River Rally

 

Join ACA Stewardship Coordinator Greg Rolf at this great event!

Registration is open for the 2013 River Rally Conference:

• Location: Doubletree Hotel - Union Station. Saint Louis, MO 
• Date: May 17- 20

Click here for registration

Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission - ACA Pro School

Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC) offers a variety of Canoeing, Stand Up Paddleboard and Kayaking skills classes and trips, including educational outings for beginner to expert paddlers. From day-trips, weekend skills classes, to certification courses, our ACA certified paddling instructors and trainers focus on safety and fun. Learn the essentials needed to make your paddling experience an enjoyable one from our friendly and knowledgeable instructors. Serving over 25,000 individuals of all ages and abilities annually, our Outdoor Adventure Program is the first of its kind to be accredited by the Association for Experiential Education. CCPRC also brings you the East Coast Paddlsport & Outdoor Festival every April.

To learn more about this ACA Pro School visit www.ccprc.com or www.americancanoe.org/proschools.

 

Learn about Adaptive Paddling

Learn how to make paddling available to those with disabilities

Canoeing and Kayaking for People With Disabilities will help you build on your existing knowledge of paddling techniques so you can share the sport with a variety of people with disabilities.  

These topics are presented in the text:

• General guidelines for working with people with disabilities
• Information on legal requirements, including accessibility at facilities and launching and landing sites, program access, development of eligibility criteria, and assessment of facility accessibility
• Thorough coverage of common disabilities, their implications for instructors, and teaching strategies and adaptations for each disability
• Guidance in choosing gear and modifying or building equipment to meet the needs of paddlers with disabilities
• Consideration for safety and risk factors, rescue priorities, and adaptations for rolling
• Factors to consider when planning a trip, including the ratio of paddlers with and without disabilities, taking wheelchairs and mobility devices on the trip, and route selection

Numerous resources, checklists and forms are also included to assist you in running your program.

Order your copy of Canoeing and Kayaking for People With Disabilities today from the ACA eStore.  Don't forget to login to your account to receive your ACA member discount!

Canoe Kayak and Paddle Company - ACA Pro School

CKAPCO provides ACA Instructor and Trainer certifications in Kayak or Canoe as well as skill development classes for beginners through advanced paddlers. CKAPCO also offers ACA and BCU skill and safety assessments, as well as full and half day trips just for fun! Top end boats and gear are provided. CKAPCO is proud to be the first ACA Pro School! 

DC and Baltimore metro locations.

To learn more about this ACA Pro School visit www.ckapco.com or www.americancanoe.org/proschools.

Support Maryland's Access to Waterways

Please join the ACA in supporting Maryland's House Bill 797, which will improve recreational access to Maryland's waterways along bridges and roads making it easier for people to canoe, kayak, and fish. This improvement can be achieved quickly and at little or no cost. 

The ACA will be testifying in Maryland on Tuesday, February 26th on behalf of the paddling community. 

For more info on this bill, click here. 

Cutter Aquatics - ACA Pro School

Cutter Aquatics is a premiere educational resource for kayakers and canoeists and has been delivering water safety education programs in Texas since 1996. Cutter Aquatics teaches high-level technical paddling skills in an encouraging atmosphere and helps candidates for ACA Instructor and Instructor Trainer certifications discover and enrich their program organizational skills and personal coaching strengths. Cutter Aquatics has a legacy of quality, safety and fun in paddling instruction and our trademark guided trips – adventure vacations close to home and around the world. With our resolute dependability and devoted customer service we have been the premier provider of kayaking and canoeing instruction in Texas and we currently focus on developing elite level ACA certified kayaking and canoeing instructors and instructor trainers.

From anywhere in the country contact us to provide ACA Instructor Training or to mentor you and your staff to become ACA Instructor Trainers.

Fore more information about this ACA Pro School visit their website www.cutteraquatics.com or www.americancanoe.org/proschools.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Fredericksburg

The ACA is excited to once again sponsor the SYRCL's (South Yuba River Citizen's League) Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival hosted by Friends of the Rappahannock. This festival is the largest of its kind and is shown in over 100 cities around the country. Aiming to inspire activism, this festival will feature award winning films about conservation, water, energy, climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, Native American and indigenous cultures.

This year's selections will not only take audiences to some of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet, but introduce them to the courageous individuals who are working to protect and preserve them for future generations.

http://www.riverfriends.org/Events/WildandScenicFilmFestival/tabid/558/Default.aspx

Florida Canoe Symposium Reminder

Freestyle canoeing is the "art and science" of quiet water paddling and one of the best places to see, practice and learn more about this amazing form of canoeing is the Florida Canoe Symposium.  This years event branches out with a giant slalom and sessions such as canoeing for kayakers.  Join fellow paddling enthusiast March 15-18 in Yulee, FL at Florida State College.  

To learn more or register for the symposium visit www.freestylecanoeing.com

Mulberry Fork Canoe & Kayak Race - Alabama Cup Racing Series

The Alabama Cup Racing Association has announced the Alabama Cup Racing Series.  The second of these three races, the Mulberry Fork Canoe and Kayak Race, will take place on March 2 and 3.  The Alabama Cup Racing Association is continuing their "Bring a new racer and get your second race FREE" this year.  The race is spectator friendly and features walking trails right beside the course.  The race will also feature a raffle, silent auction, food, live entertainment, awards banquet, environmental education and more.

