Aim
To provide a national certification in the instruction and administration of the Paddle Canada Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced Coastal Canoeing skills course

Upon Successful Completion
The Coastal Canoeing Instructor is certified to:

Teach the following courses:
Coastal Canoeing Skills Introduction
Coastal Canoeing Skills Intermediate
Coastal Canoeing Skills Advanced

Assist and/or Apprentice (Mentorship) on the following courses:
Coastal Canoeing Instructor

Prerequisites
Non-Paddling Prerequisites
At least 18 years of age
Wilderness First Aid and CPR (16 hour)
VHF Radio Operators Certification

Paddling Skill Prerequisites
Paddle Canada Advanced Lake Tandem certification
Paddle Canada Advanced Coastal Canoeing certification
Significant Coastal Canoeing experience in a wide variety of conditions and locations

*Some Level of Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Certification is strongly recommended

Instructor Prerequisites
Paddle Canada Advanced Lake Tandem Instructor Certification
Or
Paddle Canada Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor Certification


Course Length
Minimum 2 days

Class Ratio
1 Instructor : 9 Participants

Location


Conditions


Program Overview
Technical Skills

• 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.
• Paddlers 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

• 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

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

Conflict Resolution

• Manage intra-group conflict, honoring the need for privacy and empathy, while working toward the stated goals of the group.

Role Modeling

• Model appropriate behavior in their social, verbal, non-verbal, and ethical actions

Logistics

• 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.

Assessment
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
• 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
• 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 Candidate 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.