Course Overview
Designed for currently certified ACA River Kayak Instructors (ACA Level 2 or higher), the River Kayak Hand-Paddling Endorsement course provides instructors with the knowledge and skills for instruction on the safe and effective use of hand-paddles. Per the ACA, “By taking and passing the specified course, a certified ACA Instructor can become endorsed to teach additional, specialized courses.”
Course Prerequisites
- Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
- Be a current ACA member
- Understands and acts in accordance with ACA's Code of Conduct
- Completion of the appropriate level skills course, assessment course, or possess equivalent
skills
- Be a currently certified ACA Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking Instructor (or higher) in good standing
Course Duration
Minimum of one day (8 hours) or more.
Course Location / Accessible Venues
Course should be conducted on moving water venues in accordance with the level of certification held by the candidate.
A rapid class includes rapids at the lower and upper ends of the difficulty range, designated “-“ and “+” respectively.
Course Size
5 Endorsement Candidates : 1 Endorsed Instructor Trainer; with an additional endorsed instructor or qualified assistant, the ratio can be 10 : 2. The maximum number of participants permitted is 10.
Instructor Trainer
This endorsement course may be offered by:
- Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking (or higher) Instructor Trainer with the River Kayak Hand-Paddling Endorsement
- Level 2 or 3: River Kayaking Instructor Trainers with the River Kayak Hand-Paddling Endorsement AND the Kayak Rolling Endorsement
All Instructor Trainers must operate within the venue corresponding to their level of IT certification.
The following is a list of the criteria used to evaluate Endorsement Candidates. The content and sequence of evaluation is to be adjusted to best fit the participant’s needs, class location, time allowance, and be craft appropriate.
General Requirements for all ACA Endorsement Candidates
- Be at least 18 years old
- Demonstrate general knowledge of ACA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives
- Successfully complete an Endorsement Workshop
- Have and maintain First Aid and age appropriate CPR
- Demonstrate a general knowledge of paddlesports and the ACA
- Demonstrate the ability to appropriately perform and teach all of the following material, unassisted, in the appropriate venue
- Maintain ACA Level 2: River Kayak Instructor (or higher) status through the following: