Naturally Superior Adventures’ Sea Kayak Guides’ Course
| FAST FACTS |
 |
2012 Dates:
|
June 8-15 Paddle Canada Level I Skills & Lake Superior Guides Course
June 6-15 Paddle Canada Level II Skills & Lake Superior Guides Course
June 10-15 Lake Superior Guides Course only |
Price:
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Click here for pricing. |
| Certification: |
Paddle Canada Level I or II skills; Association of Eastern Canadian Sea Kayak Outfitters guide certification (Guide-in-Training, Assistant Guide, Full Guide) |
| Includes: |
Instruction, equipment and boats, all meals and snacks, beach camping. |
Naturally Superior Adventures’ Lake Superior Sea Kayak Guide Course is a sea kayak instruction and leadership certification course designed to provide paddlers and experienced wilderness campers with the skills necessary to guide commercial sea kayak tours on the Great Lakes.
Our Sea Kayak Guides’ Course is based largely on experiential learning. Typically, after spending a couple of days at Naturally Superior Adventures base covering paddling skills, trip orientation, planning and preparation, we do a four-day sea kayak practice guiding and hands on learning trip on Lake Superior.
Participants will have the opportunity to lead the group and be responsible for dealing with typical day-to-day and possible emergency scenarios encountered on guided sea kayak tours.
This Lake Superior Sea Kayak Guide course is based on the then respected Association of Eastern Canadian Sea Kayak Outfitters (AECSKO) standards updated, improved and adjusted for Lake Superior and Great Lakes (Inland freshwater sea) conditions.
This course is a requirement for anyone wishing to Guide for Naturally Superior Adventures and is a part of our annual staff training program. Participants will gain first have experience with all aspects of commercial sea kayak guiding in the Great Lakes freshwater environment.
Achievement Targets and prerequisites:
Guide-in-Training:
- 18 years and older
- PC Level I skills
- 5 days sea kayak tripping including overnights
Assistant Guide:
-18 years of age and older
-PC level 1 skills,
-Wilderness first aid certification
-10 nights sea kayak tripping including overnights
Full Guide:
- PC level 2 skills
- Wilderness advanced first aid (40 hrs)
- 20 nights as Assistant Guide
- VHF operator license, swimming and lifesaving certifications are recommended
Schedule:
Guide Course General Outline:
Course Topics:
- The Professional Guide: AECSKO standards and guidelines
- Judgment, decision making and risk management
- Signalling and communication: Aerial and handheld flares and VHF marine radio
- Environmental ethics: Low impact camping and nature interpretation; Parks Canada guidelines
- The coastal environment: Weather, sea state, hazards,
- Navigation: Maps and charts, using a compass, stating your position, ranges
- Menu planning, food selection and meal preparation
- Making camp: Tents, tarps, safety and sanitation
- The camp kitchen: Stoves, water treatment and safety
- Group paddling skills and rescues
Course Textbooks: The Lake Superior Guides' Manual and Scenarios Booklet are included with registration. Both provide a solid set of reference and study notes for course participants. Our Guides' Manual sets the standards for sea kayak leadership on the Great Lakes. We will refer to the Scenarios Booklet for case studies and based-on-a-true-story simulations
Evaluation: Participants will be evaluated by continuous evaluation of skills, leadership and attitude throughout the course and potentially by a scenario-based written test.
This course is for paddlers with wilderness camping experience looking to improve their leadership and decision making skills. Arrive prepared for a multi-day trip and lots of time on and in the water. Sea kayaks, camping gear, paddling tops and wetsuits are provided. Dry tops or dry suits are recommended.
Download course outline
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Instruction and Certification 
