American Canoe Association
Coastal Kayak Instructor Certification

General Requirements for all Certifications:

1. Be at least 18 years old.
2. Successfully complete an Instructor Development Workshop
3. Be an A.C.A. member, including the Safety, Education, & Instruction Committee (S.E.I.C) Call 703-451-0141 to join. Try to do this prior to the workshop!
4. Demonstrate a general knowledge of Canoesport and the A.C.A.

Maintenance Requirements:

1. Teach at least two courses that meet A.C.A. standards within the four-year certification
   period and report the results to the National Office.
2. Attend (within the four-year certification period) at least one of the following:
   Instructor Methods Workshop, Instructor Development Workshop, Instructor Certification Workshop
   (assisting in either of the last two is OK).
3. Maintain A.C.A. membership and SEIC. registration annually.

Proficiency Requirements for Basic Level Instructor:

Fundamentally, we expect that paddlers should become experienced sea kayakers in mild to moderate conditions,
before presenting themselves for evaluation as instructor candidates at the Basic Level.

1. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model the basic paddle strokes; forward, reverse, forward and reverse sweeps, draw and sculling draw, high and low braces.
2. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model basic rescue techniques; T-rescue, Side-by-Side, Rafted-T, and Paddle Float. Also have working knowledge of other rescues; Scramble, Reentry and Roll with Paddle Float, Reentry and Roll, All-In, Scoop, and Sling.
3. Demonstrate ability to perform a reliable Eskimo roll.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of, and ability to teach, the following:
   -- Safety issues and hazards of coastal kayaking
   -- Basic chart reading and use
   -- Weather conditions important to the kayaker
   -- Hypothermia; prevention and treatment
   -- Signaling devices and safety equipment
   -- Boat traffic, rules of the road
   -- Kayak design and equipment
   -- Kayak towing technique
5. Demonstrate ability to paddle comfortably with grace and style, and to perform rescues efficiently, in calm water.
6. Demonstrate leadership and group management skills, experience and judgment necessary to be a safe, effective
   instructor.

Proficiency Requirements for Open Water Level Instructor:

Fundamentally, we expect that paddlers should become experienced sea kayakers in a variety of conditions,
including rough water, before presenting themselves for evaluation as instructor candidates at the Open Water
Level.

1. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model the basic paddle strokes; forward, reverse,
   forward and reverse sweeps, draw and sculling draw, high and low braces.
2. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model basic rescue techniques; T-rescue, Side-by-Side, Rafted-T, and Paddle Float. Also
   have working knowledge of other rescues; Scramble, Reentry and Roll with Paddle Float, Reentry and Roll, All-In, Scoop, and
   Sling.
3. Demonstrate ability to perform a reliable Eskimo roll.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of, and ability to teach, the following:
   -- Wind, weather and waves
   -- Tides and current
   -- Chart reading, compass reading and basic navigation
   -- Surf zone characteristics and hazards
   -- Coastal features and hazards
   -- Hypothermia; prevention and treatment
   -- Signaling devices and safety equipment
   -- Boat traffic, rules of the road
   -- Kayak design and equipment
   -- Kayak towing technique
5. Demonstrate ability to paddle comfortably with grace and style in surf, tide rips, and rough water.*
6. Demonstrate the ability to perform rescues efficiently in rough water.
7. Demonstrate leadership and group management skills, experience and judgment necessary to be a safe, effective instructor.

*Note: Solid rough water skill (paddling in rough conditions with “grace and style”) must be demonstrated before Open Water certified.

Proficiency Requirements for Open Water Instructor (OW):

OW certification can not be completed unless during some period two of the conditions
necessary for rough water assessment are present during some portion the
certification course.

3-5 foot seas or 15-20 knots wind or 3-4 foot surf or 3-4 knots of current.
Two conditions must occur but they do not have to be simultaneous.

Area of escape from rough conditions must be accessible.

Proficiency Requirements for Advanced Open Water Instructor (AOW):

Fundamentally, we expect that paddlers should be very experienced Open Water Instructors (2 years minimum) in
a variety of conditions, including rough water, surf, and tidal currents before presenting themselves for
assessment as instructor candidates at the Advanced Open Water Level.
The primary difference between AOW and OW is this: the OW Instructor has to be personally proficient in rough
water but is not expected nor certified to teach and manage a group in those conditions. The AOW must be more
experienced and have the necessary training to conduct the approved ACA courses that fall within their
certification.

