ACA Online Waivers

As a service to our members, Paddle America Clubs, and event organizers, the ACA now has an online waiver system.

Events
Check an event's webpage via the Event Calendar to see if the event coordinator has chosen to use online waivers for their event.  If you are an event coordinator and would like to utilize online waivers for your event, please contact the Insurance Coordinator for details.  

Paddle America Clubs (PACs)
If you are a member of an ACA Paddle America Club and you are signing your annual waiver, please click here.

Note, you will then need to login to your account to proceed.  If you need assistance with logging in, please contact the Membership Department.

Instruction Courses
At this time, the process for using an online waiver for ACA instruction courses (skills, assessments, certifications, and endorsements) is still under development.

Elmer Eddy

Elmer Eddy 1919 - 2013

After 94 active years as a conservationist, Elmer Eddy has passed away. He held onto his hopes and dreams that he could clear the waterways of marine debris and obstructions. Elmer never gave up, he still had ideas and drive. His final hope was that his efforts had made a difference. He hoped that he had inspired others to be aware of the problems and continue the effort. He knew that no matter how much he did, there would always be more. He inspired others to the cause, that would make a true and lasting difference. He also wanted to thank all of those who paddled and boated with him for their company, friendship, and shared purpose.  Elmer was a recipient of the 2009 ACA Green Paddle Award for Waterway Conservation.

New ACA Visor!

An ACA staff member models the new ACA blue cotton visors

The new ACA royal blue, 100% cotton visor has a Velcro closure.  The ACA logo is embroidered in white.  Buy your visor today from the ACA eStore.  

ACA members - don't forget to login to your account to receive your membership discount!

Raritan River Clean-Up Project

Help Raritan River Clean-Up Project and friends with a 10 mile clean-up of the Raritan River in Somerset County, Central NJ on Saturday July 27. Click here to clean more!

Black Bears in Nevada Now Wear Life Jackets

Did you know that black bears in Nevada are now participating in the Coast Guard's Wear It! campaign? Well, at least the black bear at Black Bear Diner in the City of Sparks is participating! Recently, Fred Messmann, National Safe Boating Council Deputy Director, went to Black Bear Diner for a delicious meal and noticed their little bear friend was paddling his canoe without a life jacket. He spoke to Miguel Hernandez, the manager of Black Bear Diner, about the importance of wearing a life jacket when paddling. Miguel welcomed the idea of putting a life jacket on the bear and a Wear It! decal on the canoe. The restaurant now also has National Safe Boating Council brochures available for people who ask about the bear's new accessory. The bear's new survival gear was graciously donated by Mustang Survival. 

There are 59 Black Bear Diners in nine of the western states, each with their own rustic setting. If you are in Nevada, be sure to go to the Black Bear Diner in Sparks to see that black bears do, in fact, wear life jackets!  

2013 Beep Baseball World Series Kayak Challange

The ACA is proud to sponsor the 2013 Beep Baseball World Series Kayak Challenge next Monday in Columbus, GA. 

The Columbus Georgia Sports Council will be kicking off the opening ceremonies with a winner takes all $5,000 kayak race.  Each kayak team will be made up of a blind or partially sighted player as the paddler and a sighted volunteer who will act as the navigator.  Each member of the two person kayak team should be a registered member of the National Beep Baseball Association and of an affiliated team participating in the 2013 World Series.

The blind or partially sighted paddler / racer will be provided a pair of ski goggles which will be blackened out so that all racers are on the same plain and no one individual has any unfair advantage. No previous kayak experience is needed to participate.  The race course will be 3,000 meters in length and will take place on the Chattahoochee River, which is adjacent to the Columbus Georgia Convention Center.

For more information on the event, click here.

For information on the ACA's Adaptive Paddling program, click here. 

July Kokatat Instructor of the Month

 

 The ACA is excited to announce the July Kokatat Instructor of the Month is Nancy Uschold. Nancy first became interested in kayaking when she visited Lake Superior in 1988 and saw sea kayaks playing in the water. She was instantly intrigued and knew she wanted to learn to kayak. Since 1988, Nancy has become a paddlesports enthusiast and holds several ACA certifications for canoe, kayak, and stand up paddleboard. To read more about Nancy and her love for paddlesports, check out the latest Journal of Paddlesports Education or the ACA's Kokatat Instructor of the Month webpage. 