To learn more or to register please visit www.alabamacupraces.com

Membership Renewal Reminders

ACA youth paddling

Did you know that the ACA now sends email reminders when your membership is approaching its expiration?  That's right!  Now you will receive an email 60 days prior to your membership expiration AND the day before it expires to remind you that it's time to renew.  The email reminders contain a link to online renewal information.  

Don't worry - those members who have not yet renewed by 30 days prior to their membership expiration will still receive the mailed renewal paperwork.

We want membership renewal to be as convenient as possible!  

ACA Office Closed

Your ACA National Office

The ACA Office will be closed today in observance of President's Day.

We will re-open tomorrow, Tuesday, February 19th at 9am EST.

Swiftwater Rescue Conference Announced!

Photo courtesy of SWR Conference Partner - Landmark Learning

Save the date: October 25-27, 2013

Location: Tuckaseege River in Dillsboro, NC

Join the ACA as we welcome the best of the best in the swiftwater rescue field.

All star cast of Presenters:

• Les Bechdel
• Slim Ray
• Charlie Walbridge
• Jim Coffey
• Mike Mather
• Aaron Peeler
• Justin Padgett
• Will Leverette
• Sam Fowlkes
• Robnin Pope
• Walter Felton
• Virgil Chambers
• Pam Dillon
• Trey Knight

Mark your calendars to attend as there hasn't been a gathering of this many swiftwater rescue folks in a long time. 

Learn more about the SWR Conference...

It's Your Turn DVD

DVD for purchase in ACA eStore

Have you ever had a perfect day on the water spoiled by a close call and some unprintable words exchanged with another boater?  If the answer is yes, then It's Your Turn can improve your paddling enjoyment by showing you how to safely navigate our increasingly crowded waterways.  This DVD clearly shows the need for courteous navigation and the challenges faced by powered vessels in avoiding hard-to-see paddlecraft.  It's Your Turn is a useful tool for both paddlecraft and powered vessels for staying out of each other's way.  As an added bonus, a Rules of the Road CD is also included!

Order your copy of It's Your Turn from the ACA eStore today.  Don't forget to login to your account to receive your ACA membership discount!
  

Input Needed - ACA Education

ITE Gordon Black

Curious about how the ACA develops skills and instructor courses for canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, rafting and river rescue?  Want to contribute?

Join the Safety Education & Instruction Council (SEIC) for their next meeting:

• March 15th
• Fredericksburg, VA

All ACA members are invited.

Learn more...

None other than ITE Ben Lawry

New Subaru Member Benefit!

Attention all ACA members:

In addition to the Outback, Forester and Tribeca, you can now use the ACA-Subaru VIP Program for the
Impreza WRX, the WRX STI, the new BRZ, and the new XV Crosstrek!

Learn more about this Subaru member benefit.

Adaptive Paddling Summit

Yesterday the ACA hosted an Adaptive Paddling Summit in Williamsburg, Va at the College of William & Mary.

Congressman Whitman opened up the meeting via video chat.

Representatives from numerous organizations attended:

• National Association of State Park Directors
• Team River Runner
• Adaptive Paddlesport Equipment Manufacturers
• USA Canoe/Kayak Coach - Bill Endicott
• Wounded Warrior Project
• Disabled Sports USA
• Creating Ability
• Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission
• Team Dagger Kayaks
• ACA Adaptive Paddling Instructor Trainers

The purpose was to serve as a steering committee for a full, multi-day Adaptive Paddling Summit to be held either in December of 2013 or January of 2014.  Stay tuned for more information about this event...

ACA Adaptive Paddling Program

A discussion group at the Adaptive Paddling Summit

 

Newest Edition of the Journal of Paddlesport Education is Released

The February 2013 Edition of the Journal of Paddlesport Education is now available.

Highlights in this edition include:

• National Paddlesports Conference Call for Presenters 
• SUP Survey
• ACA Pro Schools
• Kokatat-ACA Instructor of the Month
• ACA Members Only Excursions
• Upcoming Outreach Events
• and More!

Read now on Issuu or in a downloadable PDF

To learn more about the Journal of Paddlesport Education visit www.americancanoe.org/JournalofPaddlesportEducation

SUP Zip-up Blade Protector

Protect your SUP blade with this custom ACA Blade Bag.  This zip-up cover protects a wide range of SUP and canoe blades.

ACA logo on one side (black and white), Aloha floral design (blue and white) on the other.

Purchase your SUP Zip-up Blade Protector from the ACA eStore.

Don't forget to login to your user account to receive your membership discount!

Instructor & Instructor Candidate Manual

ACA Instructor's Manual comes in CD or spiral bound versions.

The ACA Instructor's Manual provides the necessary broad based approach to support all ACA Instructors and Instructor Candidates in all paddlesports disciplines.  It represents the collective knowledge gained by experts in the paddling community.  It also contains the relevant policies and procedures from the ACA's Safety Education and Instruction Council.

The ACA Instructor's Manual can be purchased in either spiral bound format or as a CD.

All Instructor Candidates must have either version.

L.L. Bean Club Fostered Stewardship Grant

Time is running out for the L.L. Bean Club Fostered Stewardship Grant.  Over half of the grant money has been given away!  Apply here for your grant proposal!