“Kayaking 101” in 8 States and Fit to Float Pilot Project in Oregon
By Andrea White, ACA Regional Activity Council Executive Committee and Southeast Regional Chair
For the fifth year, ACA Regional Activity Council leaders are partnering with State Agencies, US Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, local municipalities, local ACA instructors and other volunteers, and at least 50+ local retailers, outfitters, paddling clubs, paddling schools, and other local stakeholders to offer low-cost beginner kayaking classes to kick off National Safe Boating Week.
We call the effort The Kayaking 101 Partnership because it is truly a situation where each supporter brings something different to the table and together we leverage National Safe Boating Week to accomplish more than any of us could accomplish alone. In 2024, the volunteer-led effort was recognized with the National Safe Boating Council’s Communications Community Impact Award. In 2025, 190 volunteers taught 330 students in one day across 5 states.
In 2026 the ACA Regional Activity Council is on track to offer Kayaking 101 to kick off National Safe Boating Week in 40 locations across 8 states as well as launching the Oregon Fit to Float pilot project.
On Saturday, May 16 from 10 am to 4 pm local time, working in partnership with public lands partners, ACA instructors will lead 40 simultaneous “Kayaking 101” classes across eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Classes cost just $15 per person and include a free kayak rental and gear for the day. This is a year 1 initiative partnering with public agencies in Alabama, New Jersey and Virginia and a revamped model for our partnership with Florida. Kayaking 101 includes a standardized staffing model that, by design, exceeds ACA instructional ratios, recognizing that this is a beginner class and is part of a high visibility event.
Registration in each state is open now!
Why is the Kayaking 101 Kickoff for National Safe Boating Week is different than “just teaching a class”
In 2024, Water Sports Foundation did a deep dive into the U.S. Coast Guard fatality data to show that while the rest of recreational boating fatalities are at a 50 year low, the growing popularity and accessibility of paddlesports leaves our segment as the portion of recreational boating fatalities that continue to grow. And the paddlers who are most statistically at risk are those who have fewer than 100 hours experience and who largely paddle “easy” waters.
“One reason is that more Americans are paddling than ever before, and many of them are new to the sport. For example, an examination of Recreational Boating Safety Statistics reveals that nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of those who died in paddling accidents in 2022 had less than 100 hours experience in the activity, and well over one-third (39.7 percent) had less than 10 hours experience. In other words, the paddlers who are most at risk aren’t the young guns charging through whitewater rapids; they’re ordinary folks who bought a kayak on a whim.” – Water Sports Foundation
But the problem with trying to change those statistics is that it is incredibly difficult to reach that target audience of “ordinary folks who bought a kayak on a whim.”
National Safe Boating Week provides a unique opportunity for the ACA Regional Activity Council to partner with state agencies and public lands agencies to create scalable statewide events and get media that will reach the key target audience that is statistically most at risk.
What ACA instructors bring to the table in this initiative is our ability to teach a class and to rally the community, but any other day of the year our efforts would only reach the people in the class. This day is different because we leverage National Safe Boating Week, our partners’ support, and the attention the media will give to safe boating stories on that particular day. We are basically trading volunteer hours in exchange for media time about how much fun a day of paddlesports training can be, amplifying awareness about local resources to get paddlesports training, and emphasizing the importance of wearing your life jacket and making good decisions when you paddle. Along the way we create market demand for more classes.
Success reaching the hardest to reach audience
Over the last four years, this event has grown significantly, but it continues to demonstrate that with our partners’ support we can reach the target audience.
- 77% of Kayaking 101 participants were first time or beginner paddlers
- 69% of Kayaking 101 participants took advantage of the free kayak rental included in the cost of their registration
This is truly the single most effective community-outreach event over the last 5 years at reaching the paddlers who are statistically most at risk.
Additionally, we are excited to offer Kayak Fishing 101 and Adaptive Kayaking 101 in select locations in Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Register Now at Participating Locations:
- ACA Tennessee working with Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- ACA North Carolina working with a variety of locations
- ACA South Carolina working with South Carolina State Parks
- ACA Georgia working with USACE and a variety of locations
- ACA Florida working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
- ACA Virginia working with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- ACA Alabama working with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- ACA New Jersey working with Camden County Parks
All classes will be held on Saturday, May 16 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, rain or shine with the exception of North Carolina locations which are taking place on the same day, but from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Oregon Fit to Float Pilot Project for National Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day
The Oregon State Marine Board is teaming up with paddlesports leaders to offer a life jacket fitting event for youth and families on Friday, May 15 at eight locations statewide in conjunction with National Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day.
Fit to Float began as an idea from Southern Oregon-based paddle and oar manufacturer Sawyer Paddles and Oars in conversation with American Canoe Association Regional Activity Council (RAC) leaders about ways we could bring a grassroots event to Oregon. The concept of having coordinated, statewide life jacket fitting events hosted by local partners was developed in collaboration with the Oregon State Marine Board, the American Canoe Association Regional Activity Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and launched in conjunction with National Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day.
RAC leaders are hopeful this pilot effort in 2026 will provide an alternative event model that can be scaled for statewide execution in states where the water is too cold in May for on water programming or where ACA does not have enough volunteers to staff multiple locations for a statewide event during National Safe Boating Week.
The Oregon Fit to Float event is designed to help folks understand how a life jacket should fit, what to check before getting on the water, and why proper wear matters for comfort and safety. Retailers, outfitters, local parks and even a local fire station are hosting events to invite local communities to participate with support from local paddlesports community volunteers, the Oregon State Marine Board and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Participating Locations will hold Fit to Float activities from 3 pm to 6 pm on May 15, 2026.
ACA Regional Activity Council (RAC)
The Regional Activity Council (RAC) represents ACA’s grassroots membership and helps to promote and support the various areas of ACA’s mission: safety, education and instruction; competition; stewardship and public policy; diversity, equity and inclusion; and recreation. The RAC seeks to enhance communication and volunteer activities that benefit the mission and values of the ACA and the paddlesports community at the state and local level. In addition, this National Activity Council allows ACA leaders to mentor up-and-coming paddlesports leaders in activities related to community building, public policy and stewardship, and regional partnerships.
If you would like to help host or volunteer at a RAC National Safe Boating Week event next year you should contact your ACA Regional Chair or ACA State Director during summer 2026 to discuss planning for 2027.