…of other amazing safety and rescue professionals – learn more about all the presenters! Attendees will have a chance to learn and practice the latest advances in swiftwater rescue, while refreshing core knowledge. ACA Instructor updates will also be available. Click here to view the event agenda. Each conference registration…

…hosted the inaugural Paddlesports Leadership Academy June 22-26, 2022 in Knoxville, TN. Collectively they developed the Leadership Academy as a program to train and mentor individuals from communities typically underserved by outdoor recreation as leaders on the water, and empower participants to transform their local communities by growing diverse representation…

The ACA is proud to honor certified instructors who have gone above and beyond, making profound impacts in their communities and to the sport of paddling overall. We hope you will join us in celebrating these terrific instructors and take a moment to nominate one who you think deserves recognition!…

…guides as we do male guides. Most other companies that I know of and have heard about have many more male guides than female guides, if they have any female guides at all. Even with progressive companies like mine, conscious and unconscious sexism is still very present within my workplace…

…our Contact Us webpage. Our website hosting company, Your Membership, collects the following technical information on visitors to this website: The IP address of your computer or computer network; Your top-level domain (for example .com, .org, .net); The website address from which you came to this site, including any search…

…planning teams for state parks engagement. Roland McDevitt represented the US Coast Guard Auxiliary on the planning team for the North Carolina initiative. Building Relationships Across the Paddling Community The May 20th classes were marked with a distinct feeling of the community coming together. The expertise from ACA instructors and…

…efforts actually enhance safety on the water. Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony to your Committee. I would be happy to answer any questions.   Respectfully Submitted. Brett Mayer Public Policy Chief P.O. Box 7996 Fredericksburg, VA 22404 bmayer@americancanoe.org 1* https://uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.php 2* https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/thought-leadership/2020/consumers-are-flocking-to-these-5-activities/#:~:text=%24172M,%24172M%20in%20June%202020 3* https://www.americancanoe.org/page/Course_SR 4* https://www.boaterexam.com/paddling/…

…liability waivers and other insurance fees. For step-by-step instructions for all CMS features, please see the user guide posted at www.americancanoe.org/CMS Any classes conducted between Memorial Day (May 22, 2021) and Labor Day (Sept 6, 2021) and properly submitted before midnight on October 1, 2021 will count toward the contest….

…Events — Tennessee State Parks (tnstateparks.com) … This is the first year for ACA North Carolina to partner with North Carolina State Parks, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for this event. North Carolina will host Kayaking 101 at 11 locations including one class taught by…

…of these events, they get it.” “At the surface, this event marks an incredible opportunity for ACA instructors and the paddling community to come together to offer community-based training as a special one-time per year opportunity and energize the community, but for the ACA, this event is much more than…

…website and to communicate more frequently and consistently about our mission, including public policy and stewardship efforts, educational resources and opportunities, and clearer explanations of what role competition (in particular, Olympic level competition) plays within the ACA. We are already starting to address these key take-aways from the survey responses….

…Hosted on the world class whitewater of the beautiful New River National Park, this event is the first of it’s kind! Raft Guide Examiner Endorsement for Currently Certified ACA Level 4 and 5 Rafting Instructors Raft Guide Certifications ACA Rafting Instructor Updates Presenters include: Elisha McArthur, Jeff Cogle, Marcel Bieg,…

…we are pleased to welcome Reina Kern as the new press officer and communications manager in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games. In her tenure, she will aid the ACA in producing media content and promoting paddlesports across the youth, development, and elite competition levels through various communications efforts….

