ACA ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
ACA Assessments – Custom Scheduling
The American Canoe Association (ACA) offers skills courses to paddlers of all skill levels. The courses represent sets of skills, safety procedures and other materials deemed appropriate for particular paddling environments. Assessments by qualified trainers confirm skill levels and provide a basis for ongoing skills development.
Learn more about the ACAs defined skill levels in these PDFs:
Coastal Kayak Level 1 Award
Coastal Kayak Lavel 2 Award
Coastal Kayak Level 3 Award
Coastal Kayak Level 4 Award
Our certified instructors can perform your ACA Assessment: To schedule an Assessment or discuss your particular training needs, please stop by the shop, call us at (843) 225-7969 or send being sure to include your contact information.
SKC Hosting ACA Instructor Development Workshop in September
And Instructor Certification Exam in October
Instructor Trainer Educator Dale Williams to Lead Sessions
Call to register: (843) 225-7969.
Check out the ACA website for more information regarding Coastal Kayak Instructor training and certification, and for information regarding ACA Assessments.
September 12, 13 & 14 – Instructor Development Workshop (IDW): The Intro, Basic and Open Water Coastal Kayak IDW is designed to be a stand-alone learning experience that will help prepare you for the ICE. Experienced paddlers who do not desire certification are welcome to take advantage of this excellent training opportunity.
The focus of the workshop is on the refinement of teaching and paddling skills and on expanding your knowledge of sea kayaking and paddle sports in general. You will be given instruction on all strokes and maneuvers that you later will be expected to teach if you elect to attend the ICE. We will use videotape review and critique to assist you in your learning process, both on water and off. This process should provide you with a benchmark from which to evaluate the level of your own skill and knowledge, and help you to identify those areas where you need work before attending the ICE.
Prerequisites:
Candidates are encouraged, but not required to have completed ACA Skill Assessments through Level 3 for the Basic and Level 4 for the Open Water IDW. Students who have completed commensurate assessment levels will be given first priority for student teaching assignments. Contact Sea Kayak Carolina for assistance in obtaining these certifications.
The cost of the IDW is $250 for candidates for the Basic Instructor program, and $350 for candidates for the Open Water Instructor program.
Call to register: (843) 225-7969.
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October 10, 11 & 12 – The Instructor Certification Evaluation (ICE):
The Intro, Basic and Open Water Coastal Kayak ICE is designed to evaluate the instructor candidate regarding their skills as an instructor at the level of their certification. Each candidate must be proficient in:
1) a general knowledge of paddle sport; to include the technical knowledge of coastal kayaking and equipment with elements of history and safety
2) teaching ability; which includes the appropriate application of interpersonal skills, task/group management, modeling and feed-back skills, the use of standardized terminology, technical understanding and the ability to break down skills and concepts into their component parts;
3) on-water skills, to include demonstrated proficiency in maneuvers, strokes, braces, rescues, towing and the Eskimo roll, an acceptable level of comfort in variable conditions and an incorporation of the skills you will teach into your own paddling style.
Prerequisites:
All levels must have taken an Instructor Development Workshop
Although not required by the ACA, we recommend ACA Level 1 through 4 assessment.
The cost of the ICE is $250 for candidates for the Basic Instructor program, and $350 for candidates for the Open Water Instructor program.
Call to register: (843) 225-7969.
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About Dale Williams:
Dale is an ACA Advanced Open Water Instructor Trainer Educator and a BCU Level 4 Sea Coach. As the founder Sea Kayak Georgia on Tybee Island, Dale has developed a reputation as one of the best sea kayak instructors in the U.S. Dale sold Sea Kayak Georgia in 2006 so that he could paddle more and can be found teaching at various symposia around the U.S.