Geneva Kayak Center
CoastalInstructor

Courses

ACA Coastal Kayak INstructor Programs


Geneva Kayak Center offers a full range of coastal kayak instructor certification programs through the American Canoe Association (as well as the BCU). Geneva Kayak is an ACA Pro School, recognized by the ACA for our excellence in instruction. Our goal is to develop well-rounded instructors who are adept at:
  • Utilizing modern coaching methods
  • Creating meaningful learning experiences for their students
  • Developing technical paddling skills
  • Creating a greater awareness of the paddler's environment
  • Leading paddlers in a range of conditions (non-region specific)
Our philosophy is to give you multiple coaching tools that will transfer to different regions, environments and populations, de-emphasizing a specific way of teaching or modeling. Another aim for the evaluation portion of the workshops is to make the process as "real", accurate and fair as possible. When candidates are being evaluated for their teaching abilities, we bring in actual students so candidates are not asked to pretend their peers (candidates) are beginner students.

GKC offers several levels of certification so paddlers with differing experience and skill levels can become instructors. Expectations for candidates entering these programs differ based on the level of certification sought. If you are interested in becoming an instructor and have questions about what level of certification is best for you, please read the course descriptions below and give us a call at (630) 882-9211. We're happy to talk with you about this process!


About the Process
Depending on your intended level of certification, prior experience and time constraints, you can choose between two different formats to become certified - the IDW/ICE format or the ICW format.

The Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) is the training portion of certification that is a pre-requisite to the separate Instructor Certification Evaluation (ICE), the assessment portion of the process. These two experiences are designed to take place with a period of time between workshops (IDW & ICE). This period of time is beneficial for the candidate to process feedback given, gain experience by observing/teaching under already certified instructors, and work on areas needing improvement in order to have the most successful result at the ICE.

An ICW is a combined development and evaluation which takes place over the course of 3 to 5 days (dependent on level of certification). An ICW is an alternative for who those may already have experience teaching coastal kayak skills, for workshops that are held in remote locations, and/or for those who have time/travel constraints that do not allow for two separately held experiences. This is also a good alternative for coaches coming from other systems (BCU and Paddle Canada). The ICW process is less recommended (for some candidates) at levelsL3/L4 as some candidates find the amount of content and the length of the days needed to cover course material is very intensive.


Is Certification For Me?
The ACA needs quality instructors at all levels of certification. If you love paddling and working with others in the outdoors, then certification is for you. However, IDW's and ICW's are not the place to learn your personal paddling skills. If you are looking at learning/improving paddling skills, we would recommend our Touring/Sea Kayak skills trainings. Instructor workshops are focused on giving you the tools to be a fun, effective and safe instructor. We will look at your paddling skills within the context of refining your model, teaching body/boat/blade/brain concepts and increasing your understanding of biomechanics. Not sure if your technical skills are to the level of these workshops? Take an ACA skills award assessment for feedback on your personal skills before the workshop!


About the Trainer
Each Geneva Kayak IDW, ICE or ICW is lead by Ryan Rushton. As a Level 5 Instructor Trainer, Ryan is certified and endorsed to run all instructor programs in the coastal kayak discipline. Ryan's approach to these workshops is to help each candidate reach their potential within the constructs of the process. Sea Kayaking at all levels should be fun; we help instructors learn to deliver fun, effective and safe programs. Ryan's goal is to set an example of this philosophy on paddlesports in our instructor programs.

Level 1 & 2 Instructor Certification Workshop (Intro & Essentials)

Our Level 1/2 program is run in an ICW format with two days of training and one day of evaluation. The Level 1 certification is suitable for those who are getting started in kayak instruction for recreational and touring kayaks. L1 Certified Instructors are authorized to teach students fundamental skills including: identifying hazards, basic concepts in boat handling, self-rescues in calm waters such as lakes or ponds. The Level 2 certification is suitable for kayak instructors teaching basic sea kayaking skills, rescues and concepts in a sheltered water environment.

In the L1/2 ICW we will focus on basic methodology and tools to be a fun, safe and effective instructor. Candidates should expect to be occupied with the course for the entirety of the three days with on-water, classroom and take home work. At the end of the workshop, candidates can certify at either Level 1 or 2 Instructor, or be continued with areas to work on.

Instructor Certification Workshop
Location: Chicago Area - Geneva Kayak Center
Cost: $320
Dates: May 26-28

The cost of the workshop is 320.00 per person. Candidates will need to provide their own kayak and paddling gear (rentals available), purchase an ACA Instructor Manual, and become members of the ACA as well as the SEIC. Click here for more info on the criteria for an ACA L1 & L2 Instructor.
return to top

Level 3 & 4 Instructor Certification (Coastal & Open Water Kayak)

ACA Coastal Kayak and Open Water Certification are developed for those teaching and assessing sea kayakers in the coastal environment. The L3 Instructor is certified to teach, lead and assess in conditions including small surf and waves, moderate winds and light tidal currents. The L4 Instructor is certified to teach, lead and assess in more advanced conditions including surf, swell, winds and moderate tidal currents.

