ACA Adaptive Paddling Summit Coming to Grand Rapids, Michigan, This Fall

The ACA will host its inaugural Adaptive Paddling Summit in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 15-17, 2014. 

Paddling enthusiasts from all over the globe are invited to attend the summit to refine best practices, network, learn, and have fun!

Registration will be available on the ACA website beginning May 1st, 2014. 

The event is sponsored by Subaru, Rapid Media, Disabled Sports USA, and West Michigan Sports Commission. If you have any questions about the Adaptive Paddling Summit, please contact ACA Education and Outreach Coordinator, Joe Moore.

Outfitter, Livery, or Guide? Read this

Like our other membership categories, the ACA Outfitter, Livery, and Guide membership comes with its own set of benefits. Some of these include:

• INSURANCE - You'll get access to a broad selection of exclusive insurance products, all at a special rate.
• PROMOTION - All outfitter, livery and guide members receive recognition across the ACA's different social media networks, Water Blog, and Journal of Paddlesport Education monthly enewsletter.
• RAPID MEDIA SUBSCRIPTION - You'll get a free 1-year subscription to each of the 4 Rapid Media magazine titles. 

Visit our website to read about all the benefits to this newest type of membership, and please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. 

New Spring Stuff in the ACA eStore!

We've got brand new hats and retro t-shirts in the ACA eStore. If you're in the mood to sport some ACA apparel, grab these items before they're gone!

ACA Microfiber Hat

The new ACA cap is lightweight and moisture-wicking.

Retro ACA T-Shirts

More retro t-shirt styles available in the estore.

Don't forget to log in to receive your member discount.

Congratulations to April Kokatat Instructor of the Month, Grier Fricks!

Grier began her paddling career as a raft guide at the Natahala Outdoor Center (NOC), guiding commercial raft trips on the French Broad River. Since that time, she has relocated to Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii, where she works at Holokai Kayak & Snorkel.

Learn more about Grier's story...

The ACA would like to thank Kokatat for sponsoring the Instructor of the Month program. Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Submit a nomination here! 

See The World's Best Paddling Films

The RPFF World Tour is an international film tour screening in 110 cities. At its first showing in Toronto in March, the 9th annual RPFF drew the largest premiere audience in festival history. 

Click here for a list of this year's award-winning films, and be sure to attend the RPFF at our ACA Paddle Green Event in June!

Become an ACA State Director

ACA members who are truly passionate about our mission for paddlesports now have an opportunity to apply for a State Director volunteer position. This is your chance to make a positive difference for paddlers in your state!

Applications will be accepted through April 15th.

Details can be found here: State Director Program

We look forward to reviewing your application!

The Best Use of 1980's Nostalgia Ever

With their new advertising campaign, Maritime New Zealand channels the decade of mullets and acid wash jeans to make an important statement about lifejackets. 

The ad features two American police officers, Brandon Reynolds and Joe Lyons, in the midst of a bust on the docks. Comparing lifejackets to bullet-proof vests, we think the ad succeeds in all its Starsky and Hutch-like glory. What do you think?

Source: Maritime New Zealand.

Become a State Director and Strengthen Your Paddling Community

State Directors will have the opportunity to foster relevant ACA programs depending on the unique needs of each state. 

Paddlers will be able to convey their ideas, along with state and local issues, to their State Director, and the ACA can then provide support and assistance. In addition, through this enhanced volunteer network, more paddlers will learn about the ACA and all the work ACA members do for paddlesports throughout the country.

If you or anyone you know would be a good fit for a State Director role, please complete the State Director Application by April 15th.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend Paddlefest 2014

This year's CKS Paddlefest is expected to be bigger and better than ever. From May 23-26th, paddling enthusiasts from all over the country will gather in beautiful Buena Vista, Colorado for an action-packed weekend full of outdoor fun!

Here's why you need to check it out:

1. BV Pro Kayaking Rodeo - Watch the best freestyle kayakers from around the world compete in the Buena Vista Whitewater Park in South Main.
2. Gear sales - Get huge savings on the latest gear for 2014.
3. Something for everyone - Are you a flatwater paddler? Kayak fisher? Whitewater enthusiast? Paddlefest has it all. And you may even be inspired to try something new!
4. Evening fun - The fun doesn't stop at sundown. Live music and various film screenings will continue into the night. And the whole event is family-friendly.
5. For a good cause - Registration for CKS Paddlefest supports the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chaffee County and the Buena Vista Optimist Club. 

The ACA is an official sponsor of this event. If you decide to attend, please stop by our booth to say hello! We look forward to seeing you.

