BECOME AN ACA-CERTIFIED GUIDE OR INSTRUCTOR
GUIDE & LEADER CERTIFICATION
Emphasizing leadership, trip planning, risk management, and rescue, the ACA Leadership program is designed to empower new leaders and guides with a professional certification, whether they’re leading day trips on a nearby lake, taking their fellow club members down a local river, or guiding clients for an outfitter or recreation program. These programs are perfect for….
Camps, non-profits, and organizations offering technical day trips
University trip and program leaders
Guides working for outfitters
41 North offers instructor and guide training programs through the American Canoe Association (ACA), the official governing body for the US Olympic canoe and kayak teams and the gold-standard in paddlesports education in the United States. Open enrollment programs are typically scheduled in the spring and fall, however we can also build a custom program for organizations such as camps, schools, or outdoor rec programs seeking to train staff.
Community Paddlesports Leader
2 days
This workshop provides training and certification for individuals leading day trips in flatwater environments such as inland lakes, bays, estuaries, and Class I rivers.
Coastal Leader
3 days
This program is for those seeking training and certification to take groups on more challenging and adventurous day trips, with exposure to winds to 12kn and waves and surf up to 2ft.
Advanced Coastal Leader
4 days
This program is focused on building your leadership and group management abilities for more challenging coastal environments with exposure to winds to 20kn, waves and surf to 2-4ft, and tidal current 2-4 knots.
LEVEL 4 OPEN WATER COASTAL KAYAK INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP
4 days
The Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking instructor certification program is an upgrade opportunity for currently certified Level 3: Coastal Kayak Instructors. The focus is the development of teaching methods and working in more challenging conditions. The Level 4 Instructor Criteria is cumulative, building upon the Level 3 Instructor Criteria.
Successful candidates will teach, lead, and manage groups in open water environments (winds 15-20kn; waves 3-5 ft) where the conditions may limit verbal communication.
LEVEL 1 KAYAK INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP
2 days
Level 1 kayak instructors are entry-level instructors, certified to teach recreational kayaking to learners in a variety of kayaks (recreational, touring, or sit-on-tops) in flatwater environments sheltered from wind, waves, and boat traffic.
The L1 certification is appropriate for new instructors teaching in controlled environments. L1 instructors need broad knowledge of paddlesports and solid grasp of foundational skills to address the wide range of students they will encounter.
INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION
For 50 years, the ACA has been the leader in paddlesports education. The ACA’s National Paddlesports Instruction Program is widely considered the “Gold Standard” in the U.S. and abroad. The reasons to pursue certification are vastly different for each Instructor Candidate; however, what every student takes away from the certification workshop can be remarkably similar. First, there is simply the experience gained and knowledge shared by fellow candidates throughout the class. Participants say they come to be a “sponge” and absorb teaching ideas, paddling information, and feedback about their skills and teaching abilities. Second, through the certification process you will learn a proven set of paddlesports instructional best practices. Instructor Trainers who conduct instructor certification workshops will demonstrate and teach a educational models to which you can add your own creativity and personality.
LEVEL 2 & 3 COASTAL KAYAK INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP
4-5 days
At Level 2 & Level 3 instructors enter the “coastal kayaking” progression. While L2 instructors are certified to teach in more sheltered conditions (waves < 1 ft, winds < 10kn); L3 instructors transition from sheltered water to more exposed paddling environments (waves 1-2ft; winds 10-15 kn)
The L2-L3 certification is appropriate for paddlers with a higher skill set and some experience as an outdoor leader or educator, having the goal of teaching on the Great Lakes or coastal areas