ACA L3 Instructor Certification Workshop - with Pinniped Kayak (5 day course)

Join Portland Paddle and Nate Hansen of Pinniped Kayak for a fun, challenging, five days of kayaking and teaching skills development!

For additional details and to register, please visit our website.

American Canoe Association (ACA) instructor certifications are the industry standard within the world of paddlesports. These certifications are essential for professional instructors and are also valuable for paddling club members, summer camp counselors, and school outing club leaders. All instructor certification workshops are taught by ACA-certified Instructor Trainers. To learn more about the ACA instructor certification system visit this page of the ACA website.

Course description:
In this certification workshop we will explore a variety of approaches to actively support and promote learning in our students. This is a busy and interactive course, with exemplar sessions by instructors, and many opportunities for candidates to deliver practice sessions, receive feedback from peers and staff, and refine their approach to instruction.

Through the week candidates will work towards demonstrating competency with the teaching, leadership, and personal paddling abilities required of L3 Instructors, and on days 4 and 5 we will assess those abilities authentically, by providing candidates the opportunity to teach a group of genuine practice students. This ICW utilizes coastal environments in the Casco Bay area, with moderate wind, waves up to 2 feet, small surf, and current up to 2 knots. A detailed description of the minimum topics to be covered by the course, as required by the ACA, can be found here.

Prerequisites:

• Proof of an ACA L3: Coastal Kayaking Skills Assessment with an ACA certified instructor, meeting the criteria outlined by the ACA
• Comfort paddling in course appropriate environments, including 10-15 knots of wind, up to 2 feet of waves and surf, and up to 2 knots of current
• Prior experience with capsizing and recovering a sea kayak, and performing other rescue maneuvers
• Basic knowledge of navigation and seamanship
• Basic knowledge of paddling strokes, braces, and other fundamental techniques

Register now!