Camping Basics Instructor
This course provides national certification in the instruction and administration of the Paddle Canada Camping Basics course.
Mandate of the Camping Basics Instructor
A Camping Basics Instructor is certified to:
- conduct Paddle Canada Camping Basics skills courses and certify participants at that level, and
- assist on a Wilderness Camping skills course.
Prerequisites
Age
At least 16 years of age.
Membership
Current Paddle Canada membership and Provincial/Territorial membership (where required).
Skills Certification
Wilderness Camping Skills certification.
One of the following paddling skills certifications:
- Intro Lakewater or Moving Water Canoe skills,
- Basic Sea Kayak skills,
- Basic Stand Up Paddleboard skills, or
- Intermediate River Kayak skills.
River Rescue Training is strongly recommended for those offering any skills course on moving water.
Instructor Certification
None.
Teaching Experience
None.
Camping and Paddling Experience
Significant camping experience in a wide variety of conditions and locations.
A minimum of six camping trips with a total combination of two nights or more camping. It is not necessary that these trips involve paddling.
Minimum Course Length
20 hours (2.5 days) minimum.
Minimum Staff and Certification Level
A minimum of one Instructor Trainer is required to teach this course.
Instruction staff must consist of at least one Camping Basics Instructor Trainer.
A maximum of two assistants are allowed. Assistants must be Wilderness Camping Instructors or higher.
Instructor/Candidate Ratios
The instructor/candidate ratio will match the ratio of the corresponding Paddle Canada skills course, based on the paddling discipline and the water classification where this course is presented. For example, if the instructor candidates are in tandem canoes on class I moving water, then the instructor to participant ratio will be the same as the Introduction to Moving Water Tandem Canoe skills course ratio which is 1:8.
If this course is offered on land only (for example, zero on-water activity) then the ratio is 1 instructor to 10 participant.
If a qualified assistant is present on the course, then that number of instructor candidates present can be increased by two. For example, a course with an instructor-to-participant ratio of 1:8 becomes 1 instructor + 1 assistant for 10 participants.
Minimum Number of Registered Candidates
This instructor course must have a minimum of three registered candidates to qualify. This is to ensure the candidate experiences an appropriate level of group dynamics and can demonstrate competence in managing those dynamics. This policy is strictly enforced.
If there are fewer than three registered candidates, the instructor trainer can certify them via the instructor mentorship process as outlined in the section, Instructor Certification through Mentorship.
Course Location
Appropriate to a Camping Basics skills course.
Environmental Conditions and Water Classification
Environmental conditions must match those outlined in the Camping Basics course syllabus.
Instructor Candidate Assessment
The Camping Basics Instructor Candidate will be assessed by the following methods:
- Continuous assessment (by observation) of skills throughout the course.
- Written and/or oral presentations demonstrating ability to communicate course content.
- Ongoing assessment (by observation) of the candidate’s performance in the areas of safety, self-care, care of equipment, group dynamics and leadership.
- A minimum of two demonstrations of teaching ability by each candidate, at least one of which shall be a camping skills session in which the candidate teaches a practical camping skill from the Camping Basics Syllabus.
- Successful completion of a written test of approximately one hour in length (developed by the course director).
The Instructor Candidate will demonstrate all skills at a high level of proficiency with Wilderness Camping suitable for instructional demonstration purposes. General paddling skills will exceed minimum skills and be suitable to the instructional environment.
Paddle Canada instructors are leaders in the outdoors community and must demonstrate above-average judgment in all matters relating to safety, group management and the health and welfare of all participants. While the Camping Basics Instructor is just developing these skills, the demands of the environment make demonstration of good judgment an important skill for the completion of this course.
For each category of camping skills, theory, and teaching, candidates will be graded Pass, Weak, or Fail. To achieve this certification, a pass is required in all categories, but one weak may be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. Up to two weak evaluation items may be eligible for a conditional pass at the discretion of the instructor. A “Fail” in any one category will result in a fail in the overall course. The head instructor will outline as clearly as possible the criteria, which determines a pass, weak or fail grading of each test to the candidates prior to assessment.
Reassessment or retesting may be conducted by the course instructor or a designated instructor at the appropriate level, according to the guidelines. Please review the sections related to the use and restrictions of conditional passes and candidate retesting policies.
Camping Basics Instructor Certification through Mentorship
As an alternative to an instructor course, instructor candidates can earn certification through mentorship. The mentorship process entails working as an apprentice instructor under direct supervision of a mentor who is a qualified instructor trainer on a minimum of two appropriate courses.
Refer to the section, Instructor Certification through Mentorship on page 86 for specific information on the mentorship process.
Course Outcomes
Across the broad expanse of Canadian waterways and environments, consistency of course content and assessment are important considerations. However, variations in regional geography and environmental conditions require instructor trainers to be flexible in their delivery of course content and the assessment of skills and knowledge.
Knowledge and Camping Skills Review
The candidate will:
- demonstrate understanding of all knowledge and theory topics as outlined in the Camping Basics Skills course, and
- perform a “demonstration quality” review of all camping skills as outlined in the Camping Basics course.
Instructor Ethics
The candidate will:
- summarize the Paddle Canada Instructor Code of Conduct,
- discuss what it means to be a professional instructor, and
- outline the roles and responsibilities of a Paddle Canada sea kayaking instructor.
