advance?  Contact Lynne at info below for availability.

Jeff Oxenford is an ACA Level 4 Whitewater Canoe Instructor Trainer Educator. He has almost 40 years experience teaching canoeing at summer camps, for professional outfitters, through canoe clubs,  and privately.  He has work with paddlers at all levels from beginners to advanced paddlers.  Jeff serves as Vice-Chair of the ACA Canoe discipline committee.

Jeff Atkins is an ACA Level 5 Instructor and IT (and ITE Level 4) for Coastal Kayak and Essentials of Canoeing and SUP.  After a successful career as a Park Ranger, Jeff is now retired from public service, but continues to work as an outdoor industry professional. He loves coaching and leading trips. As an Instructor for the NC Outward Bound School, he leads expeditions around several parts of the USA. Jeff also holds several certifications including Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and Coastal Master Naturalist for SC.

Course description for the Community Paddlesports Leader is available at the ACA Leader Pathway and summarized  below:

• The ACA Community Paddlesports Leader offering in lake canoe or kayak is your entry point to leading on the water. Whether you’re seeking certification for work or club outings or simply want to share your passion for paddling with friends and family, the ACA Community Paddlesports Leader program provides a perfect blend of support, challenge, community, and play. Gain the confidence you need to safely and effectively lead day excursions on calm waters. You’ll dive into a dynamic learning experience that covers decision-making, communication, planning, risk management, and rescue solutions—all while having fun. Join us and develop the skills you need to become a confident and capable paddlesports leader. The Community Paddlesports Leader program was created for
  • Camps and outdoor nonprofit staff
  • Club, meetup, university, and park leaders
  • Casual paddlers who want to safely take their friends and family on outings

Draft Course Description for the L3 Canoe Touring curriculum is found below.

• This two-day flatwater course combines the foundational skills of ACA Essentials of Canoeing with a pilot of the new L3 Canoe Touring curriculum. The course is designed to move beyond learning individual strokes and maneuvers to applying and integrating canoeing skills while traveling.
• Participants will progress through three stages:
  • Develop fundamental skills — Build effective canoe control, paddling, safety, and rescue skills.
  • Apply skills while traveling — Select and use appropriate paddling, navigation, teamwork, and safety skills based on the situation and conditions.
  •  Integrate skills for canoe touring — Combine efficient paddling, trip planning, navigation, teamwork, equipment management, safety, and judgment with increasing independence.
• Learning Objectives.  By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. 1. Control a canoe effectively using appropriate strokes and maneuvers for propulsion, stopping, turning, lateral movement, launching, and landing.
   2. Paddle efficiently over distance using effective body mechanics, stroke placement, correction techniques, pacing, and tandem coordination.
   3. Plan for a flatwater canoe trip by selecting appropriate equipment, developing a float plan, planning a route, identifying hazards, and considering anticipated conditions.
   4. Assess conditions and manage risk by evaluating weather, wind, waves, water conditions, exposure, and other hazards and making appropriate travel decisions.
   5. Navigate while underway by maintaining orientation, determining location and direction, following a planned route, and adjusting the route as conditions require.
   6. Apply canoe touring skills in a flatwater environment by integrating paddling, navigation, teamwork, equipment management, rescue skills, Leave No Trace practices, and sound decision-making.
   7. This course is appropriate for paddlers who want to strengthen their fundamental canoeing skills while developing the broader skills needed for safe, efficient, and enjoyable flatwater canoe touring.

Please review in advance the following ACA documents.

• Community Paddlesports Leader Overview
• Community Paddlesports Leader Certification Criteria
• ACA Course Management System (CMS)
• ACA Waivers (and Insurance if appropriate to your classes)
• SEIC Policy Manual and SEIC Operating Procedures

Course Prerequisites.  Please contact us if you have concerns or need help with any of the following:

• Be a current ACA Member
• Obtain a copy of the course curriculum, either hardcopy or digital download: ACA Community Paddlesports Leader – Candidate Course Workbook
• Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• Agree to comply with the ACA Code of Conduct
• Included on Day 1:   Leadership course participants must have successfully completed a Level 1 or Level 2 Skills
  Assessment from any of the disciplines outlined below. This prerequisite does not apply to hybrid course participants.
  • ACA Level 1: Introduction to Kayak, SUP, Canoeing, or Packrafting Skills Assessment (or)
  • ACA Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring, Sit-on-Top Kayak Touring, River Kayaking, Sit-on-Top River Kayaking, SUP, Canoeing, Paddle Rafting, Oar Rafting, River Packrafting, or Surf Kayaking Skills Assessment
• Urban first aid & CPR certification (or higher) – must be completed prior to certificatin.

Recommended/Suggested Experience (before or after this course)

• Be an active personal paddler
• Been a participant on previous paddling trips
• Completed a Leave No Trace workshop
• Completed skills training in other paddlecraft
• Level 2: Essentials of River Safety & Rescue Skills Assessment – not relevant to this course
• Attendance in an ACA Instructor Development Workshop in the capacity of a practice
  student or candidate

Course Waivers: Please review in advance the ACA/RiverCoast waiver via CMS (above) 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.

Accommodations: Many options exist near Austin Yacht Club (Hudson Bend on Lake Travis) including:

• Austin Yacht Club (AYC) cabins and RV sites for a fee and free tent campting.  See link to a map of facilities with additional information at AYC rental cabins & RV webpage   Showers avaialable. Contact Lynne for member pricing and possibly of shared sites.
• Various Travis County and LCRA campgrounds near Hudson Bend on Lake Travis
• Windy Point and other campgrounds across from AYC on Lake Travis.  (Note: Hippy Hollow is clothing optional.)

Course Dates:  All day Tuesday – Wednesday,  October 13 -14, 2026.  We will meet no later than 8:30 am on Monday and plan to conclude by 5:30 pm on Wednesday. Be ready to get on the water!

Course Location:  We begin each day at Austin Yacht Club (AYC). The code for the gate will be provided in advance for those not staying on the grounds.  Most if not all activities will be on the AYC grounds and launch areas.

Course Venue: Be prepared for wind, waves, and relatively short portages.  Scout out site for your enjoyment and for pre-trip planning at Google maps.

Contact:  Questions or clarifications?  Help with a suitable canoe or kayak? Feel free to contact Lynne Andrus at RiverCoast.com or at Lynne@RiverCoast.com, 512-917-0939 (cell/text) or voice message 512-292-9968 (office).  Contact Lynne for email invoice with registration by check or secure credit card.