To nominate someone to be next month's Kokatat Instructor of the month, click here! 

ACA Job Opening - Communications Coordinator

The ACA has just announced a new position on the National Office Staff, Communications Coordinator. Learn more.

Remember, there's just one week left to submit your cover letter and resume for either of the two other open positions at the ACA National Office.

• Competition Coordinator
• Paddlesports Training Grant Coordinator

Complete information can be found at www.americancanoe.org/employment


Join the team...and make a difference in the world of paddlesports.

Last Chance to Nominate Someone!

Time is running out! There are only three days left to nominate someone for an ACA National Award! These prestigious awards will be handed out at the ACA's National Paddlesports Conference banquet. 

Awards include:
Legends of Paddling
Excellence in Instruction
Green Paddle for Waterway Conservation
Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year
Stroke of Achievement
J.Henry Rushton
President's Award
Dusty Rhodes Founder's Award
Havens Leadership Award

Click here and nominate someone today!

Check Out the Online Waivers!

As a service to our members, Paddle America Clubs, and event organizers, the ACA now has an online waiver system.

Events
Check an event's webpage via the Event Calendar to see if the event coordinator has chosen to use online waivers for their event.  If you are an event coordinator and would like to utilize online waivers for your event, please contact the Insurance Coordinator for details.  

Paddle America Clubs (PACs)
If you are a member of an ACA Paddle America Club and you are signing your annual waiver, please click here.

Note, you will then need to login to your account to proceed.  If you need assistance with logging in, please contact the Membership Department.

Instruction Courses
At this time, the process for using an online waiver for ACA instruction courses (skills, assessments, certifications, and endorsements) is still under development.

LOVE the Lake

Come join the ACA Paddle Green Event, for the 4th Annual "LOVE the Lake” at Shepard Park in the Village of Lake George, New York on Saturday, July 20 at 10:00am. The daylong event will include live music, racing against a steam boat, SUP Race, local vendors and organizations, education and paddle craft demos.

There will also be a 32 mile two-day paddle starting July 19th at Mossy Point Boat Lunch.

ACA Open Canoe Slalom Competition

The 2013 ACA Open Canoe Slalom Competition was held this past weekend in Wausau, Wisconsin. Over 70 canoeists raced and some traveled from oversees to compete. The race was challenging for every participant and exciting for spectators to watch. Check out these pictures from the race!

For more info on the Open Canoe Slalom, click here. 

 

KFC Mayor's Cup and Paddle for Hunger is this Saturday!

The KFC's Mayor's Cup and Paddle for Hunger is this Saturday in Louisville, KY! This annual event is a great way to give back to your community and enjoy a paddling race along the Ohio River! 

Mayor's Cup 
The Mayor's Cup is a chance for you to race a canoe, kayak, or SUP! Registration will take place Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. at Waterfront Park.


Paddling for Hunger
Want to help feed those in need? Join hundreds of Louisvillians for this great event at 2:00 p.m. in Waterfront Park. 

For more information, click here. 

SUP Award for Scouting

The ACA's Stand Up Paddleboard Discipline Committee, a component of the Safety Education & Instruction Council (SEIC), has worked with the National Aquatics Taskforce of the Boy Scouts of America to develop the new SUP Award for Scouting.

ACA SUP Instructor Trainer Chris Stec will conduct the first training of Scout Leaders this weekend in West Virginia at the BSA National Scout Jamboree being held at the new Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve.

To learn more about the SUP Award, including the official BSA SUP pamphlet, or other joint ACA - BSA paddlesport projects, please click here.

Reminder - ACA National Awards Nomination Deadline is Fast Approaching!

2012 Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year Jimmy Blakeney

 
Each year, a series of prestigious national awards are presented to individuals and organizations who have illustrated exemplary leadership, service, and dedication to paddlesports in various ways. These awards are handed out at the ACA's National Paddlesports Conference banquet in front of some of the world's most reputable paddlers.

Awards include:
- Legends of Paddling
- Excellence in Instruction
- Sanctioned Event of the Year
- Green Paddle for Waterway Conservation
- Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year
- Stroke of Achievement
- J. Henry Rushton
- President's Award
- Dusty Rhodes Founder's Award
- Havens Leadership Award

Do you know a paddler who is worthy of recognition? Show them their work does not go unnoticed and nominate them for one of these prestigious awards! Nominations are now being accepted for 11 more days!!!

