Coastal Canoeing Instructor

The Coastal Canoeing Instructor is certified to conduct Introduction Coastal Canoeing, Intermediate Coastal Canoeing and Advanced Coastal Canoeing courses and certify paddlers at those levels.

Prerequisites

Age

At least 18 years of age.

Membership

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

Skills Certification

Advanced Lake Tandem skills or equivalent skills and experience at the discretion of the course instructor.

Advanced Coastal Canoeing skills certification.

Moving Water canoe certification is recommended.

Instructor Certification

Paddle Canada Advanced Lake Tandem Instructor certification or

Paddle Canada Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor Certification.

Note: Where the Coastal Canoeing instructor candidate has the instructor prerequisite from the sea kayak program, additional time will be allotted for the instructor trainer to assess the instructor candidate’s ability to instruct advanced canoe strokes.

Teaching Experience

None

Paddling Experience

Significant coastal canoeing experience in a wide variety of conditions and locations.

Other Recommended Training

Wilderness First Aid (16 hour).

VHF Radio Operators Certification.

Note: Where the Coastal Canoeing instructor candidate has the instructor prerequisite from the sea kayak program, additional time should be allotted for the instructor trainer to assess the instructor candidate’s ability to instruct advanced canoe strokes.

Minimum Course Length

16 hours (2 days) minimum.

Class Ratio

1 Instructor Trainer:9 candidates (1 instructor canoe:4 candidate canoes)

Certification Awarded

Paddle Canada Coastal Canoeing Instructor.

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Paddle Canada Coastal Canoeing Instructor Trainer.

Minimum Number of Registered Instructor Candidates

This instructor course must have a minimum of three registered candidates, each with the required prerequisites completed, 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.

Course Location

Moderately exposed coastline with frequent landing opportunities, limited open crossings (in good conditions) not exceeding 2.5 nautical miles between landings. An example would be an island archipelago with both exposed and sheltered areas.

Environmental Conditions

Moderate wind (0-15 knots), combined sea state less than 1-meter, surf < 0.5 meter. Current up to 3 knots.

Instructor Course Information and Candidate Assessment

All Coastal Canoeing Instructor Candidates are expected to have a high degree of proficiency with Advanced Coastal Canoeing Skills, including boat handling, rescue skills, navigation, and weather interpretation.

Candidates will be evaluated on their Advanced Coastal Canoeing Skills throughout the instructor program through observation and, where appropriate, specific skills testing and homework.

General Leadership Skills

Coastal Canoeing Instructor candidates must demonstrate strong leadership skills in a variety of situations including rescue scenarios, group travel in Advanced Coastal Canoeing conditions, and the daily routine of running an Advanced Coastal Canoeing Skills program.

Communication

Candidates will 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.

Decision Making

Candidates will:

• make appropriate low, medium, and high consequence decisions based on gathered information, a clear understanding of the desired outcome, and their judgment, and
• reflect on these decisions, drawing important lessons to be incorporated into future decisions.

Conflict Resolution

Candidates will manage intra-group conflict, honoring the need for privacy and empathy, while working toward the stated goals of the group.

Role Modelling

Candidates will model appropriate behavior in their social, verbal, non-verbal, and ethical actions

Logistics

Candidates will:

• choose appropriate locations and routes for the skill level and expectations of an Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced Coastal Canoeing Skills course. The route plan must consider such factors as tides and currents, weather, obvious hazards, speed of the group, and points of interest.
• file a detailed paddling plan with a responsible adult. The paddling plan will include alternative routes and locations, and any group specific considerations such as health, age, and disabilities, and
• pack appropriate safety equipment including communication, first aid, shelter, insulation, food, and water. Instructor Candidates will also inspect the canoe, and canoeing accessories of each participant before leaving the beach.

Instructorship

Specifically, this course will focus on basic instructor skills including:

• Organizing and presenting information on the water, at the beach and in the classroom
  • Course progressions,
  • Timelines, and
  • Lesson Plans
• Analyzing and providing appropriate, timely, and constructive feedback to participants
• Communicating effectively through a variety of media including voice, physical demonstrations, and other teaching aids.
• Presenting the content in such a way as to motivate and encourage participants to continue paddling
  • By playing games
  • By balancing challenges, fun, and rewards.

Instruction

Present a written lesson plan for an Advanced Coastal Canoeing and an Intermediate Coastal Canoeing skill training course. The lesson plan should include:

• Clear articulation of specific learning outcomes,
• Discrete, measurable, realistic, and achievable,
• Clear criteria for assessment,
• Timelines,
• Clear progressions, and
• Opportunities for a variety of learning styles.

Each segment should be organized with:

• A clear introduction,
• A middle that identifies common errors and solutions,
• Guides to identifying common errors, and
• A defined end.

Organize and present a 20-30 minute on-water session teaching one of the strokes appropriate for an Advanced Coastal Canoeing Participant.

Organize and facilitate a 15-20 minute session on one of the theoretical knowledge sets appropriate to an Advanced Coastal Canoeing skill award.

Instructor Candidates must be given at least 24 hours’ notice of their topic.

• Each session will have a clearly delineated beginning, middle, and end.
• Each session will include a detection and correction session based on Coastal Canoeing skill assessment standards
• Strokes will be demonstrated in a manner consistent with any explanation
• Strokes will be of demonstration quality
• Clear boundaries will be set for practice sessions
• The instructor will offer feedback to each student
• The instructor will foster a rewarding learning environment by using positive language
• The instructor will foster a rewarding learning environment by using a range of appropriate teaching aids and techniques including on water activities and games.
• The instructor will role model ethics and values consistent with the Paddle Canada community of instructors.
• Offer relevant, constructive feedback to other participants during debriefing sessions, phrased in a non-threatening manner.

Group management

• Organize the group according to the environment.
• Set and use appropriate communication tools.
• Set and manage appropriate boundaries.

Risk Assessment

• Identify objective and subjective risks
• Weigh the significance of each element of risk
• Develop appropriate strategies for reducing, avoiding, and/or retaining these risks.

Incident Management

• 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 according to these priorities
  • Self
  • Uninjured students
  • Injured students
• Follow up on the incident with the group
• Critically assess the incident, highlighting successes and weaknesses, and any lessons learned for next time. NOTE: This is more important than getting the scenario right.