ACA Instructor Courses for 2012

The Carolina Canoe Club is sponsoring  the ACA whitewater kayak instructor courses listed below. These courses will  be held over two 3-day weekends:
                
– ACA Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor Courses for 2012
                    April 27-29, 2012   /   May 11-13, 20                                  (SIGN-UP DEADLINE – MARCH 31, 2012)
                    May 25-27, 2012   /   June 8-10, 2012                               (SIGN-UP DEADLINE – APRIL 28, 2012)
                    July 27-29, 2012   /   August 10-12, 2012                         (SIGN-UP DEADLINE – JUNE 30, 2012)
                    September 28-30, 2012   /   October 12-14, 2012         (SIGN-UP DEADLINE – AUGUST 31, 2012)
                                
John Zadrozny will be the lead IT (Instructor / Trainer).  The exact location(s) for each course will be determined based on water and weather. The courses will most likely be held in the western North Carolina mountains.
 
The Level 4 whitewater kayak instructor course will cover beginner and intermediate teaching progressions, strokes, river maneuvers, rolling, class organization and risk management.  The first weekend will emphasize primarily flatwater skills and development of teaching techniques, whereas 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:
 
A) room and board – each participant is responsible for their own.  We will probably base at a campground during the course, but participants are welcome to stay elsewhere.
 
B) ACA costs – ACA costs include ACA membership and SEIC registration and the cost of an ACA Instructors Manual . Each participant will be responsible for these costs. Please consult the ACA website for current information.
 
C) Course tuition – Tuition cost is $375.00 per candidate.
A minimum of 4 candidates (signed up and tuition paid in full by the sign-up deadline) is needed for the course to be held.  The maximum will be held to 6 candidates. Full refunds are available up to the sign-up deadline date – no refunds will be available after that date.
 
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 Dana Lapple, CCC’s Education Chairperson at  education.chair@carolinacanoeclub.org or John Zadrozny at zdr_ j@yahoo.com.