All Classes Are Led By an ACA Certified Instructor

Introduction, Expectations, and Logistics:

● Welcome, introductions, paperwork

● Student and instructor course expectations and limitations

● Course itinerary and site logistics

● Review waiver, assumption of risk, challenge by choice, medical disclosure

● About the ACA

Preparing to Depart:

● Review proper techniques to safely lift and carry the craft on shore

● Review life jackets appropriate for the operator’s size, craft, and activity, assuring all others in the group are properly wearing their life jacket

● Review personal equipment needed for the craft, activity and environment

● Prepare craft for departure: stowing gear securely, and ensuring craft is balanced

● How to hold the paddle in correct orientation and grip for effective paddling

Maneuvers:

● Enter and launch kayak from shore in a controlled manner, checking for clear departure

● Propel the kayak forward

● Stop the kayak

● Turn the kayak

● Move the kayak sideways

Conclusion and Wrap Up:

● Group debrief or individual feedback

● Course limitations

● Importance of additional instruction, practice, experience

● Life sport or paddling options

● Local paddling groups or clubs

● Handouts or reference materials

● ACA membership forms

Introduction, Expectations, and Logistics:

• Welcome, introductions, paperwork
• Student and instructor course expectations and limitations
• Course itinerary and site logistics
• Review waiver, assumption of risk, challenge by choice, medical disclosure
• About the ACA
• Lifejacket (PFD) policy (always wear on water)
• Appropriate personal behavior
• No alcohol / substance abuse
• Proper etiquette on and off the water
• Respect private property
• Practice Leave No Trace ethics

The Paddling Environment

• Wind
• Waves
• Weather
• Water

Getting Started:

• Warm-up and stretching
• How to pick up and carry a kayak safely
• Car topping: loading and unloading, racks, straps
• Launching and landing
• Boarding, three points of contact, weight kept low, etc.
• Posture, safety, comfort, effectiveness, rocking, balance
• Water comfort and confidence: wet exits – capsize & effectively exit
• • Wet exits1 in two ways:
•  (1) utilizing the spray skirt grab loop and (2) releasing the skirt off the hip
• Self-rescue
• How to empty a kayak
• Basic terminology
• Types of strokes (covered in this course): power, turning
• Stroke components: catch, propulsion, recovery (CPR), control, correction
• Safe and effective body usage

Equipment:

• Lifejackets (PFDs): types, fit
• Kayaks: types, materials, parts (including safety features such as flotation)
• Paddles: types, materials, parts, length, blade size, shape and offset, hand position
• Care of equipment
• Personal equipment: water, food, shoes, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, sun glasses, eyeglass straps, protective clothing for heat or cold, sponge, bailer/pump, whistle (or other approved sounding device), knife, light
• Optional equipment and outfitting for improved control

Safety and Rescue:

• Exercising judgment, safety as a mind-set, etc.
• Cold water shock / hypothermia: HELP / huddle, clothing
• Dehydration/ hyperthermia: hydration, clothing
• Hazards: wind, waves, weather, current, rocks, bridges, piers, dams, strainers, traffic
• Paddling as a group
• Signaling
• Interactions/ sharing water with non-powered and powered traffic
• Emergency procedures

Rescue

• Rescue sequence: reach, throw, row, go (RETHROG)
• Rescue priorities: people, boats, gear
• Demonstrate/participate: T-rescue  Deep-water re-entries, assisted and solo, with sling, including scoop and paddle float rescues1
• Boat assisted rescue, assisting a tired swimmer (pushing or pulling to shore)
• Towing or bulldozing a capsized boat

Maneuvers:

• Paddling in a reasonably straight line
• Spins
• Stopping
• Moving abeam (sideways)

Strokes:

• Forward
• Back (stopping)
• Draw
• Sculling draw
• Sweep (including stern draw)
• Reverse sweep
• Stern rudder

Conclusion and Wrap Up:

• Group debrief / individual feedback.
• Course limitations
• Importance of first aid and CPR
• Importance of additional instruction, practice, experience
• Importance of appropriate level of safety and rescue training
• Demonstrate advanced maneuvers
• Life sport / paddling options
• Local paddling groups / clubs
• Handouts / reference materials
• ACA membership forms
• Course evaluation
• Participation cards