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ACA L3 Coastal Sea Kayak

Instructor Development Workshop and Instructor Certification Exam

ACA L3 IDW & ICE

Interested in becoming an American Canoe Association L3 Instructor or stepping up your leadership and teaching skills? The Bay Area is one of the best classrooms for developing skills and building confidence as an instructor. You’ll have the chance to assess in an exciting environment with quick-changing conditions. For this course, the workshop and exam are separated by a little over one month to allow candidates to hone their skills and go into certification feeling confident (and also to give them a needed break between courses :).

About

This IDW and ICE will be facilitated by Laura Zulliger, an ACA L4 Instructor Trainer and L5 Instructor, and will be hosted by Sea Trek in our Sausalito location. We’ll dive into L3 conditions, techniques, and maneuvers all while learning and testing new pedagogical approaches both on and off the water.

We will hone our teaching skills in tidal current up to 2 knots, wind up to 15 knots, and surf up to 2 feet. We will focus on how to teach navigation, mitigate risk and manage incidents, and provide effective coaching on technique. Please review the ACA’s L3 Instructor Criteria that was updated recently in 2023. For the examination portion, this will be an intense two days in which candidates will be assessed while teaching actual practice students.

Prerequisites

In order to participate as a candidate, you will need to complete an L3 Skills Assessment prior to the IDW or ICE. For ICE candidates, you will need to have taken an IDW within the past two years.

Updating Candidates

For candidates looking to update their existing certification, we require you to take part in the instructor development workshop portion.

Bay Model, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965 Follow Bay Model signs, and park in Bay Model lot.

COMING FROM THE NORTH ON HWY 101:

  1. Take Sausalito/Marin City exit. Sea Trek is roughly 1.7 miles.
  2. Go left under the freeway and right onto Bridgeway.
  3. Count seven signal lights (including the signal where you turn right onto Bridgeway).
  4. Turn left on Marinship Way. This is the first possible left after Harbor Drive and is opposite a 7-11 market and bus stop shelter.
  5. Go down the hill and continue straight. Follow Bay Model signs. Turn right between Bay Model warehouses. Drive towards the water and the Bay Model/Sea Trek parking lot is on the left. Parking is free.

COMING FROM THE SOUTH (Golden Gate Bridge) ON HWY 101:

  1. Take the Rodeo Drive exit off 101 (comes after Spencer Drive exit). From exit to Sea Trek is approx. 1.2 miles.
  2. At the first stop sign bear left onto Nevada Street.
  3. Nevada Street ends at Bridgeway. Turn right on Bridgeway and at the second signal light (just after Spring Street signal light) take a left at Marinship Way (opposite a 7-11 market and bus stop shelter).
  4. Go down the hill and continue straight. Follow Bay Model signs. Turn right between Bay Model warehouses. Drive towards the water and the Bay Model/Sea Trek parking lot is on the left. Parking is free.

Additional Information

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.

Questions

Please contact Laura (laura@seatrek.com)

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    Sausalito Hours

    December 2nd – March 31
    Tuesday – Sunday:  9am – 4pm
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