Paddle Canada Manuals

Big Canoe Moving Water Instructor (Endorsement)

This mentorship opportunity certifies a Big Canoe Moving Water Instructor to teach the Moving Water Leader endorsement courses. Emphasis is placed on commanding a crew, boat control and rescues in slow moving river environments.

Discipline: Canoeing Stream: Instructor Trainers

This is a mentorship on Big Canoe Moving Water Leader Endorsement courses, both Beginner and/or Recreational.

Mandate of the Big Canoe Moving Water Instructor

The Big Canoe Moving Water Instructor is certified to conduct Big Canoe Moving Water Leader endorsement courses to Big Canoe Leaders and to certify them at that level.

Prerequisites

Age

At least 18 years of age.

Membership

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

Skills Certification

Advanced Big Canoe Leader skills.

Big Canoe Moving Water Leader (Endorsement).

Instructor Certification

Intermediate Big Canoe Instructor

Introduction to Moving Water Instructor

Teaching Experience

Taught a minimum of two Big Canoe Leader courses.

Paddling Experience

Extensive experience paddling a big canoe in a moving water river environment.

A minimum of 10 clinics or events in the river environment they will be teaching on (ideally with different groups of people).

Practice and experience in rescuing in the moving water river environment they intend to paddle in.

Other Recommended Training

None.

Minimum Course Length

16 hours minimum.

Recommend one day for skill evaluation.

Mentorship on Big Canoe Beginner and/or Recreational Coastal Leader Endorsements.

Class Ratio

1 instructors:10 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Big Canoe Moving Water Instructor Trainer.

Location

Class I rivers, few or no obstructions - all obvious and easily missed. Fast-moving water, 6+ km/hr with riffles and small waves, risk to swimmers is slight and self-rescue is easy.

Participant Assessment

Activities focus on making good judgments in Moving Water environments. Participants will also be assessed on their ability to the effective management of simple but challenging rescue situations. Successful participants must be able to effectively command and control the big canoe on the river. Participants should leave the course confident in their ability to command and paddle a big canoe in moderately exposed coastlines with others of similar ability but have an awareness of their individual limitations.

Teaching Resource

See Teaching Notes and Resources for Big Canoe Courses for more details and resources.

Published: February 20, 2025 Last updated: April 30, 2026