American Canoe Association (ACA) Kayak Instructor Certification Course, May 10-12, 2025 at Camp Bethel
Certification for Kayak Instructors and/or Current Kayak Instructor Updates. (Lake venues -to- Essentials of River Kayak)
Detailed Course Outline and What to Expect: A 3 hour virtual classroom session will be held prior to the course start date to eliminate indoor sessions. Each participant is required to attend that session, scheduled based on candidate availability. The in-person portion of the course will be conducted entirely outdoors.
This course is appropriate for: Camps & Conference Centers offering kayak programs on lakes or rivers; County & City Parks and Recreation Kayak Program Staff or Trip Leaders; Physical Education Programs wishing to teach paddling as a life-time sport; Current Certified Instructors needing updates; Anyone wishing to teach kayaking and gain in their own skills as well; and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts leaders wishing to teach skills and lead trips for Scouting programs. Stay all 3 days OR just for the Level 1 certification (Saturday-Sunday). All coursework will be in the Roanoke Valley Area. Classes begin daily at 9:00am and finish around 5:00pm. Instructor candidates are expected to bring a (waterproof) working lunch to each session and plenty of fluids for each day.
COURSE PRICE: $100 per person per day plus your $50 registration and materials fee. A $150 non-refundable deposit due immediately in order to secure your spot. All balances are due one week prior to course start date. LOCATION: Roanoke Area, based from Camp Bethel (328 Bethel Road, Fincastle, VA 24090). Class venues change daily and are located a 25-45-minute drive away from Camp Bethel, depending on the day and/or water levels. All rental gear is transported for you and carpooling with course mates is encouraged. Some venues are more remote with no access to potable water or restrooms, so please be flexible and self-sufficient for your needs. PREREQUISITE: Must be a current or new member of the American Canoe Association and pay $30 fee to the Safety Instruction and Education Council (SEIC) at time of certification. EQUIPMENT: Instructor Candidates may bring their own boats, paddles and lifejackets, OR may rent gear for an additional $50 for the duration of the course. Indicate equipment needs in your Registration Form below. INSTRUCTOR: Beth Wiegandt is a Canoe and Kayak Instructor-Trainer with the ACA, Past Chair of the Introduction to Paddling and River Canoe Committees, and ACA Instructor for SUP and River Safety and Rescue. She's been instructing paddlers and leading area trips since 1989. Contact Beth at [email protected]. LODGING: Lodging and camping is separate from your course fees. At Camp Bethel, you can stay in a shared cottage (bathroom, kitchenette, bunk beds) for $35 per night OR you may tent camp for $15 per person per night. Indicate lodging or camping needs on your registration form, OR choose from local hotels. REGISTER NOW (3 steps below): A minimum of 5 Instructor Candidates and maximum of 10 ensure that you receive the individual attention you need to succeed in this course. Register online below. A $150 non-refundable deposit counts toward your total fee, and all balances will be billed and are due one week prior to the course start date. QUESTIONS: Contact Beth Wiegandt at [email protected] or 540-556-2594.
Register in 3 steps NOW for this course: 1. Make your deposit payment below through our secure "Register Now" PayPal button using any major credit card or a PayPal account. You must pay your deposit to register on-line, and all additional fees will be billed to you separately by e-mail in a few days. There are no additional fees or surcharges for on-line registration, and you will be able to review your fee prior to payment. 2. Submit Data: After successfully paying your deposit, PayPal will direct your browser to our secure ACA Course Registration Form . Allow at least 10 minutes to complete, and be as thorough as possible before you SUBMIT the form. 3. Get your Confirmation E-mail: After submitting your Registration Form, instructor Beth Wiegandt will contact you via e-mail. Add "[email protected]" to your contacts so that Beth can send you an e-mail with links to your course information, any additional payments due, and important information about your course.