…members, Robert Levin and Norm Gaume, shared their local and regional accomplishments in the realm of waterway conservation. They also discussed tools and strategies you can utilize to be a positive influence on the waterways in your community. Video Recording (Youtube / Download) Audio Recording Outdoor Alliance Advocacy 101 Presentation…

To grow our community of paddlers, the ACA Board of Directors and the ACA State Directors are hosting a competition for instructors in all ACA disciplines who are teaching Level 1 and Level 2 courses. This competition is a chance for instructors to engage with the local paddling community, find…

Board Committee Descriptions: Each committee within our organization operates with diligence and professionalism, committed to advancing the Association’s mission and values through strategic oversight, ethical governance, and informed decision-making.   Executive Committee The Executive Committee stands at the forefront of leadership, comprising the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two…

…the list in the order they ranked. Random Drawings: 5 drawings for $100 each Free year of ACA membership + SEIC Dues Free year of PAC annual membership Special Feature on ACA Website & Monthly Newsletter Special Feature in ACA Paddle eMagazine How to Compete: The following course submissions will…

…of the paddling community. You can help your region earn bragging rights while doing what you do best: teach people how to be participants in their own safety while enjoying everything the water has to offer. Help make our community stronger and safer by continuing to do what you do……

…the win, the 200-meter sprint race is always unpredictable; the victory depends on who can best execute his or her race plan and out-paddle the competition on that day. In the days leading up to the final, Harrison sensed she was not feeling her best and decided to formulate a…

…and physician, was our team leader. He drafted guidelines, field tested them, sought and incorporated feedback, and created an extraordinarily strong set of guidelines for paddling during Covid. It is my privilege to award Dr. Steve Henkind an ACA President’s Award for creating a path for us to paddle during…

…provide this coverage. Computer (EDP) Insurance — Protects against certain perils that commonly afflict computer hardware, software, and media, such as power surges, magnetic injury, and hard drive crash. Commercial Auto Insurance – Covers autos owned by the PAC or other covered entity. Also covers exposure for non owned autos…

The 2020 USA Whitewater Freestyle National Championships were held virtually this year! With the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing this summer, the 2020 Freestyle National Championships were facing a huge hurdle: how to hold an important competition without putting the competitors and their families at risk. The ACA Freestyle Competition…

…to be pondered. At the end of the day, Robin and Kyle gave us all individual feedback and they asked for feedback from us. We were, after all, in an “endorsement by committee,” situation where even they, too, were being endorsed to teach hand-paddling by the rest of us. We…

…I wanted to make a difference in my community. I realized the best way I could make an impact would be in a community that I’ve been a part of for over 15 years — the paddling community. I wanted to bring Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) together…

…a raft guide trainer on the Arkansas, so it made sense to help out with rookie guide training. The Arkansas River is heavily regulated by Colorado State Parks, the Bureau of Land Management, and Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. This makes it difficult when experienced guides apply from out of state,…

Competition Council Position Description Are you passionate about Paddlesport competition and eager to shape the future of athletic events in the United States? The American Canoe Association (ACA) Competition Committee might be the perfect fit for you. Even if you haven’t participated in a competition discipline at a national or…

…will describe what we do. A work group made of Board members along with leaders from SEIC, Competition, DEI, Properties, Divisions and State Directors has created draft strategic goals. Those goals now are being circulated to ACA’s membership for feedback and refinement. Once we receive feedback, the work group will…

…adventure but also an opportunity to make a positive impact on the communities who call the Amazon rainforest home. For more information on the challenge and how to participate, visit www.amazoncanoechallenge.com or contact info@amazoncanoechallenge.com. Contact: Carlos Heine, Race Director Email: contact@amazoncanoechallenge.com Mobile: +44 784 671 8313 Landline: +44 20 8144…

…links below to read the written testimony submitted to the legislature, and to listen to Mr. Roth’s oral testimony. Written testimony can be found here. If you’d like to watch the zoom meeting, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR-rYY6nr-U Brent Roth’s testimony within the video begins at 1 hour and 23 minutes….

…links below to read the written testimony submitted to the legislature, and to listen to Mr. Roth’s oral testimony. Written testimony can be found here. If you’d like to watch the zoom meeting, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR-rYY6nr-U&feature=youtu.be Brent Roth’s testimony within the video begins at 1 hour and 23 minutes….

