Course Overview

This course is intended to provide the minimum skills and training necessary for an adult leader with basic paddling skills, to safely lead a trip for participants with adequate paddling skills, on a day trip, on moving water.

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

Minimum of two days (16 hours) or more.

Course Location / Accessible Venues

For Level 3: Sections of rivers rated up to and including class I-II, where limited maneuvering in current is required to avoid obstacles.

For Level 4: Sections of rivers rated up to and including class II-III, where maneuvering in current is required to avoid obstacles.

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 4: Whitewater Kayaking (or higher) ACA Instructors, Instructor Trainers, or Instructor Trainer Educators
• Level 3: River Kayaking ACA Instructors with the River Kayak Trip Leading Endorsement

All Instructors must operate within the venue corresponding to their level of certification.

Succeeding Courses

• Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop
• Level 3: River Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop
• Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking Skills Course and/or Skills Assessment
• Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop