Great New Benefit For Kayak Fishing Clubs!

Are you a kayaking group or organization with a fishing component? Your group may be eligible to participate in the ACA insurance program as a Paddle America Club or an Affiliate Organization! 

Learn more about the ACA Kayak Fishing Insurance Program today.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the ACA Insurance Department.

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!

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.

New Name, Same Great Content

The spring edition of Talking Trash (formerly Stewardship Newsletter) is hot off the press!

In this issue:

• Wendy & Tinkerbell, Pelicans Spreading the Message About the Dangers of Marine Debris
• Kayakswarm: Paddling Science on a New Level
• Rawanduz River Expedition
• Upcoming Paddle Green Events  

Check out the spring edition of Talking Trash today.

Want to be featured in the next issue? Please submit a story here. 

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.

Are You Using This Free Service For Paddlers?

Even the most cautious and experienced boaters run into unexpected problems on the water. That's why the US Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boaters, paddlers included, take advantage of the FREE Vessel Safety Check program. 

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary offers non-law enforcement vessel safety checks to paddle crafts. There is no charge to these checks and you will not suffer any consequences if you don't pass. The only purpose is to keep you safe! 

Learn more about this life-saving service here, and request a vessel safety check today through this simple online form.

How does it work? A certified vessel examiner will come to you, and the inspection only takes 30-45 minutes. If you pass the examination, you'll receive a distinctive VSC decal to show off your safety smarts. 

The ACA would love to see more paddlers taking advantage of this free program. 

Calling all Kayak Fishers!

Are you covered? If you're a kayaking group or organization with a fishing component, your group may be eligible to participate in the ACA insurance program as a Paddle America Club or an Affiliate Organization. 

Ready to learn more? Visit our website, or contact the ACA Insurance Department today. 

Influence the Future of Paddlesport Education

The National On-Water Standards Team, funded by US Coast Guard grants, is seeking input from recreational paddling and rowing educators across the nation. Do you have a few minutes? Complete this survey and make your voice heard!

This is your opportunity to impact the development of free recreational paddling and rowing (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards, etc) standards/rubrics that can be voluntarily used by educators when developing boating courses. 

Take the survey today! 

For more information, please contact K. Brian Dorval, On-Water Standards Facilitator at 716-994-2842 or brian@thinkfirstserve.com

Florida Canoe Symposium

Want to improve your paddling skills? Sign up for the Florida Canoe Symposium scheduled for March 21-24, 2014. 

The FCS offers courses in a range of skill levels, all taught by ACA certified instructors! 

Get your paddle wet before the ice melts. Learn more about the FCS today!

ACA Members, You're the Best!

Happy Valentine's Day to our passionate and dedicated members! You're the water beneath our paddles. 

If there's anything we can do to make your ACA membership more meaningful, please let us know. Thanks for your continued support!

Meet the Newest ACA Pro School

Coastal Kayak SUP & Sail has been teaching paddlesports for 19 years. They have an ideal teaching location on the Delaware Coast only minutes from Ocean City, Maryland with conditions from flat, calm and protected bay waters to rough surf, current and everything in between. 

Let the professional staff of more than 9 ACA certified instructors show you how much fun paddling can be, while you learn at your own pace. They offer everything from beginner classes and kids camps to Instructor Certification Workshops in both kayaking and stand up paddling. 

Coastal kayak staff members are experts in the coastal region with over 30 years of paddling the area's waters which are convenient to Baltimore, DC, and Philadelphia. They are one of the few schools authorized by permit to operate at Assateague Island National Seashore! 

Coastal Kayak also offers all types of kayak rentals including sit-on-tops, recreation and touring kayaks, as well as many different types of paddle boards available to rent right off their bayside beach. In addition, Coastal Kayak has been running guided eco-tours since 1997.

To learn more, visit coastalkayak.com or send an email to info@coastalkayak.com.

ACA Pro Schools are some of the best organizations across the country to find top quality ACA certified instruction. Find a Pro School near you and provide your ACA membership number during registration to receive a discount!

Introducing our New Member Rewards Program!

ACA members now have access to thousands of discounts from great companies like Amazon, 1-800-Flowers, AMC Theatres, Target, BestBuy, Sprint, Macy's, and more. 

Want to see what it's all about? Log in at americancanoe.org and click on the Member Rewards link from your profile menu.

There's an annual fee of $19.95, but we think this program pays for itself. Plus, a portion of proceeds will benefit the ACA.

Questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us. 

Please Tell Us What You Think

There are just a few days left to participate in the ACA's National Water Trails Improvement Survey. Your feedback has the potential to influence your future paddling experience!

