Nantahala Forest

The second round of Forest Plan Revision assessment information sessions for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests will be held on the last two Thursdays of May. The objective of these sessions will be to present more in-depth information on a selection of topic areas related to the existing condition of the forests, and share opinions and ideas on these topics.

Topic areas likely to be addressed include: 1) ecological restoration, 2) early successional and other habitats, 3) recreation access and scenery, and 4) designated areas. Meeting participants will have an opportunity to participate in two or three topic discussions of their choice.

Click here for more details.   

Garden State Sea Kayak Symposium

If you don't have any plans for June 8-9 you should head on over to the Jersey Shore to take part in the Garden State Sea Kayak Symposium.  This weekend event is a collaboration of the Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association and Tuktu Paddles.  You can find trainings from top instructors in 

• Surfing
• Rough water paddling
• ACA instructor classes
• Kayak fishing
• Greenland rolling
• SUP
• Canoeing
• and more...

For more information check out their website at http://www.tuktupaddles.com/gssks.html

Convocatoria para Presentadores: Conferencia Sudamericana de Deportes de Remo

La ACA está buscando individuos, clubes y organizaciones de deportes de remo para presentar sesiones educativas  de alta calidad en diferentes temas de deportes de remo como (canotaje-kayak-Stand Up Paddling-Rafting-rescate-discapacidad):

• Sesiones Educativas (salon de conferencia)
• Cursos de Habilidades(agua)
• Cursos de certificacion para instructores
• Actualizaciones para instructores
• Actualizaciones para entrenadores de instructores

La ACA está aceptando propuestas para la Primera conferencia sur americana de deportes de remo, 18,19 y 20 de Octubre, Viña del Mar, Chile.

La fecha límite para enviar su presentación es el  19 de Mayo 2013. Para llenar el formato visite la pagina Convocatoria Presentadores. Los presentadores elegidos serán notificados el 30 de Mayo del 2013. Si su propuesta es seleccionada, enviaremos un acuerdo que tendrá que ser firmado y enviado a más tardar el 20 de Junio.

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The ACA is seeking individuals, paddling clubs and organizations to present high quality educational sessions on a range of paddlesports topics (kayak - SUP - raft - rescue - adaptive):

• Conference Educational Sessions (classroom)
• Skills Courses (on water)
• Instructor Certification Courses
• Instructor Updates
• Instructor Trainer Updates

The ACA is now accepting proposals for the 2013 South American Paddlesports Conference in Viña del Mar, Chile, October 18th, 19th and 20th 2013. 

The proposal deadline is May 19th 2013.To fill out your form visit Convocatoria Presentadores . The lead presenters will be notified of the decision by May 30th, 2013.  If your proposal is accepted we will forward a presenter agreement to be signed and returned by June 20th, 2013.

Maryland Sets Standard for Paddlesport Access

Improving Paddlers access to Maryland’s Waterways along Bridges and Roads

On April 9^th 2013 Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley signed HB 797 into law allowing greater access along the states bridges and roadways.  This accomplishment will allow greater recreation opportunities for paddlers, improve safety for paddlers and motorists, stimulate the economies and livability of local communities, and enhance the health and quality of life by providing these beneficial recreation opportunities.

This bill was supported by the American Canoe Association, Chesapeake Conservancy, Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, and American Sportfishing Association during the Senate and House hearings. 

Thank You to Ruby!

South America Paddlesports Conference Intern - Ruby Fernandez

The ACA would like to thank our outstanding intern, Ruby Fernandez, for all of her assistance in laying the groundwork for the first ACA Paddlesports Conference in South America.

In addition, she put in countless hours towards making the 2013 Collegiate National Champsionship Canoe & Kayak race a success on the Tuckaseegee River in western North Carolina earlier this spring.

Please join us in wishing her all the best in her future endeavors!

For more information about this event in Chile, please visit www.americancanoe.org/South_America_Paddlesports_Conference

Looking for something to do this weekend?

Happy Friday, everyone! There is a lot going on this weekend!

If you are in the area, be sure to stop by the ACA booth at any one of these great events:

East Coast Paddlesports & Outdoors Festival - Charleston, South Carolina
TuckFest - Charlotte, North Carolina
James River Paddle Challenge - Jamestown Island, Virginia

Each event will offer a variety of paddlesport activities that you and your family are sure to enjoy! So come on out, say hello to our friendly ACA staff, and enjoy these great events!

 

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

How to SUP With Your Pup - Now Available in the ACA eStore!

Everyone's Learning to SUP - Even the Family Dog!

Learning how to stand up paddle with your dog can be a rewarding experience for both of you, if it's done with care.  How to SUP With Your PUP guides you through simple training and is designed to make the learning process smooth and safe for human and pup.  It includes everything you and your dog need to SUP - from types of gear to a full training plan.

Maria Christina Schultz has created this "how to" guide so that others may safely enjoy the sport of Stand Up Paddleboarding with their best friends. Schultz, an ACA certified SUP Instructor, consulted with the ACA for additional safety tips and information while writing her book.

"It's not how far or how fast you go, it's the company you keep that makes the adventure special."

Buy your copy of How to SUP With Your PUP from the ACA's eStore today!

Kokotat Instructor of the Month - April

ACA is proud to announce the Kokotat Instructor of the Month for April - Martha Muckleroy!

