Programs & Campaigns

Summer Solstice Celebration

Join the ACA in celebrating the longest days of the year in true paddler fashion, on the water!

From instructor certifications and competitive events to paddling festivals and community paddles — the ACA aims to connect paddlers to communities by promoting ACA member hosted events taking place over the summer solstice.

Equity & Access Initiatives

The ACA strives to be an association in which participants, members, guests, and the organizations they represent, feel a sense of belonging and are treated with dignity and respect. Our commitment to equity and access is fundamental to our organization and organizational partnerships. We will continue working to decrease barriers, and increase access to paddling opportunities for all.

Regional Activity Council (RAC)

The Regional Activity Council (RAC) is a National Activity Council for the ACA, providing a voice for ACA members through their Regional Chairs, State Directors, State Councils, and Paddle America Club members.

The 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. 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. These local ACA volunteers can:

• Help paddlers find local instruction or connect with regional instructor certification opportunities
• Promote competition, training, stewardship and other community-based paddlesports events
• Build coalitions for paddler advocacy initiatives

The ACA needs your help to support all paddlers accessing America’s waterways in a fun and safe manner. Everything we do is inspired by our passionate and dedicated members.

Instructor Emeritus Program

The ACA Instructor Emeritus program recognizes and honors the exceptional contributions of ACA instructors who have dedicated decades to teaching and advancing paddlesports education. Over the ACA Instructor Certification program’s 50-year history, thousands of instructors have been certified, with some serving consistently for 20 years or more. As these highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals reach a point where they wish to step back—whether due to age, health, or shifting priorities—their expertise remains an invaluable resource for students, Instructors, Instructor Trainers (ITs), and Instructor Trainer Educators (ITEs). The Instructor Emeritus designation provides a way to acknowledge and celebrate their legacy, allowing them to formally retire from active certification while continuing to share their insights, support the instructional community, and remain recognized as pillars of the ACA’s educational program.

ACA Story Project

The ACA Story Project is a month-long opportunity to remember, share, and celebrate the people and moments that make paddling great by publishing stories from ACA members. Our hope is that you read the stories, they bring a smile to your face, and if you are able and willing, you give back to paddlesports either through a donation or your time. When we all do this, we ensure the future is even brighter than the past.