Geneva Kayak Center

Courses

Become an ACA Instructor or BCU Coach with GKC



Benefits of Becoming a Coach/Instructor

Becoming a paddlesports Instructor or Coach is one of the most rewarding experiences for a paddler! If you love paddling, being outdoors and working with others, entering the coach/instructor track is definitely worth pursuing. Benefits of becoming a coach/instructor can include:
  • Involvement with a Community of Professionals who Share your Interests
  • Skills Acquisition & Improvement
  • New Teaching Tools & Tips
  • Personal Growth & Development
  • Travel Opportunities
  • Being Paid to Paddle
  • Making New Friends
  • Guiding Opportunities
  • Pro Deals & Discounts on Boats and Gear
  • Insurance and Liability Protection


Certifications Available

Listed below are the certifications available through GKC Instructor/Coaching programs. Generalist certifications are most appropriate for instructors looking to work with beginner paddlers in a variety of craft (sea kayaks, canoes, whitewater boats, sit-on-tops). These programs focus on developing a foundation of knowledge, methods and tools. Sea Kayak, Whitewater Kayak and Rescue certifications focus on giving instructors/coaches tools needed for teaching dedicated craft (i.e. whitewater kayak) in dedicated environments (i.e. Class III whitewater).

Why Choose GKC?

We believe that GKC offers the most comprehensive and modern approach to kayak and rescue professional certification. Our Instructor Trainers and Coaching Course Providers are well traveled and offer a national and international perspective on paddlesports and rescue. We bring in nationally and internationally known trainer educators if our own staff is not certified to run the courses.

Our philosophy on paddlesports is that they should be fun, safe and effective at all levels - beginner to advanced! This philosophy extends to our instructor programs. Our goal is to give you all the tools you need to teach paddlers in your chosen craft and environment. Though being evaluated can be a stressful experience to itself, we try our best to make this as enjoyable and educational as possible.

ACA or BCU? How do I choose?

Both the American Canoe Association (ACA) and the British Canoe Union (BCU) offer excellent programs for coach/instructor certification. While both are excellent, there are noticeable differences between the two. We try to outline some of the differences in the quick comparison below:


Recognition of Certification

  • ACA - Nationally recognized certifications. The ACA is the United States' Paddlesports certifying agency.
  • BCU - Most internationally recognized certifications. BCU Coaching certs are respected in the US and worldwide.
Course Availability
  • ACA - Courses widely available in US. You can generally find a course in your region depending on discipline and level sought. Some higher level certifications are less available. Multiple disciplines (Canoe, Whitewater Kayak, Sea Kayak, Stand Up Paddleboard) are available for instructor certification.
  • BCU - Courses harder to find in US. Must travel to one of only a few courses available in US or go overseas to UK where courses are widely available. (Available locally through GKC programs)

Progression to Higher Level Certifications
  • ACA - Faster progression to higher level certifications is possible. Level of certification is given on performance during the evaluation. Qualified candidates can be certified to teach in advanced environments earlier in their progression. Conversely, candidates certified at higher levels earlier in their progression may miss out on valuable training "along the way".
  • BCU - All coaching candidates must meet pre-requisite qualifications and start at Coach 1*. Achieving higher levels of coach certification in the BCU system requires time and committment to the certification process. Some BCU coaches have a wider depth of knowledge and breadth of coaching tools as they have recieved coaching from many highly qualified trainers while meeting pre-requisites.
*Experienced Instructors may apply for *Advanced Prior Learning to qualify to attend Level 2 Coach Training.


Financial Cost of Certification
  • ACA - Workshops generally run about $90-120 per course day. Availability of courses close to home limits travel and lodging costs in comparison to BCU courses. Membership to the ACA is $40 per year (individual membership) and you must be a member of the SEIC ($25 per year). The certification is good for four years and you must attend an update within that period of time.
  • BCU - Workshops generally cost about $110-120 per course day for courses run in the US. Travel costs may be higher as attendence will require travel and perhaps international travel. External to the coaching workshop is the expense of paying for pre-requisite courses. A BCU Comprehensive Membership is $75 per year.
Click Here to view upcoming courses offered by the Geneva Kayak Center.