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ACA Coastal Kayak Trip-Leading Assessment Course

This course is intended to provide the minimum skills and training necessary for an adult leader possessing basic paddling skills (see prerequisite below) to lead a trip for participants with beginner level paddling skills, in gentle conditions, with apparent wind not exceeding 10 kts, waves not exceeding 1 foot and currents to 2 kts.

The emphasis of this course is trip leading, safety education and rescue, not paddling instruction. The content is relevant for clubs, camps, scouts and other entities providing trips. This is an Assessment Course with a written Examination, administered by a CK Instructor Trainer.
Those desiring certification to teach kayak paddling should get ACA Instructor Certifications.

Course Objective: Successful participants should be able to do the following:

Plan a trip on protected waters, including a float plan with appropriate travel distances, contingency plans for weather, health problems, or equipment failures and notification procedures in case of an emergency.

Screen potential trip participants for health and other relevant eligibility.

Identify the most likely hazards to be encountered on a trip and know what precautions can be taken to avoid or minimize their effects.

Determine what personal and group safety equipment is appropriate for a trip.

Describe how to organize and effectively lead a group of paddlers on a trip including the appropriate use of assertiveness.

Provide the basic elements that should be included in a "put-in" talk or pre launch briefing.

Demonstrate basic paddling skills needed for maneuvering in moderate conditions of wind not exceeding 15 kts. and waves not exceeding 1.5 feet.

Demonstrate effective self and assisted rescues appropriate for moderate conditions as above.

Demonstrate how to properly effect and manage towing boats of tired or incapacitated paddlers.

Demonstrate how to effectively recover and emergency repair boats and gear, on and off water.

Demonstrate how to use chart and compass for trip planning and navigation.

Demonstrate how to use rescue/signaling devices including cell phone and VHF radios. Understand the conditions when some of these will not work e.g. cell phones.

Prerequisites/Previous Experience: - Basic Coastal Kayak course or equivalent skills (e.g.ACA Assessment Lev.2)

Course Location: Protected waterways with easy access, shore classroom and access to course appropriate conditions for on wter, training, practice and assessment. Class to be conducted within 1/2 mile of shore.