Survey for general membership and public. 

Survey for outfitters, liveries, and guides.

(Closes February 9, 2014.)

Part of the ACA's mission is to enhance paddling experiences by providing decision makers with solid data. With this survey, we are gathering information about how water trail users plan their trips and like to experience the water. This information will help the National Park Service and its partners create materials and experiences better suited to your needs. 

Thank you for your input!

Safe Sea Kayaking - DVD, CD-ROM & Teacher's Guide

Decide to Return: A Strategy for Safe Sea Kayaking explores the conscious decisions and unconscious choices that we make every time we leave the shore. Sometimes these choices mean the difference between a safe outing and disaster.

Kate and Jack experience a gamut of hazards on their brief outing. Some are courtesy of Mother Nature but others they've brought upon themselves. This DVD will give you practical information and food for thought so you'll be prepared for your next sea kayaking adventure.

Follow Kate and Jack as their skill, preparedness and equipment choices shape the day. Will their decisions seal an unpleasant fate or enable a safe return?

Also included is a CD-Rom containing a teacher's guide in PDF format and a Power Point presentation to be used in conjunction with the video. Both answer viewer questions, provide group discussion points and explain in more detail the accident process theory. These invaluable support materials will make Decide to Return a worthy part of any outdoor training program. 

ACA members don't forget to login to your account to receive your member discount on your purchase.

Did You Know?

ACA insurance covers kayak fishing! 

If you are a kayaking group or organization with a fishing component, your group may be eligible to participate in the ACA insurance program.

Ready to learn more? Visit our website, or contact the ACA Insurance Department today!

The Latest on SB 629 Virginia Stream Access Bill

ACA Executive Director Wade Blackwood and Stewardship Coordinator Greg Rolf have spent the past two days at the Virginia State Capital with Senator Stuart to discuss the Virginia Stream Access Bill (SB 629). This afternoon, the House passed the bill and it will now move to the Senate floor. Stay tuned for more updates on this paddler-friendly legislation.

Blackwood testifies before the Agricultural, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee.

Are You Ready to Challenge Yourself This Winter?

We're excited to be one of the sponsors for this year's Winter Challenge Off-Road Triathlon! For the past 10 years, the Winter Challenge has drawn athletes from all around the Southeast to the pristine rural environs of Dome Farms, just outside of Springfield, South Carolina. 

The 23-mile race consists of a 7-mile trail run, 6-mile kayak, and 10-mile mountain bike and draws a wide assortment of competitors, ranging from fierce triathletes to first-timers. Ultimately, the challenge comes more from how hard you push yourself and less from the difficulty of the course itself.

Top 3 things to expect from this one-of-a-kind race:

1. One of the most unique and beautiful settings you've ever raced on. Dome farms, situated on the Edisto River Swamp, offers countless miles of diverse off-road trail, plus a 75-acre pond where you'll get your paddle on.
2. Competition and camaraderie. The fellowship of the Winter Challenge and the post race festivities lend themselves to camaraderie found at few other venues. Stick around and make a few new friends. 
3. You will have a good time, guaranteed. We go to great lengths to ensure that both newcomers and alumni have one of the best days of their season. It's because of this that we see the same people coming back to race the Winter Challenge year after year. 

Learn more at www.winterchallenge.net or check it out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/winterchallengex

Look for ACA prizes at the event!

A Paddler's Best Accessory...

Better than a purse. Better than a murse, even. It's the new ACA Paddle Green Bag! 

Made with environmentally-friendly dyes. Abrasion-resistant. Durable. Stronger than ever. Our new Paddle Green Bags are sustainable AND stylish. You'll be the coolest paddler on the water. Get yours today!

The 2014 Winter Stew News is Out!

In this issue:

• Environmental Stewardship 
• NOAA Marine Debris Program 
• Deschutes Clean-up
• Clean-up Data from 2013
• Project Baseline
• Stewardship Spotlight

Read it online here.

Want to be featured in the next ACA Stewardship Newsletter? We accept submissions through our website! Please contact our Stewardship Coordinator if you have any questions, comments, or feedback regarding the newsletter. 

A Grant for Green Paddlers

Since 2002, the ACA has partnered with L.L. Bean to sponsor the Club Fostered Stewardship (CFS) Program--and we're thrilled to continue this partnership in 2014!

CFS grants are available for projects that utilize volunteers in efforts to:

• protect, maintain, and restore recreational waterways 
• provide for or improve public access
• enhance safe navigation 

Application packets available now!