And the winner of the ACA App Photo Contest is...

Kalynn Rose! She captured this beautiful scene at Lake Crescent in Washington state. We're excited to feature her photo on the loading page of the new ACA app--due out this summer! 

Thank you to all those who submitted photos for the contest! You guys are all winners in our boat. We'll be sharing some of our other favorite submissions on Instagram, so stay tuned. 

Paddle often, and paddle safe. 

2014 ACA Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver (WWOCD) National Championships

The ACA WWOCD will take place June 16-19, 2014. 

Hurry and register online before June 13th to receive a free T-shirt! 

Congratulations to June Kokatat Instructor of the Month, Ethan Talley!

An ACA Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking Instructor from South Carolina, Ethan Talley enjoys using paddling as a means to explore the natural world. 

Click here to learn more about Ethan and his adventures!

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized as the next Instructor of the Month? Submit a nomination here! 

Put a Sail On It!

Want to try something new this summer? Check out all the canoe sailing events coming up! To find one near you, go to the ACA Events page and select "Canoe Sailing" from the drop down menu.

2014 ACA Adaptive Paddling Summit

(Click image to enlarge)

This fall, we invite you to join us for the first-ever Adaptive Paddling Summit in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Highlights include:

• Exciting events for paddlers of all experience levels
• High quality educational sessions
• Special presentation by Ann Yoshida--the first adaptive paddler on TeamUSA Canoe/Kayak from Hawaii
• The latest in adaptive equipment demonstrations
• And more!

Please visit www.americancanoe.org/adaptivesummit to learn more about the Adaptive Paddling Summit. 

Registration will be available in late June, and space is limited to the first 100 registrants.

ACA Educators Receive Prestigious Higgins & Langley Awards

The Higgins & Langley Memorial and Education Fund announced the 2014 Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards, which honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. Awards go to swiftwater and flood rescue experts worldwide in several significant categories, including the Outstanding Achievement Award, Program Development Award, Special Commendation Award, and Swiftwater Rescue Incident Award. 

ACA Level 5: Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Trainer Educators, Robin Pope and Sam Fowlkes, both received Special Commendation Awards, recognizing their extraordinary efforts in organizing and hosting the first American Canoe Association River Rescue and Safety Conference in October, 2013. The intensive, three-day, on-river training featured a series of workshops presented by some of the most respected names in Swiftwater Rescue, including Slim Ray, Les Bechdel, Charlie Walbridge, Aaron Peeler, Mike Mather, Walter Fenton, and Jim Coffey. Participants included more than 100 recreational paddlers, certified paddlesport instructors, and emergency responders from 22 states and three foreign countries. 

In addition to founding the Swiftwater Rescue Conference, Robin and Sam both volunteer countless hours serving on the ACA's Swiftwater Rescue Committee, Safety Education & Instruction Council, and Board of Directors. 

They will receive their awards on Friday, June 6, 2014, at 7:30 PM, at the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) conference in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.

Congratulations, Sam and Robin!

ACA Job Opening - Membership Coordinator

Put your passion for paddlesports to work!

The ACA is currently looking for a Membership Coordinator to join our National Office Staff in Fredericksburg, VA. This position requires creative thinking, attention to detail, and experience in membership management or non-profit administration. Applications are due June 27th, 2014.

Please visit www.americancanoe.org/employment for a complete job description.