Trip Leader Training

Zoar Outdoor has long recognized that a partnership with clubs creates a healthy paddling community. We offer professional, top-notch instruction and rely on clubs to keep paddlers hooked all season long!

We have set aside one weekend this spring to offer training that would benefit your club.  Choose to focus on guiding skills, rescue skills, or teaching skills.  We have three great clinic choices to fill your need.

Trip Leader Training- ACA assessment course

This is a two day assessment style course, where we’ll assess a trip leaders current skills and help build upon them.  We’ll focus on the skills needed to guide a group downriver effectively.  It’s a great opportunity to see what other trip leaders have set for their standards and to share information among clubs.

Participants can choose to become American Canoe Association members and have this training formally registered with the ACA. This option adds a level of national credibility to the clubs trip leaders. Participants are also able to join without becoming ACA members and will receive the same training, but without registering their participation with the ACA.

River Rescue

For those interested in being prepared to handle a river rescue, our two day Swiftwater Rescue course is based on a curriculum developed by the American Canoe Association and is designed to teach both river rescue techniques and preventative river running strategies to reduce river users’ risk in all river craft.

Participants should have experience paddling in at least class II whitewater.  This training will be geared towards those interested in leading trips.   It’s a great opportunity to practice rescue skills in a relatively controlled environment.

ACA Instructor Certification – up to Level 2 certification in Canoe, Kayak or SUP

This is a three day comprehensive instructor certification course recognized by the American Canoe Association.  Our Zoar Outdoor in-staff ACA instructor trainers will share their years of teaching wisdom with you.  Becoming an instructor is a great step towards teaching others to paddle or even a great way to give fellow paddlers more helpful tips on their paddling.

This is a certification style course with the first two days being development and the final day is the certification exam.  For more information on what skills you will need to complete this course please review the ACA instructor criteria and click on the link for your discipline and expected level.