Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop (IDW/ICE) - ACA

Upcoming Events

11.04.22 – 11.07.22

Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop (IDW/ICE)

Marin Headlands, California, USA

Already an American Canoe Association Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor and interested in becoming an L4 Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor while stepping up your leadership and coaching skills?

The Bay Area is one of the best classrooms for leveling up and building confidence as an instructor given our abundant access to surf, rock gardens, caves, and tide races all within easy paddling distance from calm harbors. In this 4-day instructor certification workshop, you’ll have the chance to train and assess in an open coast environment with large swell, fast currents, and quick-changing conditions.

You can either participate as a candidate, workshopping your skills, or participate as a candidate seeking certification. This ICW is led by Ryan Rushton ( L5 Instructor Trainer Educator) and Cali Collective’s Laura Zulliger ( L5 AOWCK Instructor, L4 Instructor Trainer Candidate).

We’ll dive into L4 conditions, techniques, and maneuvers all while exchanging and testing new pedagogical approaches, both on and off the water. We will paddle and teach in:

Tidal current up to 4 knots
Wind up to 20 knots
Surf up to 4 feet*
*But not all conditions will be simultaneously occurring.

We will hone your skills in teaching navigation, mitigating risk and managing incidents and provide effective coaching in technique—all in L4 conditions. Please review the ACA’s update L4 Instructor Criteria.

Pre-requisites: In order to participate as a candidate, you will need to:
Be an existing Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor seeking to upgrade to Level 4
Complete an L4 Skills Assessment (Cali Collective is offering an L4 Assessment March 26-27, 2022)

Please Note: Existing L4 OWCK Instructors may take this course as an Update to meet the ACA’s Instructor Maintenance Requirements.

Register Here

Contact Information Ryan Rushton
rush360kayaking@gmail.com