Wilderness Camping Instructor

Mandate of the Wilderness Camping Instructor

The Wilderness Camping Instructor is certified to:

• conduct the Paddle Canada Camping Basics and Wilderness Camping courses and certify students at those levels,
• present the Expedition Camping Module,
• assist a Camping Leadership Instructor on a Camping Leadership course, and
• assist a Camping Basics Instructor Trainer on a Camping Basics Instructor course.

Prerequisites

Age

At least 18 years of age.

Membership

Current Paddle Canada membership and Provincial/Territorial membership (where required).

Skills Certification

Paddle Canada Camping Leadership skills certification.

One of the following paddling skills certifications:

• Intermediate Lake or Intro Moving Water Canoe skills,
• Level-1 Sea Kayak skills,
• Advanced Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard skills, or
• Intermediate River Kayak skills.

Instructor Certification

Camping Basics Instructor highly suggested.

Teaching Experience

None, though it is highly recommended that the prospective candidate has taught a minimum of two Camping Basics skills courses within the past three years, being the lead instructor on at least one of those courses.

Camping and Paddling Experience

A log demonstrating a minimum of six camping trips with a total combination of 12 nights or more camping. It is not necessary that these trips involve paddling.

30 days paddling experience in at least Level-1 conditions (including overnights).

Other Recommended Training

River Rescue Training is strongly recommended for those offering any skills course on moving water.

Minimum Course Length

32 hours (4 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 Wilderness Camping Instructor Trainer.

A maximum of two assistants are allowed. Assistants must be at least a Camping Basics Instructor Trainer or a Wilderness Camping Instructor.

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 student ratio will be the same as the Introduction to Moving Water Tandem Canoe skills course ratio which is 1:8.

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-student ratio of 1:8 becomes 1 instructor + 1 assistant for 10 students.

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 will be strictly enforced.

If there are fewer than three registered candidates, the instructor trainer can certify them via the instructor mentorship process as outlined in Instructor Certification through Mentorship.

Course Location

Appropriate to a Wilderness Camping skills course.

Environmental Conditions and Water Classification

Environmental conditions water classification must match those outlined in the Wilderness Camping skills course syllabus.

Instructor Candidate Assessment

The Wilderness Camping Instructor Candidate will be assessed by the following methods:

1. Ongoing assessment (by observation) of the candidate’s performance in the areas of safety, self-care, care of equipment, group dynamics and leadership.
2. Written and/or oral presentations demonstrating ability to communicate course content.
3. A minimum of two demonstrations of teaching ability by each candidate, at least one of which shall be a practical camping skill session in which the candidate teaches a Wilderness Camping skill.
4. 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 camping skills suitable for instructional demonstration purposes. Safety and general paddling skills will exceed minimum standards and be suitable to the instructional environment.

The instructor is a leader in the outdoor community and must demonstrate above-average judgment in all matters relating to safety, group management and the health and welfare of all students. The demands of the environment make demonstration of good judgment an important skill for the completion of this course.

For each category of paddling 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.

Wilderness Camping 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 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:

• explain all knowledge and theory topics as outlined in the Wilderness Camping skills course, and
• perform a “demonstration quality” review of all practical camping skills as outlined in the Wilderness Camping skills course.

Instructor Ethics

The candidate will:

• explain the Paddle Canada Instructor Code of conduct, and
• explain the roles and responsibilities of a Paddle Canada Wilderness Camping instructor.

Teaching Theory and Knowledge

Learning Styles and Strategies

The candidate will:

• review and explain the different ways students learn (verbally, listening, watching, physically),
• discuss current thinking on individual learning styles, and
• the candidate will explain the concept of learning strategies. Example strategies may include:
  • use of repetition,
  • use of review and recaps,
  • presenting topics from simple to complex, building on concepts already addressed,
  • practicing and applying skills in a variety of ways and situations, and
  • understanding how the new skill is applied in ‘real life’.