…and underserved communities through youth and community groups, and (3) review how other elite athlete organizations address NGB legalities. At-Large Director Candidate Risa Shimoda – Takoma Park, Maryland Risa brings value through her varied paddling experiences across disciplines, and as a marketing and branding professional. She has competed in K1W,…

…dedicated to maximizing athletic potential, commit to an ongoing training program, and focus on a single sport during the season. Coaches choose competitions commensurate with an athlete’s skill level and appropriate levels outside their comfort zone. Successful athletes compete and perform well in elite national and international competitions.    …

…*You must be currently certified within the discipline(s) for which you cast a vote. ACA Discipline Committees: Universal Paddling Committee (Click here to vote) Coastal Kayak Committee (Click here to vote) Rafting Committee (Click here to vote) River Canoe Committee (Click here to vote) River Kayak Committee (Click here to…

…experiences. Provide objective feedback and age-appropriate development benchmarks. Communicate these continuously to parents and athletes. Emphasize effort and development over outcomes to reinforce physical, technical, and tactical progression. Maximize athlete potential and retention at all stages of development. Seek to obtain coaching certification and continue to hone your skills, including…

…Committee members At-Large Members(2) International Representatives(2) Those elected to these roles will serve for the 2022-2023 term. Please click here to submit a self nomination. ACA Discipline Committees: Universal Paddling Committee Coastal Kayak Committee Touring/FreeStyle Canoe Committee Prone Paddling Committee Rafting Committee River Canoe Committee River Kayak Committee Stand Up…

…in a long history of excellence. As one of ACA’s Paddle America Clubs, TVCC has further solidified their commitment to ACAs mission to further paddlesports education, stewardship, recreational opportunities, community, and even competition. TVCC has worked tirelessly in developing COVID-19 paddling protocols to be able to provide clinics. The Summer…

…agenda will be provided soon. The meeting will be recorded and posted on ACA’s website, for the convenience of members unable to attend. Please see below for zoom information. Sincerely, Robin Pope Chair, Board of Directors   ACA Virtual Annual Membership Meeting Time: Dec 5, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Time…

…volunteers from 37 organizations are now rallying to deliver 24 simultaneous Kayaking 101 classes over 2 states on May 20 to the sold out crowds! In Tennessee where this partnership is in year 2, we still have a few seats available in the Adaptive Kayaking 101 class in Chattanooga, but…

…Federation) competitions. As Stand Up Paddling (SUP) continues to gain popularity and recognition as a thrilling water sport, the formation of the ACA SUP Competition Committee signifies a significant step forward in advancing the competitive landscape of paddleboard racing in the United States. The newly elected ACA SUP Competition Committee…

…recreational destination, enhancing the quality of life for our community and generating economic impact for our region. Sarasota County has entrusted the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy with the complete day-to-day care of this 600-acre community asset. As the stewards of the Park, the Conservancy tends to the complex maintenance, visitor…

…Administrators. To download a free copy of this great resource, please click here.   What’s Featured In the Guide: Section 1 Trends & Emerging Issues What is shaping waterway use, demands, and resulting conflict? Section 2 Type of Multiple Use Waterway Issues & Conflicts Section 3 Developing Plans & Solutions…

With the support of our members, we able to achieve our mission to build inclusive paddling communities, support excellence, and foster safety and stewardship through paddlesports education, competition, and recreation. Become a member today and join a network of individuals brought together by our shared love of all things paddling….

…groups or individuals to pursue paddling education, leadership development, competition, and/or instructor certification. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training: The ACA Board of Directors sponsored multiple training and peer sharing opportunities to ACA leaders and members in an effort to grow a common understanding of inequity. L.L.Bean Club Fostered Community Grant:…

…the United States and an influence in the community and industry that influenced many beyond. He pioneered paddling practices and built the first fiberglass kayak in the Western US in 1956; completed first descents of many rivers in California from 1956-1965; claim a place as National Slalom Champion from 1960-1962;…