BASIC CANOE INSTRUCTION: – This course is intended for anyone who has never paddled before, or has paddled but never had any formal instruction. The course is open to anyone with a desire to learn. No experience is necessary. All that is required is that the student should be comfortable floating in water that is over his/her head. Instruction is given in tandem boats on a pond or lake and on easy moving water. The student will be taught canoe nomenclature, basic strokes and flatwater maneuvers, and basic boating safety. He/she will also be introduced to river reading and some beginning moving water techniques. Upon completion of this course, the student will be prepared to participate in Club trips that are rated "BW" ("brownwater").
BEGINNING WHITEWATER KAYAK INSTRUCTION: – This course is intended for anyone who has never paddled before, or has paddled but never had any formal instruction. The course is open to anyone with a desire to learn. No experience is necessary. All that is required is that the student should be comfortable floating in water that is over his/her head. Instruction is given on a pond or lake and on Class 1 (novice) whitewater. The student will be taught kayak nomenclature, basic strokes and maneuvers, and basic boating safety. He/she will also be introduced to river reading and beginning whitewater techniques. The kayak roll will be introduced, though mastery is not expected. Upon completion of this course, the student will be prepared to participate in Club trips that are rated "Cl 1" (Class 1 whitewater).
Notes: 1.) The above two courses may take place at the same time and be advertised as Basic/Beginning Canoe and Kayak Instruction. This means that camping & meals will take place together but Canoeing & Kayaking instruction will be separate.
FLATWATER COASTAL KAYAKING INSTRUCTION: – Intended to prepare beginners and intermediate paddlers to comfortably and safely paddle on protected, flat water environments with conditions not exceeding 1 foot seas, 10 knot winds and be no more than ½ mile off shore.
OPEN WATER COASTAL KAYAKING INSTRUCTION: – Intended to provide flatwater course (or equivalent experience) graduates with an introduction to advanced strokes and maneuvers, open water rescues, on water navigation and safety concerns related to open water. This coarse is designed to prepare paddlers to paddle comfortably and safely on open water environments with conditions not to exceed 2 foot seas, 15 knot winds and be no more than 1 mile from shore.
CLASS 1 CANOE INSTRUCTION: – This course is intended for someone who has some limited paddling experience. The prerequisites are: The student should be familiar with, and able to perform, the basic strokes (forward, back, draw, pry, sweeps, cross bow draw, stern rudders and corrections) and the basic flatwater maneuvers (forward, back, spins, circles, and figure 8's), from both bow and stern positions in a tandem boat. Experience on moving water is preferred, but not necessary. The class is taught in tandem boats on Class 1 (novice) whitewater. The basic strokes will be reviewed, and a new stroke, the Duffek, will be added. The main focus of the class will be on the moving water techniques of Ferries, Peel-outs, and Eddy turns; as well as river reading and basic river safety. Upon completion of this course, the student will be prepared to participate in Club trips that are rated "Cl 1" (Class 1 whitewater).
CLASS 1 WHITEWATER KAYAK INSTRUCTION: – Intended for those who have taken Beginners Kayak instruction, or (w/ permission of instructor) have equivalent skills & comfort level in a WhiteWater kayak. Stroke execution and boat maneuvering are stressed. Instruction is usually on a Class 1 river.
Note: The above two courses may take place at the same time and be advertised as Class 1 WW Canoe and Kayak Instruction. This means that camping & meals will take place together but Canoeing & Kayaking instruction will be separate.
CLASS 2 CANOE INSTRUCTION: – This course is intended for someone who has some experience on Class 1 or 1+ whitewater. The prerequisites are: The student should be able to control the boat in Class 1 whitewater. He/she should be able to choose a path through a class 1 rapid and avoid obstacles. Possession of a Class 1 rating with the Club is an indicator that the student may be ready for this course, though it is not required if the student has equivalent experience. It is recommended that the student should also take Basic Safety and Rescue before taking this class. A student who meets these prerequisites in a solo boat may take this class solo, otherwise instruction is given in tandem boats. The focus of this course is on how to take the skills learned in Class 1 Instruction and apply them to the faster water, stronger currents, and more complicated rapids of Class 2 (intermediate) whitewater. The student will learn river reading techniques, how to choose a route through a complicated rapid, and how to use the river features to his advantage. He will be introduced to the concept and techniques of "playing" the river, instead of just "running" it. Upon completion of this course, the student will be prepared to participate in Club trips that are rated "Cl 2" (Class 2 whitewater).
CLASS 2 KAYAK INSTRUCTION: – This course is intended for someone who has some experience on Class 1 or 1+ whitewater. The prerequisites are: The student should be able to control the boat in Class 1 whitewater. He/she should be able to choose a path through a class 1 rapid and avoid obstacles. Possession of a Class 1 rating with the Club is an indicator that the student may be ready for this course, though it is not required if the student has equivalent experience. It is recommended that the student should also take Basic Safety and Rescue before taking this class. The focus of this course is on how to take the skills learned in Beginning Whitewater Kayak Instruction and apply them to the faster water, stronger currents, and more complicated rapids of Class 2 (intermediate) whitewater. The student will learn river reading techniques, how to choose a route through a complicated rapid, and how to use the river features to his advantage. He will be introduced to the concept and techniques of "playing" the river, instead of just "running" it. Upon completion of this course, the student will be prepared to participate in Club trips that are rated "Cl 2" (Class 2 whitewater).
