American Canoe Association: Trip Leader, Guide Training, and Paddle Sports Safety Facilitator Courses

Our instructors and evaluators with the American Canoe Association offer Guide Training Courses, Trip Leader, and Paddlesports Safety Facilitator Assessments in Coastal Kayaking & Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Trip Leaders are employed by outdoor programs, guide services, paddling clubs, and other organizations providing on water leadership to guests and clients. Paddle Sports Safety Facilitators are employed by retailers, rental centers, and outfitters that provide equipment and expertise for those seeking paddling equipment rentals and outfitting; but do not provide on water supervision, instruction, or guiding.

Trip Leader & Paddle Sports Safety Facilitators are nationally recognized certification programs that often allow employers discounts on their liability insurance coverage, and insure staff are up to date with modern safety and paddling technique, available resources, and risk management decision making tools and experience.

5 Day ACA Coastal kayaking Trip Leader/ Guide Training Course

This comprehensive coastal leadership training course aims to calibrate and credential entry level sea kayak trip leaders and guides with the American Canoe Association’s Coastal Kayaking Trip Leader Assessment Award. The course begins with 2 full days of personal skills training progressions and assessment to meet the pre-requisites for entry into the Trip Leader Training Program. On days 1 & 2 students will gain and polish skills at the ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayak Skills Assessment level prior to entering into the Trip Leader progression. Day 3 & 4 of the class further develop an aspirant guides ability to plan trips, manage risks, navigate in a coastal environment, and manage groups of kayakers in gentle to moderate sea conditions often found on guided trips on protected coastlines in Alaska. The final day of the course is a formal assessment of a potential new guides ability to problem solve, manage risks on the water, as well as provide care and customer service to novice paddlers in a guided trip setting. The final days of the course are a mix of honing paddling skills, boat control, coaching ability, & practicing rescue skills; all while being evaluated to industry accepted best practices for working in guided paddling programs, waterfront camps, and outdoor programs.

ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayaking Trip Leader Training

See our Course Calendar for upcoming dates or contact us for Custom Programming

ACA Level 2 Stand Up Paddle Board Trip Leader and Guide Training Course

This comprehensive 4 day Paddle Board Leadership Training Course aims to calibrate and credential entry level SUP trip leaders and guides with the American Canoe Association’s Stand Up Paddle Board Trip Leader Assessment Award. The course begins with 2 full days of personal skills training progressions and assessment to meet the pre-requisites for entry into the Trip Leader Training Program. On days 1 & 2 students will gain and polish skills at the ACA Level 2 SUP Skills Assessment level prior to entery into the Trip Leader progression. Day 3 & 4 of the class further develop an aspirant guides ability to plan trips, manage risks, navigate in a coastal and lake environment, and manage groups of kayakers in gentle to moderate conditions often found on guided trips on protected coastlines in Alaska. The final day of the course is a formal assessment of a potential new guides ability to problem solve, manage risks on the water, as well as provide care and customer service to novice paddlers in a guided trip setting. The final days of the course are a mix of honing paddling skills, boat control, coaching ability, & practicing rescue skills; all while being evaluated to industry accepted best practices for working in guided paddling programs, waterfront camps, and outdoor programs.

See our Course Calendar for upcoming dates or contact us for Custom Programming

ACA Paddle Sports Safety Facilitator in Kayak or SUP

This full day course is designed for outfitters, waterfront staff, and recreation program assistants that need a documented standard for conducting safety briefings, paddle craft orientations, and providing paddle sports expertise for safety and quality customer service for clients and students. Although this is NOT a leadership course, it does prepare students to provide basic paddle sports expertise and safety knowledge to their customers and participants in water based programs. This is a GREAT class for gear shop employees, rental attendants, and water front staff renting equipment or working on controlled and protected bodies of water. This class emphasizes: safety, basic trip planning, and hazard awareness in a fun and customer service oriented manner. This training starts in the classroom for a general overview of paddle sports industry best practices and safety program promotion, and also includes a half day skills session specific to kayaking or SUP. The on water portion addresses proper equipment use, terminology, boat or board control, and basic self rescue procedures that you can then educate your program clients in.

See our Course Calendar for upcoming dates or contact us for Custom Programming