Award recipients will be announced at the 2013 National Paddlesports Conference banquet in Bend, Oregon this September 27 - 29.  

To nominate someone, click here. 

ACA Member Benefit - Sugar Island

The annual Sugar Island Encampment is fast approaching!

Sugar Island is an exclusive member benefit of the ACA and is available to all members for year round use.  

The 2013 Sugar Island Encampment takes place July 21-August 2.  Join fellow paddlers on this 35 acre island protected by the ACA in the beautiful St. Lawrence Islands National Park.  The Annual Encampment or "Meet" is a tradition as old as the ACA.  The Meet is held annually during the last week of July and the first week of August. Canoeists and kayakers gather for a canoe or kayak camping vacation.  During the first week, sailing races for both open and International decked canoes are held.  This is also a good time for newcomers to learn and receive tips from experienced paddlers and sailors.  Group activities for young people are available daily during the encampment and children's kayaks are available.

Make a Sugar Island vacation your family's tradition!

MTI Adventurewear

For 20 years, MTI Adventurewear  has been making life jackets and their philosophy is that if they build a better product, people will choose to wear a life jacket. Not only because the law says you should. But because its the smart thing to do and with an MTI jacket, its no big deal! 

One of the added benefits to purchasing a new MTI life jacket is a complimentary 1-year individual membership to the ACA.* Check the hang tag on select 2013 MTI life jackets at your local paddlesport retailer. 


*Applies only to non-ACA members 

Hobie Sunglasses

Hobie Polarized is a leading designer, developer, marketer, and distributor of polarized eyewear for the sports enthusiasts, worn by water men and women as a classic American brand. One of the latest ACA membership benefits comes from this great American brand! All ACA members receive a 50% discount on Hobie Polarized sunglasses and readers and 60% off clearance frames. 

To take advantage of this great deal, visit the Hobie Polarized Pro website and use the ACA code to receive a discount! 

Rapid Media

For 11 years, Rapid Media has been producing the very best paddling magazines, growing the number of canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts worldwide. For the past two years, Rapid Media has been a proud partner of the ACA and ACA members directly benefit from the partnership. ACA members get a free subscription to any of Rapid Media's magazines exposing them to the great things happening in the greater paddling community. 

Not only does Rapid Media produce cutting-edge magazines, they put on the Reel Paddling Film Festival (RPFF) showcasing the world's best paddling films to audiences in the United States, Canada, and around the world. The RPFF is in its 8th annual year and inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes, and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we all love to paddle. 

The RPFF is a film contest awarding winning films in 10 categories. The Winner and other shortlisted films are then toured to more than 100 cities around the world, screening for an audience of more than 30,000 paddling enthusiasts. The ACA is a proud sponsor of the RPFF and will be featuring it at our National Paddlesports Conference this September in Bend, Oregon.

Happy Fourth of July!!

The ACA wishes everyone a happy Fourth of July!!!

A Paddle Green Event

The ACA is teaming up with Maine Island Trail Association for their 25th anniversary. Join us for family-friendly events, boat demos, instruction by ACA instructors, a short paddle to Fort Gorges, clean the shorelines, workshops, speakers, exhibits and a evening party.

• Saturday, August 31st
• East End Beach, Portland, Maine

Email events@mita.org for full details! 

Sea Kayak Georgia - ACA Paddlesports Week

The first annual SKG ACA Paddlesport Week will be held on Tybee Island, September 11-15, 2013. Enjoy the Atlantic ocean and estuary venue treasured by many paddlers in the area.

ACA courses and specialized skills training courses will be available.  You may choose to follow skills development courses from flatwater to rough water and surf, or you may take Instructor development workshops and/or exams.  Instructor updates will also be offered.  Sea Kayak, Surf Kayak, Canoe and SUP disciplines will all be offered.  Courses are available for all skill levels.

Registration and detailed course information may be found here:  Sea Kayak Georgia.

Werner Paddles - Healthy Waters Initiative

Choose to make a difference, with Werner Paddles Healthy Waters Initiative.

Werner Paddles is committed to promoting access to rivers, lakes, streams and ocean paddling.  They are a valued industry partner of the ACA as their support directly enhances our efforts both to advocate for clean water as well as increase access to all waterways throughout the country.

Register your Werner Paddle online and Werner will make a donation to the ACA's Stewardship program in your name.

Support access to clean water by registering your Werner paddle here.