Course Description
This is normally the entry point into the Paddle Canada Moving Water Instructor program. As such, the fundamentals of instruction and group management receive considerable emphases during this course. Successful candidates receive the Introduction to Tandem or Solo Moving Water Canoeing Instructor certification.
Friday night will begin with an in-classroom session starting with some preliminaries, then going into expectations, lesson plans and assigning teaching topics for Saturday morning. You’ll receive feedback on how you’re doing over the entire course or if you need to do some more work before the end of the course. You’ll be assessed on how you present your assigned teaching topics, how you manage gear and group safety, clear introduction, demonstration and explanation of your topic, as well as your ability to provide feedback to your students.
Beth Kennedy is a long-time open boat instructor-trainer, slalom OC competitor and tripper. Over the decades, she has paddled many rivers in Canada and the U.S. and has worked and paddled with notable open-boaters such as John Kazimiercyck, Kent Ford, Bob Foote, Andrew Westwood and Mike Yee. She is passionate about canoeing and works hard to pass that enthusiasm along to her students.
Course Includes
- Certified Paddle Canada Instructors
- Fully Outfitted Coast Guard Approved Canoe (We have a variety of styles of kayaks and canoes that you may try out during your course.)
- Beach Camping Accommodations
- Course Materials
Extra Course Options
- Meals Friday dinner to Monday lunch- $140
Certification Notes
The Introduction to Tandem or Solo Moving Water Canoeing Instructor is certified to:
- conduct Introduction to Tandem or Solo Moving Water Canoeing and Basic Canoeing
- assist on Introduction to Tandem or Solo Moving Water Canoeing course
- assist on an Intermediate Tandem or Solo Moving Water Canoeing skills course (Skills Certification required)
- apprentice on the Paddle Canada Introduction to Moving Water Instructor course
Prerequisites
- At least 18 years of age
- Intermediate Tandem or Solo Moving Water certification or equivalent skills and knowledge with permission of the course instructor.
- Experience beyond that of an Introduction to Tandem or Solo Moving Water Canoeing skills course.
- Certification in First Aid with CPR (14 hours). First Aid certification is not required to take the course, but is pre certification.
Course Content
Theory Topics
Canoe shapes, outfitting: thigh straps, air bags, ropes, paddlers’ gear, LNT, river signals/communication, swimming basics, canoe-over-canoe, how to carry, get in and out of a canoe for beginners, scouting (WORMS water, obstacles, route, markers, safety), group safety and group-run tactics, throw bag basics, risk management, Paddle Canada policies and procedures (teaching ratios, insurance, course administration, structuring a tandem beginner course, etc.).
Paddling Skills
Launching/landing in current, forward stroke, turning strokes, braces, MITH, entering and exiting eddies, front ferries, s-turns, o-turns, identify river features for beginners (eddies, waves and troughs, holes, slack water, standing waves), using river features for transport (how to use eddies, waves and troughs, holes, slack water, standing waves), backferries, surfing.
Teaching and Learning
- For this instructor course, you’ll be asked to present engaging lessons based on topics from the Paddle Canada Canoe Introduction to Moving Water Tandem Course manual.
- You’ll each teach at least one topic in theory, tandem skills and a topic based in Paddle Canada policies and procedures. Additional topics may also be assigned.
- A list of potential topics is in the table of contents in the PC Canoe Introduction to Moving Water Tandem Course Manual, and others can be provided pre course.
Course Administration
Before you start this course you must be a Member of Paddle Canada and pay a membership fee (approx $100) for one year. Before the course you will receive an email from Paddle Canada with Instructor registration. You may need to have
information regarding previous certifications in first aid, etc