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ACA Instructor Certification

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Designed for individuals who want to teach moving water, flatwater, whitewater kayaking, canoeing, or swiftwater rescue.

DURATION

Full Day

AGE

18+

Overview

Designed for individuals who want to teach flatwater, moving water, or whitewater kayaking, canoeing, SUP or swiftwater rescue.

Our highly experienced ACA Instructor Trainers present the most up-to-date teaching and paddling techniques. Each ACA Instructor Certification course has two parts: an Instructor Development Workshop, in which the Instructor Trainer presents teaching techniques and works to improve the paddling skills of aspiring instructors; and an Instructor Certification Workshop, in which the aspiring instructors teach a mock flatwater, moving water, or whitewater course.

Certification in any of these courses is based on both paddling and teaching skills and is not guaranteed at any level. These courses are only for those with intermediate to advanced paddling skills with some teaching experience.

We offer ACA Instructor Certification in the disciplines of River Kayak, River Canoe, and Swiftwater Rescue. The American Canoe Association offers instructor certification at up to five different levels with each level requiring a progressively greater understanding of paddling and rescue concepts, as well as an ability to teach and execute those concepts in progressively more difficult rapids. To get more details about instructor criteria, visit the American Canoe Association.

If you are interested in working in the paddlesport field, the ACA certification is considered “the gold standard” for the industry and paddlesport instructors. For folks interested in employment teaching paddlesports at Zoar Outdoor please check out our employment page.  For more information, contact us at 413-339-4010 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Instructor candidates must participate in both the Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and the Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) in order to complete the certification process. Recommended prerequisite: Zoar Outdoor ACA Skills Assessment Course or a comparable skills course at the certification level sought.

Instructor Updates for Kayak, Canoe, or Rescue

Updates are open only to those who are presently valid ACA certified instructors to fulfill maintenance requirements.

ACA Skills Assessment Courses

Recommended prerequisite for students who are interested in becoming American Canoe Association Certified Instructors. The ACA Skills Assessment also provides students with an ACA credentialed proof of skill for staff of organizations facilitating any type of guiding on water (flatwater or moving water venues). 

Who Should Take the Clinic

Upon registration for one of these courses, you will be sent detailed information about what will be expected of you and how to prepare, but below are some general guidelines to get you started.

Prerequisites:
A good instructor proficiently demonstrates good paddling skills, uses memorable instruction techniques, exercises safe judgment and keeps it fun for everyone involved. This course is designed for individuals who have prior paddling & teaching experience. You should not take this course if you are new to paddlesports.

What Should I wear?

While some of the flatwater areas we use are quite warm in June, July, and August, the Deerfield River is always cool, regardless of the time of year or air temperature. When packing your paddling clothes, please plan accordingly, especially if you are coming early or late in the season (April, May, September, and October). Our clinics will run rain or shine.

Wear items such as:

    • Synthetic long underwear, garments made of polypropylene, Capilene, or some polyester/spandex blend
    • Fleece or wool socks
    • Bathing suit
    • Fleece or wool jacket/sweater (early/late season or if you tend to chill easily)

Other items to bring:

    • Sunscreen
    • Sunglasses
    • Retaining strap for glasses
    • Nose plugs
    • Towel
    • Required medications

What we provide

  • boat
  • wetsuit
  • paddle jacket
  • booties
  • life jacket
  • helmet
  • paddle
  • sprayskirt

If you own your own equipment, we suggest you use it in the clinic.

Meals: We provide a catered picnic-style lunch on all our full day clinics.

The following statement is required by state law: “Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy.”

We do not use nuts in our food, but can not guarantee that the ingredients in our meals do not contain nuts or other food allergens. If you have food allergies or other special dietary needs, we strongly suggest you bring your own bag lunch in non-glass containers and we will pack it with the other lunches on your trip. Please inform our office at 413-339-4010 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you intend to do this.

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