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A photo of two tents with the sun shining.
Photo credit: Peter Vanosdall

Camping Leadership Instructor

Discipline: Camping Stream: Instructor Development

The course provides national certification in the instruction and administration of the Paddle Canada Camping Leadership skills course.


The Camping Leadership Instructor is certified to:

  • conduct the Paddle Canada Camping Basics, Wilderness Camping, and Camping Leadership courses and certify students at those levels,
  • present the Expedition Camping Module,
  • assist a Wilderness Camping Instructor Trainer on a Wilderness Camping Instructor course, and
  • assist a Camping Basics Instructor Trainer on a Camping Basics Instructor course.
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Course Prerequisites
  • Minimum Age Requirement
    • At least 18 years of age.
  • Skills Certification
    • Paddle Canada Camping Leadership skills certification.
    • One of the following paddling skills certification:
      • Intermediate Canoe skills,
      • Intermediate River Kayak skills,
      • Sea Kayak Level-2 skills,
      • Touring 1 Stand Up Paddleboard skills,
      • River 1 Stand Up Paddleboard skills, or
      • Surf 1 Stand Up Paddleboard skills.
    • River Rescue Training is strongly recommended for those offering any skills course on moving water.
  • Instructor Certification
    • Paddle Canada Wilderness Camping Instructor.
  • Teaching Experience
    • The candidate will have a significant teaching experience as a Wilderness Camping Instructor in a wide variety of conditions and locations including a minimum of 15 days of logged instruction of Wilderness Camping curriculum (either courses or clinics).
    • A minimum of two Wilderness Camping courses, within the past three years, being the lead instructor on both courses. These two courses count toward the 15 logged days.
  • Camping and Paddling Experience
    • A log demonstrating a minimum of 8 camping trips with a total combination of 12 nights or more camping. It is not necessary that these trips involve paddling.
    • Significant paddling experience in a wide variety of conditions and locations.

How to Register for an Instructor Course

  1. Contact the course director/organization and register with them first.
  2. Register yourself as an instructor candidate member with Paddle Canada by following these steps:
    • Are you existing Paddle Canada member or a past skill course student? Login to your account and follow the instructor candidate link there.
    • Are you brand new to Paddle Canada? Proceed to the Instructor Candidate membership form.