GSUSA

Safety expectations vary depending on the type of paddlecraft, participants’ grade levels, and the environment in which the activity takes place. Select your craft below to review the applicable Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoints and identify the training, supervision, equipment, and experience appropriate for your outing.

Safety Activity Checkpoints, or SACs, provide guidance for planning and conducting Girl Scout activities, including expectations related to supervision, qualifications, equipment, first aid, emergency planning, and participant readiness. Some paddling activities also require prior council approval, so always consult your council as part of your planning process.

The best-qualified paddlesports professional is not necessarily the person with the longest list of credentials; it is the person whose training and experience match your craft, participants, waterway, and intended activity. Girl Scouts specifically recommends considering an expert’s training, experience with similar conditions, rescue ability, group-management experience, and adherence to appropriate safety standards.

Remember: A higher ACA certification number or level does not simply mean “a better instructor.” Certification levels identify the technical skills and environmental conditions in which that educator has been evaluated. Choose the certification that matches the craft and waterway you plan to use.

Having the right equipment is only useful when participants and leaders know how to use it correctly. Each paddling SAC identifies craft-specific equipment and safety gear, and ACA resources can provide additional instruction on topics such as life-jacket fit, paddling equipment, rescue tools, clothing, and trip preparation. For example, the canoeing SAC requires a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person and identifies additional group rescue equipment.