Instructor Training

Do your friends pester you to teach them kayaking? Do you love helping others learn the finer points of canoeing? Share your passion for paddling by becoming an American Canoe Association (ACA) Instructor. Call Nancy at 1-800-472-3353, ext. 225 to learn more about becoming an instructor.

Rutabaga offers ACA Instructor Certification in  Coastal Kayak Levels 1-4, River Canoe Levels 1-3, and Stand Up Paddleboard Level 1-2.

To become an Instructor, two steps are required by the ACA: an Instructor Development Workshop, followed by an Instructor Certification Exam.

Instructor Development Workshops (IDW)

The ACA’s Instructor Development Workshops are for paddlers with a good grasp of basic and intermediate strokes and rescues. These workshops focus on the “how-tos” of quality instruction, as candidates learn the essentials to teach paddling to others. The IDW focuses on exploring different teaching strategies and methods of conveying information to students, as well as examining how and why people learn.

Instructor Certification Exams (ICE)

The Instructor Certification Exams evaluate each candidate’s paddling skills and knowledge, teaching abilities, and interpersonal and class management skills. Candidates receive written and verbal feedback as well as a critique of their on- and off-water teaching and paddling skills. Participation in both the IDW and ICE is necessary to complete any of the certifications.

Instructor Training 2012

Rutabaga is offering the following ACA instructor certifications in 2012.

Kayak

ACA Level 1-2: Essentials of Kayak Touring IDW

ACA Level 1-2: Essentials of Kayak Touring ICE

ACA Level 3-4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking IDW

ACA Level 3-4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking ICE

Canoe

ACA Level 1-3: River Canoeing IDW

ACA Level 1-3: River Canoeing ICE

Stand Up Paddleboard

We’re still working to confirm dates for SUP certification, but will be offering a ACA L1-2 IDW & ICE certification course. Give us a call and we’ll get back to you when we have it all dialed in!