Assessment Course Overview

This ACA Assessment Course is designed to evaluate your ability to perform all of the skills listed and demonstrate an appropriate level of paddling knowledge. This assessment course provides the opportunity for you to receive documentation of having achieved this level of paddling ability.

Note: This course is designed for sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks only and this curriculum is meant to highlight this limitation. Participants should understand that rescuing decked kayaks requires additional and separate instruction. Bulkheads are not required; however, some form of flotation must be present to keep the kayak from sinking.

Assessment Course Prerequisites

• Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• Be a current ACA Member
• Agree to comply with the ACA Code of Conduct

Course Duration

One day (8 hours).

Course Location / Accessible Venues

Moving water on rivers up to and including class I sections.

A rapid class includes rapids at the lower and upper ends of the difficulty range, designated “-“ and “+”  respectively.

5 Participants: 1 Instructor; with an additional qualified assistant, the ratio can be 10 : 2. The maximum number of participants permitted is 10.

Assessor

This assessment course may be offered by Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking (or higher) ACA Instructors, Instructor Trainers, or Instructor Trainer Educators.

Succeeding Courses

• Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top River Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop
• Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top Coastal Kayak Touring Skills Course and/or Skills Assessment
• Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking Skills Course and/or Skills Assessment
• Level 3: Sit-On-Top Coastal Kayaking Skills Course and/or Skills Assessment

Course Outline

The sequence of assessment should be adjusted to best fit the participant’s needs, class location, time allowance, and kayak being used. Participants must be able to perform all strokes, maneuvers, rescues, and skills in the appropriate venue. In addition, the participant must demonstrate the appropriate level of knowledge for this level of skill assessment.

Introduction, Expectations, and Logistics

• Welcome, introductions, paperwork
• Student and Instructor course expectations and limitations
• Explain assessment procedure
• Course itinerary and site logistics
• Review waiver, assumption of risk, challenge by choice, medical disclosure
• About the ACA
• PFD policy (always wear on water)
• Appropriate personal behavior
  • No alcohol / substance abuse
  • Proper etiquette on and off the water
  • Respect private property
  • Practice Leave No Trace ethics

Conclusion and Wrap-Up

• Group debrief/individual feedback
• Course limitations
• Importance of First Aid and CPR
• Importance of additional instruction, practice, experience
• Importance of appropriate level of safety and rescue training
• Life sport / paddling options
• Local paddling groups / clubs
• Handouts / reference materials
• ACA membership
• Course evaluations
• Assessment cards (If applicable)

Assessment Criteria Checklist

Participant Name: ________________________________

Participant ACA Membership #: __________________

Course Venue: _____________________________________

Course Date(s): ____________________________________

Y = Meets Standard, N = Below Standard, DNO = Did Not Observe