ACA Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor Certification Course - 5+ Days

This course is for you if:  You want to be trained and certified as an ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor. 

There are few things better than kayaking – but one of them may be sharing your love of kayaking with others. If you want to learn how to teach whitewater kayaking while improving your own paddling in the process, the ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor Course (Level 4) is the national standard. Led by L4 Whitewater Kayak IT Scott Fisher, the course reviews and polishes fundamental paddling skills for instructor candidates, as well as presents methods to teach new kayak students and improve skills of more experienced kayakers. Instructor candidates receive instruction and feedback on teaching methods, paddling skills, group management, rescue skills, and risk management principles.
 
The course is 5+ days in length divided into two weekends. The dates shown during booking reflect the first weekend only and participation in both weekends is required for successful completion. Dates are:

• There are no L4 Kayak Instructor classes for 2025; we do, however, have an L3 Kayak Instructor class in June

The first weekend - the Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) - will focus on teaching principles, flatwater skills, and an introduction to whitewater skills.  The second weekend - the Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) - will put greater focus on whitewater paddling and rescue skills, and on evaluating candidate teaching skills.  Candidates should expect lots of feedback and should be willing to try new techniques and approaches.  To receive certification, candidates will be evaluated on their paddling, teaching, group management and rescue skills.  Each of these areas is important – paddling skills are critical but they’re only part of the overall picture.  More details on the ACA certification process can be found here.  Specific performance requirements for level 4 whitewater kayak certification can be found here. At the end of the second weekend participants may be certified as level 4 ACA kayak instructors, certified at a lower level, or not certified.  All candidates will receive written feedback on areas for improvement and, if they don’t receive the certification level they’re looking for, clear guidance on needed next steps for level 4 certification. Certification is valid for four years and maintained through class reporting and participation in periodic updates.

This course can be used as an update for current L3/4 instructors by attending the second two days of the IDW. This meets the ACA requirement to participate in an update every 4 years in order to maintain certification (ACA guidelines can be found here). Instructors should be prepared to teach any portion of the kayak curriculum at their level of certification. Upon uccessful completion instructors receive update credit good for 4 years. To schedule contact us at info@nolilearn.org or 423-641-0100.

This course can also be used for an instructor upgrade for current ACA L2/3 certified kayak instructors looking to upgrade to a higher level of certification by participating in the ICE portion of the class (2 days). Instructors seeking an upgrade must meet all appropriate performance criteria. To schedule contact us at info@nolilearn.org or 423-641-0100.

Highlights:

• 5+ days of professionally-led instructor training 
• Preparing and coaching candidates to succeed 
• A supportive environment to learn and perform
• An evaluation process that is clearly communicated and fairly assessed 

2 Jones Branch Rd, Erwin, TN 37650, USA