Teaching Styles and Strategies

The candidate will:

• explain the advantages and challenges of some common teaching styles (for example, guided discovery, reciprocal, command, self-check, student-centred) and situations where these styles are appropriately used, and
• demonstrate an understanding of various teaching strategies (for example, lectures, scenarios, discussions, games and activities, cooperative learning) and how they are effectively used when teaching camping skills.

Program Design and Delivery

The candidate will:

• demonstrate a consistent, logical approach to the scope and sequence of teaching Wilderness Camping material,
• be familiar with the characteristics of specific Wilderness Camping skills populations (ex. age, culture, degree of existing knowledge) and how to alter delivery to meet specific needs, and
• demonstrate proficiency at prioritizing Wilderness Camping objectives to make best use of program time.

Adaptive paddling and inclusive instruction

The candidate will:

• discuss what is meant by adaptive paddling and inclusive instruction, and
• discuss which disabilities can easily be accommodated for in a typical Wilderness Camping skills course.

Leadership Skills

The candidate will:

• demonstrate strong leadership skills in a variety of situations and scenarios, group travel, and the daily routine of running a Wilderness Camping skills course,
• speak clearly and effectively with students using a variety of verbal and nonverbal communication tools in a variety of conditions, both on and off the water,
• explain implement and teach a comprehensive risk management protocol that provides the students with a logical framework for making decisions. This framework should include group reflection to inform future decisions,
• manage intra-group conflict, honouring the need for privacy and empathy, while working toward the stated goals of the group, and
• model appropriate behaviour in all their social, verbal, and ethical actions.

Risk Assessment and Managing Groups

The candidate will:

• identify objective and subjective risks and weigh the significance of each element of risk,
• develop appropriate strategies for reducing, avoiding, and/ or retaining these risks,
• assess the scene, articulating potential hazards,
• communicate clearly with the group any actions and directions,
• remove hazards or remove the group from the hazards,
• implement a clear and organized response to the incident,
• critically assess the incident, highlighting successes and weaknesses, and any lessons learned for next time,
• review and be knowledgeable in the staff’s own waterfront emergency procedures,
• organize the group or class according to the environment and needs of the lesson, and
• use appropriate communication tools, and
• set and manage appropriate boundaries.

Safety Skills

The candidate will:

• demonstrate basic safety management including:
  • ensuring camping and paddling 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 student’s needs, skill level and environmental conditions, and
  • identify potential hazards in a variety of situations and state appropriate preventative safety procedures.
• explain 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:

• review the concept of learning outcomes, and how to use them to determine a student’s performance,
• explain the Paddle Canada learning outcomes for Wilderness Camping,
• demonstrate a consistent ability to accurately assess a variety of technical and soft skills in relation to clearly defined objectives,
• develop and explain a rubric for quick assessment of skills with a variety of possible solutions for common problems,
• review and practice, ways of giving feedback to students that are timely, accurate, supportive and positive,
• review the concept of benchmarks (performance standards below which a student cannot pass) and what the benchmarks are for Wilderness Camping, and
• explain when it is appropriate to use a conditional pass at the Wilderness Camping level.

Course Administration and Paddle Canada Knowledge

The candidate will:

• be familiar with Paddle Canada policies and programs,
• discuss insurance and liability issues affecting the instructor,
• review course registering and sanctioning 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 complete Paddle Canada Wilderness Camping 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,
• a list of 3-4 benchmarks for each practical skill,
• estimated timelines for each activity or skill,
• teaching location for each activity or skill, and
• a detailed lesson plan for two practical camping skills of the Instructor Trainers choosing. The lesson plan should include key points to emphasize and any planned activities or games.

Teaching Skills Demonstration

The candidate will:

• develop and present a minimum of two formal demonstrations of their teaching ability by teaching both a practical camping skill and a knowledge topic based on the Wilderness Camping syllabus,
• develop and demonstrate an appropriate teaching progression for the skills taught,
• provide a detailed 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 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 students, as well as clearly communicate all boundaries for practice sessions, and
• it is expected that depth of knowledge for any presentations are appropriate to the syllabus and the needs of the student or local environment.