Candidates looking to enter a L3/4 IDW or ICW should have adequate technical skills, experience and a understanding of the environments they want to teach in. Areas of development and evaluation include modeling in flat and rough water, sea kayak rescues, leadership, seamanship/navigation, kit, rolling ability and overall knowledge of sea kayaking and paddlesports.

Beyond technical skills and knowledge, the Coastal Level 3 and 4 Instructor should exhibit a higher level of coaching abilities. In the IDW (and training portion of the ICW), we will look at basic methodology including 3D's and IDEAS to ensure that instructors have a grasp of basic teaching methods. While these basic methods are good tools for instructors, we will also move past these methods into more refined instruction. A large focus of these programs is understanding how to create a safe and effective learning environment in coastal and open water conditions and how to utilize these conditions for enhanced learning.

L3&4 Workshops are intensive but fun and rewarding experiences. Both the IDW and ICE are three-day workshops while the ICW is a five-day intensive program. Candidates should expect to be immersed in the programs as they will be involved in on-water, classroom, take home and written segments of the workshops

In 2012, Geneva Kayak will be offering two IDWs and one ICE at the Coastal and Open Water Level in the Chicago area. Workshops in the Chicago area utilize Lake Michigan for coastal and open water conditions as well the Geneva Kayak Center on the Fox River for calm water, classroom and current work.

We will also be offering an ICW in Downeast Maine during the month of September. Downeast Maine and Jonesport is the perfect location for a L3/4 program as it offers both protected waters and an amazing coastal experience from just outside the doors of our on-water location. An additional ICW will be offered on Lake Superior in Wawa, Ontario the week before the Gales Storm Gathering. .

Instructor Development Workshops (IDW)
Location: Chicago Area - Lake Michigan & Geneva Kayak Center
Cost: $350*
Dates: May 4-6, August 25-27

Instructor Certification Evaluation (ICE)
Location: Chicago Area - Lake Michigan & Geneva Kayak Center
Cost: $350*
Dates: October 19-21

Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW) - Downeast Maine
Location: Jonesport, ME
Cost: $750 (includes lodging)
Dates: September 1-5

Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW) - Lake Superior
Location: Wawa, Ontario
Cost: $600
Dates: September 30 - October 4

*If you register for an IDW & ICE together, the price goes from 350.00 per workshop to 650.00 for the combined program.


return to top

Level 5 Instructor Certification Workshop (Advanced Open Water)

The Level 5 Advanced Open Water certification is America's highest award for sea kayak coaching and leadership. Candidates must hold a L4 Instructor certification for two years before entering a L5 Instructor Certification Workshop. Instructors who are certified at Level 5 are teaching and assessing in seas to five feet, winds to 25 knots, breaking surf and tidal currents to 5 knots. Utilizing these conditions for teaching in a safe manner requires the L5 Instructor to be able to effectively handle their craft with grace and ease in these conditions.

The training portion of this workshop will focus on developing high level coaching abilities in these conditions. Candidates will be asked to prepare both on and off water topics to share with your peers in the workshop. Candidates should have a greater understanding of learning processes and use of many teaching tools. One aim of the workshop is to raise the individual and collective level of coaching over the course of 4 days.

The L5 workshop should only be held in a few venues in the US due to the need for all the conditions of assessment to be available. The tidal component of this course includes boat handling, planning, leadership and teaching in this environment. For this reason, we have chosen Jonesport, ME for the course. The town of Jonesport offers immediate on-water access open ocean paddling, limited visibility navigation, no-landing zones, and nearby crossings in the Bay of Fundy requiring tidal vectors analysis, and a nearby tidal race at Reversing Falls of Cobscook Bay. Lodging will be in a house on the waters of Moosabec Reach, only a short paddle from the Gulf of Maine/Atlantic Ocean. Lodging is included in the course fee, but candidates provide their own food.

L5 Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW) - Downeast Maine
Location: Jonesport, ME
Cost: $600 (includes lodging)
Dates: September 20-23


return to top


Update or Upgrade Your ACA Certification

Update Your Certification
You can update your certification by taking part in an IDW, ICE, ICW (at your level of certification). Another option for updating your certification is to take part in an appropriately leveled Update program. While updating your certification may seem obligatory, updates are a wonderful opportunity to learn new methods and processes and improve your craft as an instructor.

L3/4 Instructor Update in Chicago
Location: Lake Michigan, Jackson Harbor
Cost: $100
Dates: Saturday, May 19

L3/4 Instructor Update in Wawa
Location: Wawa, Ontario
Cost: $100
Date: Friday, October 5


Upgrade Your Certification
You can upgrade your instructor certification (or gain certification in another discipline) by taking part in an ICE or ICW at the level of certification saught. It is not mandatory to take an IDW, but candidates should take note if you are working with a different Instructor Trainer within your discipline or crossing over to a different discipline, there may be slight variances in expectations for candidates. The best way to ensure a successful result would be to participate in the IDW OR simply have a conversation with the IT to understand his or her expectations.
return to top


Click Here to view upcoming courses offered by the Geneva Kayak Center.