Symposium Overview
The 2026 SE Alaska Sea Kayak Symposium will take place over 3 days May 1-3 2026 in Haines, Alaska. This years symposium will be set up in half day courses and will offer options for a wide variety of skill levels. During the day the courses will be structured in the morning and afternoons with a mid day break for lunch and to give everyone a chance to get to the next course venue. Through out the symposium we will have options for courses on the water and on land for those who would like a break or who might have an interest in course materials which can best be delivered off the water.
In the evenings we will have a number of social events from meet and greets to Catered dinners and a slide show to an event debrief with horderves. The symposium is designed to be educational and fun but also a place to meet other paddlers who can inspire us to continue kayaking and expand our world on the water.
L2/L3 AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION (ACA) SEA KAYAK INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION
May 6-10 2026
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:
- Personal Paddling Skills: Strong basic/intermediate skills, boat control and general professional paddling mode at all times.
- 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.
- Modeling Skills: Ability to visually present and break skills down into teachable/learnable parts.
- Attention to Safety: Use of risk management skills, assessing student skill levels and group control.
- 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.
- 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.
- Coaching: Being able to identify student errors and give positive, corrective feedback.
Possible Courses – Half Day
( Exact course offerings will be finalized as we gauge interest of participants)
Intro to turning strokes
Stroke blending and manueving while under momentum.
Digital Weather Tools
Rolling -Intro and roll development
Deep Water Rescues
Towing – Intro and development
Stabilizing Strokes
Choosing the right equipment
Expedition Planning
Navigation
5 – 7 Day Kayak Trip
Included
Professional Instruction
Dinner and meet and greet Day1
Catered Dinner and Speaker Day2
horderves and debrief Day3
Discounts with local businesses including
Food
Sporting goods
Not Included
Lodging while in Haines
Breakfasts, Lunch and snacks
Kayaking and associated equipment
(limited rentals available)
Drysuit
(limited rentals available)
Schedule of Events
Registration and rental gear pick up
5:00 Pm at SEAK Expeditions Headquarters in downtown Haines, Alaska
0830 – Meet at SEAK Expeditions office for
0900-0930 – Depart for Course Venue
0930-12:30 – Morning Course
12:30-1:30 – Lunch
1:30 -5:00 – Afternoon Course
6: Dinner – Alpenglow Pizza with Beer available for purchase at The Haines Brewing Company
0830 – Meet at SEAK Expeditions office for
0900-0930 – Depart for Course Venue
0930-12:30 – Morning Course
12:30-1:30 – Lunch
1:30 -5:00 – Afternoon Course
6: Dinner by MaloNista Catering – with Presentation to Follow
0830 – Meet at SEAK Expeditions office for
0900-0930 – Depart for Course Venue
0930-12:30 – Morning Course
12:30-1:30 – Lunch
1:30 -5:00 – Afternoon Course
6: Debrief :Port Chilkoot Distillery – Horderves with Cocktails available for purchase
Instructors
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.
Debbie Kearney
Debbie began paddling sea kayaks on the Georgia coast, some decades ago, and loves it more with each passing year. But she’s paddled, taught and led in many other places as well, from Alaska and California, Maine, Florida, Virginia and the Carolinas, to Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Currently an ACA Level 3 Coastal Kayak instructor, she is a supportive coach and enjoys helping people up their paddling skills.
Sponsors
Partners