Teaching Theory and Knowledge
Learning Styles
The candidate will:
- explain the concept of learning styles and different ways participants can receive and acquire information including verbal, aural, visual, and physical,
- explain how to use different learning styles, and
- be encouraged to cater to a variety of different learning styles in their lessons.
Teaching Styles
The candidate will:
- explain the concept of teaching styles,
- explain the advantages and challenges of some common teaching styles (for example, command versus participant-centred), and
- give examples of scenarios where different teaching styles are appropriately applied.
Teaching Strategies
The candidate will:
- review different ways of presenting information to participants,
- explain advantages and challenges of some common teaching strategies (for example, lectures, scenarios, discussions, questions, games and activities), and
- demonstrate knowledge of and apply a simple teaching strategy suitable for skill development at the Camping Basics level, such as IDEAS, Whole-Part-Whole, etc.
Program Design and Delivery
The candidate will:
- prepare progressions and sequencing of material (when to teach what and why) that are appropriate for the Camping Basics level,
- explain the characteristics of specific novice populations (ex. age, culture, existing knowledge) and how to alter course delivery for those specific characteristics,
- select effective teaching locations for working with Camping Basics level participants both onshore and on the water, and
- give examples of things to consider when teaching novice participants in the out of doors (for example, keeping participants comfortable and safe, minimizing distractions, situating the group to minimize effects of wind, current and sun etc.).
Adaptive Paddling and Inclusive Instruction
The candidate will:
- discuss what is meant by adaptive paddling and inclusive instruction, and
- demonstrate knowledge of which disabilities can easily be accommodated for in a typical Basic Skills level course.
Instructor Trainers should use this as an opportunity to discuss being participant centered as well as some simple delivery adaptations (less talk more play when working with youth, ensuring someone who needs to read lips can always see your face, etc.).
Leadership and Group Management Skills
The candidate will:
- demonstrate leadership skills in a variety of situations including games and activities or the daily routine of running a Camping Basics program,
- organize the group according to the environment or needs of the participants to enhance learning,
- speak clearly and effectively with participants using a variety of verbal and nonverbal communication tools in a variety of conditions, both on and off the water, and
- set and manage appropriate boundaries.
Safety Skills
The candidate will:
- demonstrate basic safety management including:
- ensuring equipment is in good repair,
- site orientation,
- ensuring pre-course paperwork is complete including waivers, medical forms, etc.,
- select an appropriate teaching location for the participant’s needs, skill level and environmental conditions, and
- identify potential hazards in a variety of situations and state appropriate preventative safety procedures
- demonstrate an understanding of the Transport Canada vessel regulations for guided excursions and the extra safety gear required to comply, and
- lead the group through a guided excursion safety briefing.
Evaluation and Assessment
The candidate will:
- explain the concept of learning outcomes, and how to use them to determine a participant’s performance,
- outline the Paddle Canada learning outcomes for Camping Basics,
- explain the concept of a benchmark (performance standards below which a participant cannot pass) and what the benchmarks are at the Camping Basics level,
- demonstrate ways of giving feedback to participants that are supportive and positive,
- demonstrate the ability to assess a variety of technical and soft skills in relation to clearly defined objectives,
- provide timely, accurate and appropriate feedback to participants, and
- describe the administrative steps for reporting on the level of achievement of the participants (pass, fail, conditional pass).
Course Administration and Paddle Canada Knowledge
The candidate will:
- demonstrate knowledge of Paddle Canada policies and programs,
- discuss insurance and liability issues affecting the instructor,
- review course registering and reporting, and
- review certification maintenance policies and procedures.
Assignments and Tasks
Course Plan Development
The candidate will individually develop a detailed course plan for a Paddle Canada Camping Basics Kayak Skills course. This assignment may be completed after the instructor course; however, certification will not be issued until the assignment, and all other criteria have been satisfied.
The course plan will include:
- a list of course objectives,
- a clear and logical progression of skills and theory topics taught,
- estimated timelines for each activity or skill, and
- teaching location for each activity or skill.
Teaching Skills Demonstration
The candidate will:
- develop and present a minimum of two formal demonstrations of their teaching ability by teaching both a camping skill and a knowledge or theory topic based on the Camping Basics Skills syllabus,
- develop and demonstrate an appropriate teaching progression for the skills taught,
- provide a detailed teaching outline or lesson plan for each topic assigned,
- foster a rewarding learning environment by using positive language,
- use a range of appropriate teaching aids and techniques including activities and/or games,
- model ethics and values consistent with the Paddle Canada with the Paddle Canada code of conduct,
- offer relevant, constructive feedback to participants during debriefing sessions, phrased in a non-threatening/demeaning manner,
- select a teaching location appropriate to the skill being taught and to the skill level of the participants, and
- clearly communicate all teaching location boundaries for practice sessions.
Each presentation should be organized with:
- a clear introduction,
- a middle that provides opportunity for feedback to participants,
- guides to identifying and fixing common errors, and
- a defined end.
All skills will be of demonstration quality and demonstrated in a manner consistent with any explanation.
Candidates should be given at least 24 hours’ notice of their formal teaching topic(s). Other practice teaching session topics throughout the course may be assigned at short notice from a previously issued list.
It is expected that the depth of knowledge for any presentation is appropriate to the syllabus and the needs of the participant and local paddling environment.