ACA L2 & L3 ICW (Instructor Certification)

ACA – Instructor Training

Dates (5 days)

2025 Dates

  • April 27 - May 1

Location

Haines, Alaska

Cost

2025 Cost

  • $495.00

ACA Instructor Training - L2 & L3 ICW (Updates also availble)

L2/L3 AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION (ACA) SEA KAYAK INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION

The ACA Level 2-3 Coastal Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop consists of two essential and required parts; the Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and the Instructor Certification Exam (ICE).

The 5-day program is an intensive hands-on cooperative learning workshop experience that is designed to refine your instructional techniques and familiarize you with the processes and curriculum of the American Canoe Association (ACA). The final 2 days of class (the “exam”) are assessment days that require all participants to prepare and present lessons to fellow students to demonstrate, among other essential skills, teaching, and paddling abilities.

Every program is unique and designed to maximize each participant’s experience.

During the 5-day Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW) you, as instructor candidates will be assessed in the following key areas:

  1. Personal Paddling Skills: Strong basic/intermediate skills, boat control and general professional paddling mode at all times.
  2. Teaching Skills: Knowledge of teaching methods and learning styles, and how to use them to give an effective presentation. We are also looking for organized lesson plans, group management techniques, speaking and presentation ability, and attention to details in the classroom, on land and on the water.
  3. Modeling Skills: Ability to visually present and break skills down into teachable/learnable parts.
  4. Attention to Safety: Use of risk management skills, assessing student skill levels and group control.
  5. Group Management: Ability to set up and maintain a suitable teaching location as well as managing a group in the classroom, on land and on the water in both a teaching and guiding situation.
  6. Technical Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of all aspects of paddlesports. Everything from teaching safe car-topping procedures, boat design, and common paddling injuries and avoidance to tides, surfing and regional hazards.
  7. Coaching: Being able to identify student errors and give positive, corrective feedback.

 

INCLUDED

Professional Instruction

Discounts on Rentals

Kayaks

Drysuits

Discounts with local businesses including

Lodging

Food

Flights

Sporting goods

NOT INCLUDED

Lodging while in Haines

Kayaking and associated equipment

(limited rentals available)

Drysuit

(limited rentals available)

Levi Hogan
Dale Williams

Levi Hogan

Levi is the owner of Turnagain Kayak, an ACA Level 4 Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer and BCU 5 Star Sea Kayaker. Levi is also certified in Swift Water Rescue Instructor, Whitewater Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding, and Canoeing. When Levi isn’t on the water he spends his time as a volunteer firefighter and medic in Hope, AK and chasing down his three year old Rylan and five year old Nigel.

Dale Williams

Dale is an ACA L-5 Instructor Trainer Educator (ITE) and former British Canoe Union (BCU) Coach 5T Sea. He loves teaching and turning others on to open-water sea kayaking.

Dale makes his home on Tybee Island, Georgia (there was a woman involved) and as it turns out, Tybee has some of the best access to multi-level challenges in surf and river mouth tide races that one could hope for, anywhere.
Dale travels in support of new instructor development and organizes trips to some of the world’s most interesting paddling locations.

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