Explore. Adventure. Lead.
With the ACA’s Advanced Paddlesports Guide experience, get ready to lead clients and groups on remote paddling experiences. The Advanced Guide certification prepares you to plan and lead anywhere from a basic outing to long, complex, off-the-beaten-path, paddling expeditions. If you’re looking to obtain the most extensive professional certification available for planning rigorous paddling expeditions, the Advanced Paddlesports Guide experience is for you.
Dive into a dynamic learning experience that covers the most extensive curriculum for on-the-
water leadership and facilitation techniques, expedition itinerary and resource planning, scenario-based decision-making across a wide spectrum of environments, excellence in communication and conflict resolution, advanced risk management, expedition camp management, and extreme rescue solutions.
The Advanced Paddlesports Guide program was created for:
- Guiding companies and outfitters looking to train up staff for more austere trips
- Camps, non profits, university outdoor programs, outdoor leadership organizations
- Advanced paddling clubs and communities with expedition programs
- Or any adventurous paddler who wants to safely lead others on long, complex expeditions!
How It Works
The Advanced Paddlesports Guide offering is designed to focus on building your leadership and group management abilities on the water in basic to challenging environments.
Advanced Guide Course: Training + Exam = 8 Days Total (1 of these days is reserved as a rest day)
*The training portion of the course is four days & the exam portion is three days.
What You’ll Learn
- Advanced on-the-water leadership, navigation, group management, communication, and conflict
resolution frameworks and tips.
- Planning, packing and preparing for expeditions with the equipment, supplies, communication, and navigation tools such expeditions require.
- In-depth scenario exercises for an array of complex situations and environments, including advanced weather conditions, overnight paddling, high-pressure evacuations, and other incidents across an array of environments.
- In-depth camp preparation: setup, equipment and supply repair, meal planning and preparation and other outdoor skills development (for a paddlesports camping environment).
- Get your copy of the curriculum in either hardcopy or digital download: ACA Advanced Paddlesports Guide - Candidate Course Workbook
Course Prerequisites