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Class and workshop descriptions

Intro to kayaking

Introduction to Kayak is a six-eight hour course focusing on skills needed for any type of kayak including but not limited to sit on tops, recreational, folding and inflatable. Presentations include dressing to paddle safely and potential paddling hazards. Simple rescues are demonstrated by the instructor combined with the paddling skills practiced by students to maneuver safely and comfortably on still water. (sample syllabus)

Essentials of kayak touring

Essentials of Coastal Kayaking is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to travel safely and efficiently by kayak of the types designated as sit on top, folding, inflatable and "recreational." There is more emphasis on practicing a simple rescue sequence, understanding the very basics of tides and currents, use of a compass (safety bearing), rules for paddling in channels with and without boat traffic, use of VHF radio and weather radio and other emergency equipment. The graduates should stay within swimming distance of shore in areas with no conditions such as wind, waves, or current. (sample syllabus)

Coastal kayak Basic strokes and rescues

Coastal Kayak Basic Strokes and Rescues is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to travel safely and efficiently by kayak of the type designated as a sea kayak with bulkheads or flotation. There is more emphasis on self-rescue and assisted-rescue techniques and the stability strokes are introduced. Also, Rules of the Navigable Road, tides and currents, wind and waves, emergency equipment, use of VHF radios and weather radios, understanding charts and basic use of a compass are covered in more depth. Graduates should be capable of paddling up to half mile off shore with mild conditions such as light and variable winds, up to one foot of wind chop, and current speeds up to 1 knot. (sample syllabus)

Kayak Rolling

Kayak rolling is a 2-6-hour course that is designed to by used with river and sea kayak hard shell, closed-deck designs. Students will learn the fundamental components of the roll and improve their bracing skills. This class should will take the fear and mystery out of learning to roll by illustrating the components of a good roll. it has been our experience that rolling is much like riding a bicycle; once you have it your realize its not so difficult after all. (sample syllabus)

Coastal kayak strokes & maneuvers refinement

Coastal Kayak Strokes and Maneuvers Refinement course is a 7-8-hour course to assist students at all levels in refining their strokes and maneuvers in a sea kayak with bulk heads or flotation. Graduates of this course may desire to re-take the course at any time to further refine techniques such as style, bracing, low/high brace turns, bow rudder, side slips and stern rudder. (sample syllabus)

Traditional skill

Traditional Skills course is an 8-hour course designed to introduce students to the techniques used in kayaks by Arctic peoples. The course is limited to sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation in calm conditions. The skills to be covered are unlimited rolling, stroke techniques, and history of kayaking. (sample syllabus)

Coastal Kayak Open Water Skills

Coastal Kayak Open Water Skills is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to travel safely and efficiently by kayak of the type designated as a sea kayak with bulkheads or flotation, including some introductory navigation, boat lean and edging, introduction to kayak maneuvers and open water rescues. Graduates of this course should be capable of paddling up to one mile off shore with some moderate conditions but not white caps or current speeds beyond 2 knots. (prerequisite required) (sample syllabus)

Coastal Kayak Navigation

This 7 hour class is offered either in 1 all day session or 2 evening sessions. Materials covered range from basic chart and compass use to calculating ferry angles and speed made good. All materials for the class are included with the tuition fee. The aim of this class is to help you learn to plan and pre-navigate a trip, know some of the rules of the road, navigate from your cock pit, and to predict the effects of environmental conditions on your route and calculate a navigation strategies for dealing with them. Also cover are lunar cycles , tides and currents.

Surf Zone

Surf Zone course is a 6-8-hour course designed to help students learn to launch and land safely through waves up to 3 feet high in sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation. Graduates of this course will be introduced to the nomenclature and personal experience of paddling in the surf zone, timing waves, and side-surfing techniques. (prerequisite required) (sample syllabus)

Tidal Current

Tidal Current course is a 7-8-hour course that focuses on estimating, reading, and maneuvering in currents up to 4 knots caused by tidal exchange around coastal contours in sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation. Students will be introduced to the process of reading tide prediction charts, studying the water, and controlling the kayak in strong flow. (prerequisite required) (sample syllabus)

Coastal Kayak Rough Water Maneuvering, Towing & Rescues

Coastal Kayak Rough Water Maneuvering, Towing & Rescues is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to handle a kayak of the type designated as a sea kayak with bulkheads or flotation in challenging conditions. Skills will include but not be limited to a variety of rescue techniques and towing, maneuvering the sea kayak in the wind. Graduates of this class may be capable of handling sea conditions including white caps, waves to three feet, and currents to 5 knots. (prerequisite required) (sample syllabus)

