• Allowing already certified ACA instructors to earn the Adaptive Paddling Instructor Endorsement and/or the Advanced Communications Instructor Endorsement.

Georgia Rivers Otter Achievers:

Opportunities for Already Certified ACA Instructors Seeking to Upgrade or Expand their Instructor Credentials

Sept 5-7 ACA UPDATE/UPGRADE Opportunity

  • Allowing already certified Kayak/River Kayaking instructors to UPDATE Level 2 Instructor Certification or UPGRADE their Instructor Certification to either Level 2 or Level 3 River Kayaking.

GET MORE INFORMATION OR REGISTER TO UPDATE/UPGRADE SEPT 5-7

Sept  19-22 ACA Universal Paddling Instructor Endorsement Opportunity

  • Allowing already certified ACA instructors to earn the Adaptive Paddling Instructor Endorsement (APW) and/or the Advanced Communications Instructor Endorsement (ACW).

GET MORE INFORMATION AND APPLY TO PARTICIPATE

__________________________________________________________________

Additional Opportunities potentially in the works:

  • Allowing already certified ACA Kayak instructors to receive entry level training in SUP and/or Canoe as well as receive a formal Level 1 skills assessment and Paddlesports Safety Facilitator Instructor Endorsement for SUP and/or Canoe.  
  • Allowing already certified ACA Kayak Instructors who have already earned multi-craft Level 1 Skills Assessments and PSF Instructor Endorsements to earn the Community Paddlesports Facilitator Certification to teach multi-craft trip leading.

Stay tuned for more information as this exciting program unfolds.

Questions:

If you have questions about any of the Georgia Rivers Instructor Scholarships, please contact Andrea White at Andrea@garivers.org.

APPLY TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSAL PADDLING INSTRUCTOR ENDORSEMENT WORKSHOP SEPT 19-22

ACA Universal Paddling Instructor Endorsement Workshop

Georgia Rivers has joined forces with Adaptive Expeditions to offer a 4-day workshop for already certified ACA Paddlesports Instructors to provide the opportunity to earn 2 Instructor Endorsements to work with paddlers with physical and sensory disabilities. The Adaptive Paddling Workshop (APW) and Advanced Communications Workshop (ACW) are the two professional Instructor Endorsements within the ACA Universal Paddling Program. These instructor credentials are designed to help already certified ACA Paddling Instructors prepare to work with paddlers with physical disabilities, speech & language impairments, hearing impairments or deafness, visual impairments or blindness. This ACA credentialing program is truly the gold standard accreditation for seamlessly integrated adaptive paddlesports instruction.

Graduates of the Georgia Rivers Beaver Crew program and other ACA instructors in our region are eligible to apply for a full tuition scholarship to attend this workshop. This scholarship has a retail value of $700.

*Prerequisites to enroll in this class:

  • Must be a current ACA Member
  • Must be already certified as an ACA Instructor in a Paddlesports Discipline
  • Must already have first aid and CPR certifications up-to-date in the ACA Course Management System

*This class is designed for already certified paddling instructors and is not appropriate for new instructor candidates.

The Adaptive Paddling Endorsement focuses on five key topics: (1) Language, Etiquette and Interaction, (2) The Legal Context, (3) Cultivating Seamless Integration, (4) Adaptive Outfitting Concepts & Goals, and (5) Mechanics of Adaptive Outfitting for Paddlesports.  APWs involve hands-on learning in a classroom and in calm, protected waters.

The Advanced Communications Endorsement was designed for instructors, outfitters, recreation program managers, trip leaders, and all others who want to seamlessly integrate people with speech & language impairments, hearing impairments or deafness, visual impairments or blindness into paddlesports programs.  Advanced Communications Workshops provide a basic understanding of disabilities that affect communication and provides a toolbox of knowledge, techniques and strategies to enable successful integration.

Endorsement is not guaranteed.

APW/ACW Endorsements Class Dates: 

  • In person training Sept 19-22, 2025 from 8:30 am to 6 pm

Location: 

  • Day 1-2: Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton, GA 30114
  • Day 3-4: Allatoona Lake, Cooper Branch #1 Day Use Area, 1121 Highway Spur #20
    Cartersville, GA 30121

    Time: Class will convene promptly at 8:30 am each morning and go all day until 6 pm. At the Instructor Trainer’s discretion, this class will include required working meals and evening sessions.

    APPLY TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSAL PADDLING INSTRUCTOR ENDORSEMENT WORKSHOP SEPT 19-22

    SUPPORTING GEORGIA RIVERS

    Georgia Rivers is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1998 to serve as the voice of Georgia’s rivers. Georgia Rivers works to empower everyone to connect with, and advocate for economically vital and clean flowing rivers in Georgia. Your class fees will contribute to this effort statewide.

     

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    126 South Milledge Avenue, Suite E3, Athens, Georgia 30605 | (706) 549-4508 (phone) | info@garivers.org