ACA Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring Skills Course By Paddle Bridge
Wirth Lake in Minneapolis (subject to change based on conditions)
with optional Skills Assessment
Body, boat, and blade blend together in this immersive kayaking course.
About
Whether you’re an excited new paddling student, coming back after a hiatus with your brand new kayak, or grew up just intuiting it and want to grow your technique, this may be the push you’ve been looking for. Our instructors will teach you everything you need to know to start hitting the water with confidence and give you the tools to level up your skills. At the end of the course you will receive proof of participation; an official certificate can also be obtained by current ACA members who pass the assessment.**
If you have your own kayak, you are encouraged to use it. If you don’t own yet or want to learn more in order to make a smart purchase, you can rent one of ours for the lesson.
This course follows standards established by the American Canoe Association (ACA), a national nonprofit organization serving the broader paddling public by providing education related to all aspects of paddling. Our ACA-certified instructors have over a decade of experience working with diverse backgrounds and learning styles; we also keep classes small at a student-instructor ratio of 5:1 to try and maximize time for individual questions.
**Clarification: Proof of participation does not require ACA membership. In order to obtain an official certificate with their name from the ACA however, students must successfully pass the skills assessment and purchase ACA membership ($40/year). Neither is a certification for ACA-level instructorship, which requires an Instructor Certification Workshop.
Sample Breakdown
9am-10 am: Introductions, course goals and breakdown, boat anatomy, and body-boat-blade philosophy
10am-1pm: Lake time. Intro to body positioning, strokes breakdown, time for instructor modeling with observation and feedback.
1-2pm: Lunch break
2-3:30 pm: Questions and practice hour as needed, review/address any challenge areas
3:30-5:30 pm, as needed: For those being evaluated for the optional Skills Assessment. Basic strokes combined into maneuvers, ending with self-rescue/partner rescue. See the ACA's Skills Assessment criteria for examples.