Martha has been paddling for over twenty years and she teaches paddlesports at Texas A&M University. While in her late 20’s, she took a road trip from Texas to Western North Carolina, where she fell in love with the Nantahala River and other nearby rivers. Her favorite places to paddle are the Nantahala, Chattooga, Ocoee, the Boundary Waters, San Juan Islands, and Alaska. Martha has been influenced by Chris Port, Anne Sontheimer and Jimmy Holcombe from the Nantahala Outdoor Center and attributes her success to the support and encouragement that the river community has provided her over the years. Martha is a teacher by trade and is always happy to share beautiful rivers and places with new students and old friends. Martha is from College Station, Texas and is an ACA certified Level 4: Whitewater Canoeing - Solo and Tandem Instructor, Level 5: Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, and a Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking Instructor.  

 Congratulations Martha!

Primera Conferencia Sudamericana de Deportes de Remo

La ACA se complace en anunciar la Primera Conferencia Sudamericana de Deportes de Remo que se realizara los días 18,19 y 20 de Octubre en Viña del Mar, Chile. La Primera Conferencia Sudamericana de Deportes de Remo se enfocara en una serie de actividades las cuales van desde sesiones educativas, sesiones del cuidado de escenarios naturales, últimas noticias en deportes  de remo, sesiones de rescate hasta clínicas  en SUP y Kayak de mar.

Para más información visite la página Conferencia Sudamericana o comuníquese con Ruby Fernandez, rfernandez@americancanoe.org

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The ACA is happy to announce the first South American Paddlesports Conference that will be held the dates October 18th, 19th and 20th in Viña del Mar, Chile.The first South American Paddlesport conference will focus on a series of paddlesport events, educational sessions, stewardship, instructor updates, safety and rescue sessions. In addition, there will be instructor updates as well as workshops in SUP and Coastal Kayak. 

For more information please visit the website Conferencia Sudamericana or contact Ruby Fernandez, rfernandez@americancanoe.org

 

East Coast Paddlesports & Outdoor Festival

 Don't forget next weekend is the East Coast Paddlesports & Outdoor Festival.  This, all things outdoors, event features something for everyone on and off the water.  Enjoy time on the lake at James Island County Park, take in a educational session from a world-renowned instructor, check out the Gibbon Slack Line Team, go mountain biking, check out the adpative paddling programs, and so much more.

To learn more about all you can enjoy in Charleston next weekend checkout www.ccprc.com/outdoorfest

Mark Your Calendars for the South Platte RiverFest in Denver, CO - June 22-23

This two day festival is Denver's premier urban RiverFest.  Activities will include free Stand Up Paddleboard lessons and demos, free music all day, water stewardship expo area, a chance to meet professional Stand Up Paddleboarders, a world-class beer garden, and more.

The RiverFest is a benefit for The Greenway Foundation.  For the past 40 years, The Greenway Foundation has worked to reclaim, restore and revitalize the South Platte River and it's tributaries in Denver.  These efforts have led to the construction of over 100 acres of riverside parks, over 100 miles of interconnected greenway trails, and the elimination of over 250 sources of direct pollution into our waterways.

Check here for event schedule information as it is added to the website:  South Platte RiverFest.

Journal of Paddlesport Education - April 2013 Edition

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

Highlights in this edition include:

• Using Academic Style Rubrics in Assessment Courses
• ACA's Swiftwater Rescue Conference
• Thank you to Trey Knight
• Kokatat-ACA Instructor of the Month
• SEI Department Update
• Stewardship Department Highlight
• Collegiate Race Series National Championships
• ACA Members Only Excursions
• Upcoming Outreach Events
• Subaru VIP Program
• 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

Water-themed Art Available in ACA eStore

Bend, OR Bloom

Rappahannock Morning

Red Canoe

Fredericksburg, VA photographer, Penny A. Parrish has captured three perfect moments of solitude at the water's edge.  Each of these framed photographs can be purchased from the ACA eStore in the Specialty Items section.  If you can't live at the water's edge, why not have the next best thing?

15% of the purchase price will be donated to the ACA by the artist.

Join the ACA for a SUP excursion in NC!

The ACA is offering a SUP excursion in western North Carolina on July 8 - 13, 2013. Come paddle Lake Fontana and the Tuckaseegee River with ACA Instructor Trainer Educator Chris Stec and the staff at Black Dog Paddle. The cost of the excursion is only $850.00!

To see a day by day itinerary, click here! 

Collegiate Canoe, Kayak & SUP National Championships

Over the weekend, the ACA hosted the 6th annual Collegiate National Canoe & Kayak Championships on the Tuckaseegee River in western North Carolina. 

2013 Collegiate Nationals Race Results - Team winners:

• 1st Place - Warren Wilson College
• 2nd Place - The University of Alabama
• 3rd Place - Albion College

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Subaru
• Mountain Khaki
• Whitewater-rescue.com
• Dillsboro River Company
• Timberlake Campground
• BIC Sport - Paddle Surf
• Duke Energy
• Dave Mason

Learn more about the ACA's Collegiate Race Series.

ACA Announces Purchase of Historic VA Lighthouse

     ACA Staff will Paddle to Work

The ACA recently purchased the Wolf Trap-Historic Lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.  The lighthouse is located three miles offshore, between the York & entrance to Rappahannock Rivers.  The existing 5-room structure was built in 1894 and is currently in need of extensive restoration. The original Wolf Trap Lighthouse structure was built in 1821, but the Civil War initiated a series of destruction and rebuilding until the "extra-resilient" 1894 version was finally built.

The ACA plans to move their national office to the lighthouse after the interior has been fully restored.  The ACA staff will be doing all the restoration work. The Fredericksburg office will remain open and will maintain normal business hours while restoration is in progress.  In keeping with the ACA's Stewardship program, all restoration will be done only with recycled, re-purposed and eco-friendly products.  The lighthouse includes a waterfront lot where the ACA plans to build a boathouse.  The staff will "commute" to the office by the paddlecraft of their choice.

ACA Executive Director, Wade Blackwood will also reside in a portion of the lighthouse along with his family.