Geneva Kayak Center
whitewater

Courses

ACA River (Whitewater) Kayak INstructor Programs


Geneva Kayak Center offers a full range of river kayak instructor certification programs through the American Canoe Association. 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
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 certifed - 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 river kayaking 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).


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 Whitewater 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.




About the Trainer
Each Geneva Kayak IDW, ICE or ICW is lead by Scott Fairty and a high level whitewater Instructor Trainer Educator. Scott is a multi-discipline instructor (L5 sea, L3 canoe and L4 whitewater). He draws on that breadth of experience to help you become the most effective and efficient paddler and instructor you can be.

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, sit-on-top and whitewater kayaks. L1 Certified Instructors are authorized to teach students fundamental skills including identifying hazards, basic concepts in boat handling and self-rescues in calm waters such as lakes or ponds. The Level 2 certification is suitable for kayak instructors teaching basic moving water kayaking skills, rescues and concepts in up to Class 1 whitewater.

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 Evaluation
Location: Chicago Area - Yorkville Whitewater Park, Geneva Kayak Center
Cost: $350*
Dates: TBD April or May and Sept/Oct

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.

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Level 3 & 4 Instructor Certification (River & Whitewater)

ACA River Kayaking and Whitewater Kayaking Certification are developed for those teaching and assessing whitewater kayakers in up to Class 2-3 whitewater. The L3 Instructor is certified to teach, lead and assess in conditions including up to class 2 rivers. The Level 4 Instructor is certified to teach, lead and assess in more advanced conditions including up to Class 3 rivers.

Candidates looking to enter a L3/4 IDW or ICW should have adequate technical skills, experience and an understanding of the environments they want to teach in. Areas of development and evaluation include modeling in flat and rough water, rescues, leadership, river reading, kit, rolling ability and overall knowledge of whitewater kayaking and paddlesports. Read more about the L3 and L4 Instructor Criteria.

Beyond technical skills and knowledge, the whitewater 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 Class 2-3 whitewater 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 River and Whitewater levels in the Chicago area. Workshops in the Chicago area utilize the new Yorkville Whitewater Park and Geneva Kayak Center on the Fox River for calm water, classroom and current work. One travel day will be required to a river with Class 3 conditions for those seeking the L4 cert.

Instructor Development Workshops (IDW)
Location: Chicago Area - Geneva Kayak Center, Yorkville WW Park, Root and Vermilion Rivers
Cost: $350*
Dates: Dates TBD April/May and Sept/Oct

Instructor Certifciation Evaulation (ICE)
Location: Chicago Area - Geneva Kayak Center, Yorkville WW Park, Root and Vermilion Rivers
Cost: $350*
Dates: Dates TBA

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


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Update or Upgrade Your ACA Certification

Update Your Certification
You can update your certification by taking part in an IDW, ICE or ICW (at the level of your current 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: Geneva Kayak Center, Yorkville Whitewater Park
Cost: $100
Dates: TBA

Upgrade Your Certification
You can upgrade your instructor certification (or gain certification in another discipline) by taking part in a ICE or ICW at the level of certification sought. 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 development portion OR simply have a conversation with the IT to understand his or her expectations.
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Click Here to view upcoming courses offered by the Geneva Kayak Center.