ACA instructor news: courses and update opportunities

The Carolina Canoe Club is offering an ACA whitewater kayak instructor course, held on two 3-day weekends: September 24-26, 2010 and October 8-10, 2010. John Zadrozny will be the lead instructor. The exact location(s) for the two weekends will be determined based on water and weather.

The course will cover beginner and intermediate teaching progressions, strokes, river maneuvers, rolling, class organization and risk management. The first weekend will emphasize flatwater skills and teaching techniques and the second weekend will focus on river skills and risk management. ACA certification is recognized as the baseline for paddling instructors, and provides instructors with a number of benefits, including insurance and several pro-deals.

Instructor candidates should be class III or better kayakers who are interested in learning how to paddle and teach more effectively. Candidates will be evaluated based on their class III boating skills, their ability to teach effectively, and their ability to model paddling skills on flatwater and up to class II whitewater. To receive certification, participants will need to attend both weekends, and will need to successfully complete a number of teaching and performance requirements. Participation in the class does not guarantee certification. Participants who do not receive certification will be given a written list of areas to work on, and will have up to four years to complete the list. Part of the class will focus on polishing and developing the candidate’s skills, and many paddlers find that both their teaching and their paddling skills improve after taking the course.

Course costs are broken down into three areas:

• Room and board - each participant is responsible for their own. We'll likely base out of the Raleigh, NC area for the first weekend and somewhere in western NC for the second weekend. We will probably stay at a campground the second weekend, but participants are welcome to stay elsewhere.
• ACA costs – ACA costs include ACA membership ($40.00) and SEIC registration ($25.00) and the cost of an ACA Instructors Manual (around $17.00). Each participant will be responsible for these costs.
• Course tuition - – A minimum of 4 candidates is needed for the course to be held and the maximum will be held to 6 candidates. Tuition cost is $250.00 per candidate. Signup deadline with full payment is September 3, 2010.

CCC offers a schedule of reimbursement of costs for instructors who teach a specified number of classes for the club. Many other clubs offer similar reimbursement options.

If you would like more information about the course or the CCC’s policy of instructor reimbursments, please contact Sharon Myers, CCC’s Education Chairperson at education.chair@carolinacanoeclub.org or John Zadrozny at zdr_j@yahoo.com.