Coastal Kayak Advanced Surf Skills

Coastal Kayak Advanced Surf Skills course is a 7-8-hour course designed to introduce the concepts of reading and surfing waves up to 4 feet high in sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation or kayaks of the kind called whitewater or surf kayaks or even sit on tops with thigh straps. Students will be introduced to surf etiquette, wave selection, positioning and maneuvers in the surf. (Pre-requisite required) (sample syllabus)

Coastal Kayak Trip-Leading Skills Assessment

This course is intended to provide the minimum skills and training necessary for an adult leader possessing basic paddling skills (see prerequisite below) to lead a trip for participants with beginner level paddling skills, in gentle conditions, with apparent wind not exceeding 10 kts, waves not exceeding 1 foot and currents to 2 kts. The emphasis of this course is trip leading, safety education and rescue, not paddling skills instruction. The content is relevant for clubs, camps, scouts and other entities providing trips. This is an Assessment Course with a written Examination, administered by a CK Instructor Trainer. Those desiring certification to teach kayak paddling should get ACA Instructor Certifications. This is a trip leaders endorsement. ( sample syllabus and overview)

Skill assessments

Skill Assessments are designed to offer participants the opportunity to receive documentation of their achieving a level of paddling skills. Ideal for seasonal camp staff and waterfront lifeguards who do not need instructor certification but do need to show proficiency in kayak skills for employment and safety.

Requirements and sample syllabus-

CK Skills Assessment - Level 1

CK Skills Assessment - Level 2

CK Skills Assessment - Level 3

CK Skills Assessment - Level 4

ACA instructor certifications and endorsements

ACA Instructor certification-

The ACA instructor certification & workshops are widely recognized as one of the industry standard for those whom wish to teach paddle sports. These programs are designed to develop an individuals personal on water skill as well as develop your abilities to instruct and become leaders in your respective paddle sport disciplines and communities. Paddlers whom are not interested in instructing but, are looking to bring their skills to the next level will also benefit from these workshops.

To become an ACA certified instructor you must satisfactorily complete both an Instructor development workshop (IDW) and an instructor certification exam (ICE). Within the Coastal (sea) kayak program are 5 levels of instructor certification.

level 1 - Intro level coastal kayak instructor

level 2 - Essentials level coastal kayak instructor

level 3- Basic level coastal kayak instructor

level 4- Open water level coastal kayak instructor

level 5 - Advanced open water level coastal kayak instructor *(must be level 4 for 2 yrs prior)

At each level the number of skills required to become certified increases as does the required training/ testing time. At all levels of certification the skills you demonstrate are expected to be top notch. Reading the descriptions and looking over the class syllabus shown above should help you to determine what level of certification best fits your interests.

certification level	IDW Duration	ICE Duration
Level 1 & 2	2 days	2 days
Level 3	3 days	2-3 days
Level 4	4 days	3 days
Level 5	1 day	1 day
Endorsements	1 day*	1 day*

These workshops are intensive experiences, days are long (often into the evening) and we all work hard. In the end the reward are big and the experience will change the way you approach paddle sports.

For registered participants in an upcoming IDW or ICE please follow the links below to download some of the required class materials. (information for registered participants)

Wear It! Life Jackets Matter

Paddlers' Safety Checklist

Rules of the Road- What Paddlers Need to Know

Practices, Ethics and Conduct

Cold Water Survival

Instructors' Resource Tool

Helpful information:

http://www.americancanoe.org/pdf/best_prac.seakayak_hires.pdf

best_pract.all_p2_hires

SEIC Policy Manual

Instructor's Manual

Frequently Asked Questions about ACA Instructor Certification

ACA Instructor Certification- Requirements, Maintenance and Insurance

ACA Instructor endorsements-

Rolling endorsement-The Kayak Rolling Endorsement is an add on teaching level for those candidates that are certified at Basic Coastal or above that wish to teach kayak rolling. (sample roll class syllabus)

Traditional skills endorsement- Traditional Endorsement is an add on teaching level for the candidate that is a Basic Coastal Kayak Instructor or above that wish to teach Traditional Kayaking. (sample roll class syllabus)

or write to us at Tuktu paddles LLC PO Box 162 Oceanville NJ 08231