ACA Instructor Certification Workshops

Fidalgo Paddlesports is pleased to offer the following Instructor Certification Workshops (ICW) and Assessments through the ACA. Please contact us to make sure a workshop you’re interested in is right for you and to enroll.

info@fidalgopaddlesports.com / 360-639-4295

Want to schedule a private course? We can facilitate updates and assessments for as little as one person, and ICW’s with a minimum of three. We also offer a discount to requests of four or more people.

American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW)

May 10th – 12th & September 27th – 29th, 2024

Cost: $350

Location: Deception Pass State Park at Bowman Bay, Anacortes

These American Canoe Association Instructor Certification Workshops are designed for kayakers in pursuit of certification through the ACA as a level 2 sea kayak instructor. Fundamentally, it is expected that participants should possess the paddling skills, technical knowledge, rescue ability, teaching ability, group management and interpersonal skills commensurate with this level of certification prior to presenting themselves for evaluation as Instructor Candidates at an Instructor Certification Workshop. This is not a course to learn how to kayak, but rather an opportunity to refine your existing skill set as professional kayakers in this certification course. Potential certification is valid for 4 years and widely recognized throughout the paddlesports industry.

Head over to the ACA to learn more about the value of this course! Please get in touch with us to chat if this is right for you, for course logistics and to enroll.

Also, please take a moment to review the Instructor Criteria below. This curriculum will show the skills and knowledge covered throughout the workshop.

American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 Instructor Update

March 20th, 2024

Cost: $200

Location: Washington Park, Anacortes

The American Canoe Association Level 2 Update is for currently certified ACA L2 instructors who are looking to fulfill a recertification requirement. This will be a full day event (8-10 hours) spent reviewing practical skills, the SEIC Policy Manual, current updates to instructor policies and group teaching. Please contact us for more information and to enroll.

American Canoe Association (ACA) Assessment

L2 Assessment – April 20th, 2024

L3 Assessment – As requested | L4 Assessment – May 20th – 21st, 2024

Cost: $150 – Level 2 Assessment | Cost: $200 Level 3 & 4 Assessment

The ACA Assessment Courses are designed to evaluate a participant’s ability to perform all of the skills in the appropriate skills assessment along with demonstrating an appropriate level of knowledge. These assessment courses provide the participant with the opportunity to receive documentation of having achieved a certain level of paddling ability, and are an essential prerequisite before undertaking an L3/L4 certification course. These events will be 8-10 hours in length and will involve a mix of practical skills demonstration, small group teaching and leadership exercises.

Our Level 3 and Level 4 assessments are conducted at Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay. Our Level 2 assessment is conducted at Bowman Bay, Deception Pass State Park. Please contact us for more information and to enroll.

Our refund policy, personal kayak/SUP policy, Essential Eligibility Criteria and more can be found here.