ACA Pro School Spotlight

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center offers professional ACA-certified instruction and guided trips in the beautiful Arkansas River Valley. The Pro School's outpost sits along Highway 285 between the famous Brown's Canyon Wilderness Area and the towering 14,000 foot peaks of the Sawatch Range.

Activities include kayaking, rafting, inflatable kayaks, standup paddling, and more. At Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center, you're invited to 'Choose Your Own Adventure' in their wonderful outdoor playground.

ACA Pro Schools are some of the best organizations across the country to find top quality ACA certified instruction. Current ACA members also receive discounts on certain Pro School instructional programs. 

To see a full list of ACA Pro Schools, click here. 

State Directors Can Make a Difference!

Do you feel as though the ACA is out of touch with the issues facing paddlers in your state?  If so, now is your chance to do something about it!

We are currently seeking members who are interested in volunteering as State Directors to bridge the gap between paddlers on the ground and the ACA.  

Learn more about our State Director Program and then complete an application to help the ACA be more effective in your state!  State Director applications will be accepted through April 15, 2014.

New ACA Instructor Patches

Becoming an ACA Instructor, Instructor Trainer, or Instructor Trainer Educator is hard work. Wear your certification with pride with one of our all new custom, 3-color ACA patches! 

Order yours from the ACA eStore today.

State Director Application Announcement

Are you interested in helping the ACA focus its efforts in your state? This is your chance.

We are currently seeking volunteers for our new State Director Program. Online applications will be accepted starting tomorrow, March 14, through April 15, 2014. 

Please review the details of the State Director Program and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. We're always happy to hear from you!

What Kind of ACA Member Are You?

ACA membership is as diverse as the paddlers we serve. For starters, there are many different membership types. You can join as an individual, family, instructor candidate, organization, and now there's even a membership type specifically for outfitter, livery and guide services. 

Like the others, this membership category comes with its own set of perks. Here are just a few of the reasons to become an outfitter, livery and guide member of the ACA:

• INSURANCE - You'll get access to a broad selection of exclusive insurance products, all at a special rate.
• PROMOTION - All outfitter, livery and guide members receive recognition across the ACA's different social media networks, Water Blog, and Journal of Paddlesport Education monthly enewsletter.
• RAPID MEDIA SUBSCRIPTION - You'll get a free 1-year subscription to each of the 4 Rapid Media magazine titles. 

Visit our website to read about ALL the benefits to this newest type of membership, and please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. We'll help you decide which type of membership is best for you!

Make This Headline Your Own

Submit 1-2 paragraphs telling us what paddling means to you, and we'll feature our favorite responses right here on the ACA Water Blog. We want to know what motivates you to pick up your paddle and get out on the water.

Please email all submissions to: clloyd@americancanoe.org. 

Don't forget to include a picture or two!

Happy New Year!

Thanks for being a part of the ACA in 2013. Your support made a world of difference.

Cheers to the new year ahead!

If you haven't seen it already, check out our recap of 2013 here. 

What Does Paddling Mean to You?

You can't wrap these up, but...

Adventure. Escape. Solitude. Challenge. These are just a few of the intangible (and priceless) gifts that paddlesports give to us. 

If you have some time to reflect today, and through the weekend, tell us what motivates you to get out on the water! Submit 1-2 paragraphs telling us what paddling means to you, and we'll feature our favorite responses right here on the ACA Water Blog.

Please email all submissions to: clloyd@americancanoe.org. 

Don't forget to include a picture or two!

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

Conservation Newsroom

Check out the Conservation Newsroom!

The Conservation Newsroom is the newest section on the Stewardship webpage.  Click on the link to check out the new articles relating to NOAA Marine Debris Program, the White River being designated as the second National Blueway, and the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order Report.

Sugar is Sweet

Did you know that ACA members have an exclusive vacation benefit? It's called Sugar Island, in the heart of the Thousand Islands chain on the St. Lawrence River. You may visit any time during the season, but you'll get to know about the ACA--and the "Sugar Islanders"--more by visiting during the annual encampment, this year taking place July 26 through August 9. Prices are very affordable, but you have to be an ACA member to visit.

The beauty of the island is that it's entirely rustic, and about as primitive as you can get when it comes to camping. Still, the islanders know a thing or two about good times, especially the Thursday night pot luck. You're also within a mile or two of shore, where the Misty Islands Resort provides many amenities (and a place to park so you can drive into Gananoque, Ontario, when you need a dose of urban life, or a few groceries).

For beginners, there's plenty of gentle-water coves to explore. Or you can opt to take a lesson in canoe-sailing from a friendly islander. The wildlife is astounding, and I hear the fishing is great, too.

I visited last year with my family, and my oldest daughter keeps asking when we're going back. I'm just about to make a call to reserve a spot.

Happy paddling!

Martin A. Bartels
ACA Executive Director