1. All of the requirements for Basic and OW plus
2. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model launching and landing in surf.
3. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model strokes in rough water
4. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model rough water towing
5. Demonstrate the ability to teach and model rough water rescue techniques including; Back deck rescue, bow and paddle shaft rescue, self rescues, T-rescue variations, loaded boat rescues, etc.
6. Demonstrate ability to consistently roll in very rough water, wind and surf.
7. Demonstrate ability to paddle comfortably with grace and style in surf, tide rips, and rough water.
8. Demonstrate leadership and group management skills in rough water and have the experience and judgment necessary to be a safe, effective instructor.

In any case, AOW certification can not be completed unless during some period each of the conditions
necessary for rough water assessment are present during some portion of the certification course.

*Conditions appropriate for rough water skill assessment:
3 - 5 foot seas, 15-25 knots wind, 3-4 foot surf break, 4-5 knots current.
Area of escape from rough conditions must be accessible.

At least TWO of the conditions must take place for OW and assessment in EACH and EVERY ONE of the conditions must take place for AOW.

American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Instructor Training workshops
and Certification Exams,
Homer and Whittier May 2005

The Alaska Kayak School is offering two American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Instructor Development Workshops (IDW) with Steve Scherrer, ACA Coastal Kayak instructor trainer educator: Homer 2-4 May and Whittier 6-8 May.

An ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) will also be offered in Homer 10-12 May. See attached certification requirements and program descriptions - attached.

Advantages of Coastal Kayak Instructor certification with the ACA:

1. The ACA is the largest governing body of paddle sports in the United States, and has been offering and managing instructor training and certification programs for over 20 years. See their well developed web site, www.acanet.org.
2. ACA certification programs are designed by "working" instructors whose combined knowledge and experience establishes the needs of students and instructors with different levels of experience. The content courses and and procedures for training and testing reflect the "current state" of the sport in relation to: a) safety, b) learning and testing dynamics of participants, c) national standards of risk management, d) the evolution of techniques and new designs in paddle sport equipment and performance.
3. ACA instructor certification is available for instructors with different needs and levels of proficiency. More advanced conditions require instructors to have higher levels of leadership, teaching ability, paddling and safety skills.
4. The ACA certification program establishes and maintains "standards" to manage levels of risk management, assuring a certain amount of "consistency" and success among instructors and students on a national scale.
5. The ACA makes a wide array of instructional materials and teaching aides available to certified instructors.
6. The ACA provide event and course insurance so ACA instructors can run courses and events (in their area of certification). Certified instructors can pass the cost of the insurance coverage directly to the students on the basis of a daily rate per student.. This is especially helpful for non-professional instructors such as paddling club members, boy and girl-scout troop leaders, etc. ACA insurance does not provide general liability coverage required of commercial operators on public lands (i.e., U.S. Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, Alaska State Parks).

Description of Whittier ACA Coastal IDW Program - sample program

Day 1 - Friday, 6 May - 9 am - 7 pm Whittier or Portage ponds: flat water skills and classroom lectures; some video analysis of strokes and modeling skills.

Day 2 - Saturday day, 6 May - 9 am - 7 pm More flat water skills, practice teaching, more video.

Day 3 - 9 am - 7 pm Leadership, rescues, on the water teaching, and course debrief.

Equipment Needs. (from ICWintro.des)

Mandatory: kayak with secure flotation fore and aft, paddle float, pump, paddle, skirt, helmet (for surf zone and rescue practice), water bottle, snacks, lunch, flashlight, extra clothing in a dry bag.

Clothing for paddling must be appropriate for frequent immersion in water less than 40deg- dry suits (much preferred), or wetsuits/farmer johns of at least 3mm, plus extra layers (wetsuits are not as desirable as dry suits - contact us for details!). Gloves and neoprene hoods are a good idea!

The following gear is strongly suggested- Tow systems, compass and other navigational tools (parallel ruler, etc.), tide and current logs, charts, first aid kits, VHF radios, spare paddle, flares and other gear you think an instructor should carry and know how to use. This gear is required in the OW ICE.

Suggested: Thermos with hot drink, extra water and or stove pot fuel to make hot water and hot drinks. Especially for early May in coastal Alaska.