Courses

• General Kayaking
  • GKC Level 1
    Intro to Kayak
  • GKC Level 2
    Basic Kayak
  • BCU 2 Star Assessment
  • BCU Canoe
    Saftey Test
  • Pool Sessions
  • Workshops
• Sea Kayaking
  • BCU 3 Star Sea
    Training & Assessment
  • BCU 4 Star
    Sea Leader Training
  • Symposium
  • Sea Kayak Surfing
  • Coaching/Instructor Certification
• Whitewater Kayaking
  • Whitewater I
  • Whitewater II
  • Whitewater III
  • ACA Swiftwater Rescue

Courses

BCU (British Canoe Union) 4 Star Sea Leader Training

The new (as of 2008) BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training is designed for candidates that are looking to develop the personal skill and leadership ability to lead small groups on short journeys in a coastal environment with winds not exceeding Force 4, a Sea State 4 and moderate tidal waters. This weekend long training given by the Geneva Kayak Center, focuses on personal skills and training leaders in judging the conditions and standard of the group and making appropriate decisions about the planned route along with the need to modify plans as required. The 4 Star award is a leadership award and not a coaching award. The Geneva Kayak Center is the Midwest’s premier provider of sea kayak training and assessment and is the Midwest’s only BCU endorsed Coaching Center.

There are technically no pre-requisites for the 4 Star Sea Leader Training. Listed below are the pre-requisites for being assessed for the 4 Star Sea Leader Award. We highly recommend that the candidate entering the 4 Star training should be started on these pre-requisites in order to make the experience more valuable for them.

• First Aid Certification
• Three Star Sea Award
• Previous Experience: Documentation of 10 Sea Kayak Trips (min. 4 hours), with 5 of these trips being in a assistant role, in a variety of coastlines, sea states, sea areas, periods of limited visibility, tidal waters up to 3 knots, wind up to and including Force 4 and camping from a kayak; 4 Star Training including navigation and tidal planning course, two days of logged experience of formal training in personal skills and leadership.

Paddling Skills Taught in the 4 Star Training in 4 Star Conditions (Winds at Force 4, Sea State 4, Moderate Tidal Conditions):

• Lifting, Carrying, Lauching & Landing
• Efficient and Effective Sea Paddling Skills:
  • Forward Paddling
  • Reversing and Stopping
  • Maintaining & Changing Direction
  • Moving Sideways
  • Supporting
• Rolling
• Practical Navigation

Rescue Skills (appropriate boat and shore-based safety and rescue skills)

• Rescue Capsized paddler and equipment
• Towing
• Carry
• Shepherding
• Effective Team Leader and Team Member in Rescue/Incidents

Theory

• Equipment and Design
• Safety (Coastguard and Rescue Services)
• Weather
• Hypothermia
• Access
• Environment
• Planning
• Group Awareness and Management
• Navigation
• Etiquette
• General
• Leadership Responsibilities
• Water Features/Hazards

Course Location: Geneva Kayak Center - Lakefront

Length: 2 - 8 hour days


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

Photo courtesy of Lori Donovan