Course Descriptions


Essentials of Canoe Instructor– Tandem/Solo

COURSE OVERVIEW/PURPOSE: To fine tune and add to the knowledge and skills the participant received in Introduction to Tandem Canoe. The participant will be given the finer skills and knowledge to paddling a canoe tandem on flat water. This course is the second in a progression to paddling a tandem canoe whether the final goal is white water or Freestyle.

Participants will be able to teach:
How to make the boat move sideways while it moving forward (side slip)
How to do tight turns
How to paddle backwards in a straight line
How to edge a boat
How to brace
**this course will also serve as a Canoe Trip Leader Assessment for those interested

PARTICIPANT’S QUALIFICATIONS: Be able to physically perform the above task and be in good health. Be able to keep head above water when wearing a proper fitting PFD and be comfortable paddling in moving river current.

Whitewater Canoe Instructor – Tandem/solo

COURSE OVERVIEW/PURPOSE: To take the skills and knowledge that the student has learned in the Moving Water course and apply them to more difficult water. Also, to refine and add to those skills the finer points of paddling a solo canoe on white water, up to and through Class II. The focus is more on boat control, maneuvering, precision, and how to use the river and “play” the river, then going from point A to B.

Participants will be able to teach:
River classifications, features and hazards
Basic white water outfitting of a canoe
How to perform more precise eddy turns into smaller eddies
How to front ferry in Class II white water
How to back ferry in Class II white water
How to perform more difficult rescues
How to identify and deal with river hazards in more depth

PARTICIPANT’S QUALIFICATIONS: Comfortable paddling in class 3 whitewater, able to play the river and self rescue with ease. Physically able to provide safety and rescue for participants.

Whitewater Kayak Instructor

COURSE OVERVIEW/PURPOSE: To take the skills and knowledge that the student has learned in the Moving Water course and apply them to more difficult water. Also, to refine and add to those skills the finer points of paddling a solo canoe on white water, up to and through Class II. The focus is more on boat control, maneuvering, precision, and how to use the river and “play” the river, then going from point A to B.

Participants will be able to teach:

River classifications, features and hazards
Basic white water outfitting of a kayak
How to perform more precise eddy turns into smaller eddies and play the river on class II features
How to front ferry in Class II white water
How to back ferry in Class II white water
How to perform more difficult rescues
How to identify and deal with river hazards in more depth

PARTICIPANT’S QUALIFICATIONS: Comfortable paddling in class 3 whitewater, able to play the river and self rescue with ease. Physically able to provide safety and rescue for participants.

For more information on ACA courses please visit

http://www.americancanoe.org/instruction/instruction.lasso