ADVANCED WHITEWATER TECHNIQUES: – This course is intended for experienced Class 2 paddlers. The student should have at least one year of experience on Class 2 whitewater, in the boat that will be used for this class. The class will be held on Class 2+ and Class 3 (advanced) whitewater. In general, the course will cover such areas as advanced river reading and efficient paddle technique, but the exact course content will be adjusted to meet the specific needs of the students.
Note: Instruction in closed (decked) canoe (C-1) is offered periodically when paddlers express a need or desire.
SOLO 1 CANOE INSTRUCTION: – This course is intended for a tandem paddler who wants to try paddling solo. The student should have some tandem experience on Class 2 whitewater. Possession of a Class 1+ rating with the Club, and/or completion of Class 2 Canoe Instruction as a tandem paddler is recommended, but may be waived at the instructor's discretion if the student has equivalent experience. The course is taught on flatwater, moving water, and Class 2 whitewater.
SOLO OPEN CANOE FORWARD STROKE WORKSHOP: – Is entirely devoted to improving your whitewater forward stroke: torso rotation, stern “pop”, modern J-stroke, carving U-turns, paddling an effective straight line without correction strokes.
CARVING TURNS WORKSHOP: – This one-day workshop is intended for experienced Class 2 canoe paddlers. The focus is on the modern paddling technique known as "carving", or "paddling the inside circle". This technique works with the design of the modern playboat to greatly increase the paddler's efficiency. The class is held on flatwater and Class 1+/2 whitewater.
BASIC SAFETY AND RESCUE: – For open and closed boaters who are just learning to paddle moving water. We cover how to rescue yourself and others, how to identify and avoid river hazards, safely swimming through rapids, outfitting your boat for whitewater, dressing to avoid hypothermia, what you can do to assist your rescuer and simple boat recovery. This course is strongly recommended for all paddlers and satisfies the safety requirement for a Class 2 rating.
ADVANCED SAFETY AND RESCUE: – An extension of the basic safety & rescue course for intermediate open and closed boaters. This workshop emphasizes working in a team to perform technical rescues and boat recoveries on whitewater up to Class 3. Rescues from foot entrapments, vertical pins, strainers and other scenarios will be practiced using rescue PFDs, strong-swimmer assists and rope-based rescue techniques. Z-drag extractions of pinned boats are also covered. Mock rescue scenarios will teach rescue site communication, organization & responsibility. This course is strongly recommended for all intermediate and advanced paddlers.
KAYAK ROLLING CLINIC: – Intended for novice kayak (K-1) paddlers, who want to learn how to do effective bracing and an "Eskimo Roll" or to practice and refine that skill. This course is strongly recommended for all closed boat paddlers.
SLALOM CLINIC: – Is an introduction to the sport of whitewater canoe and kayak slalom racing. Open to novice and intermediate, tandem and solo, closed and open boaters, this clinic helps paddlers become more confident and precise in boat control. Held on a Class I river with a slalom gates set up, the clinic features a no-pressure slalom race for participants.
POOL SESSIONS: – Held at a metropolitan area pool, these sessions are for all skill levels - for those who have never tried paddling a canoe or kayak before and want to try one in warm water, to those advanced paddlers who wish to practice just plain paddling, running gates or Eskimo rolling. Open canoes, closed canoes (C-1) and kayaks (K-1) are available at each pool session, as well as instructors for each type of boat.
KNOTS & LINES CLINIC: – intended primarily for canoeists and kayakers, but hikers, backpackers, climbers et al. welcome too! Highly recommended for boaters planning to take a Basic or Advanced Safety & Rescue course. Learn about the care and use of modern line (rope) and how to tie knots especially useful in boating. The Yosemite figure-8 series of knots is stressed.
ACA WHITEWATER INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION: – Is a two or three-weekend course leading to certification by the American Canoe Association as a Whitewater Instructor. Applicants should have class 2+ or 3 paddling skills. Both Kayak and Canoe Certifications are available.
LEADER TRAINING WORKSHOP: – is a one or two day instructional workshop for experienced paddlers of any skill level who wish to learn how to lead a successful canoe/kayak trip for the NY-NoJ Chapter Canoe & Kayak Committee.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: – These courses are for AMC members and nonmembers; advanced registration is always required. See the Registration Section of THE FEATHERS that we have online for further information. Two day weekend (Basic, Whitewater and Solo) instruction courses cost $80 for members , $100 for non-members, and includes happy hour munchies, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, boat, paddle, PFD and accessories rental, and instruction. Camping costs are not included in the basic cost. One day (Basic) courses are $35 for members ($45 for non-members) but do not include food. There are no course fees for Safety & Rescue Courses. Just like regular canoe trips, the actual costs for camping and food, and boat rental, if required, are shared by all participants.
RATINGS: – Our paddlers are rated by their paddling skills. Similar to the River Ratings, paddlers are rated from Class 1 to Class 4. Read more about it in the Paddler Ratings Section of THE FEATHERS that we have on line. Generally the courses above will accept you if your whitewater skills/rating is one level below the course level. These courses will help you improve your skills but your perfomance must be evaluated by your peers to improve your rating. You have to do that on rivers that are rated higher than your current rating. On those rivers, ask paddling companions who are rated higher than you, to watch and critique you, and to complete a Paddler Rating Form for you. If your have your own supply of rating forms it is easier.
INSTRUCTORS: – All AMC leaders and instructors are volunteers - they are not professionals. However, many are American Canoe Association (ACA) Certified Instructors.
REMEMBER: Canoeing and kayaking are risk sports. When you participate in a cruising trip or an instruction trip, you alone assume that risk. Each person is ultimately responsible for their own safety, both on and off the river.
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