ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor Certification Workshop (L4 ICW)

Already an American Canoe Association Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor and interested in becoming an L4 Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor while stepping up your leadership and coaching skills? The Bay Area is one of the best classrooms for leveling up and building confidence as an instructor given our abundant access to surf, rock gardens, caves, and tide races all within easy paddling distance from calm harbors. In this 4-day instructor certification workshop, you’ll have the chance to train and assess in an open coast environment with large swell, fast currents, and quick-changing conditions.

You can either participate as a candidate, workshopping your skills, or participate as a candidate seeking certification. We also welcome updating candidates as well. This ICW is led by Cali Collective’s Laura Zulliger ( L5 AOWCK Instructor, L4 Instructor Trainer).

We’ll dive into L4 conditions, techniques, and maneuvers all while exchanging and testing new pedagogical approaches, both on and off the water. We will paddle and teach in:

• Tidal current up to 4 knots
• Wind up to 20 knots
• Surf up to 4 feet*

But not all conditions will be simultaneously occurring.

We will hone your skills in teaching navigation, mitigating risk and managing incidents and provide effective coaching in technique—all in L4 conditions. Please review the ACA’s update L4 Instructor Criteria.

Pre-requisites: In order to participate as a candidate, you will need to:

• Be an existing Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor seeking to upgrade to Level 4
• Complete an L4 Skills Assessment

Please Note: Existing L4 OWCK Instructors may take this course as an Update to meet the ACA’s Instructor Maintenance Requirements.

WHERE: Presidio Yacht Club (Travis Marina), Sausalito, CA

COST: $499 (Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 8)

Please note: Cost does not include food, accommodation, kayak and gear rental. We have a fleet of kayaks available for candidates flying to the Bay Area for our instructor programs. Kayaks must be reserved well in advance. Please contact us to reserve a kayak.