ACA Instructor Certification Syllabus
Candidates must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in:
1] Safety Awareness:
a] Prevention: Knowledge of river hazards and safety & personal safety. Ability to assertively manage a group when necessary and alertness for the well being of others is critical.
b] Presentation: Ability to communicate safety concerns to the group and apply them on water. Instructors must consistently model and practice safe paddling and group leadership at their level of certification.
c] Proficiency: Perform rescues and recoveries on moving whitewater (Class II)
2] General Technical Knowledge:
ACA Instructor Candidates require the general technical knowledge on equipment, conditioning, paddling theory, river reading, river running strategies and rescue.
3] Paddling Skills:
ACA Instructor Candidates should be thoroughly familiar with basic river running maneuvers including eddy turns, peel outs, ferries, and must be able to handle their own boat competently on a level of water one classification above that on which they will be certified to teach. High-quality boat control in Class III water is mandatory. Candidates must have a reliable river roll that they can demonstrate three times in a row in a combat situation. They must possess good balance, effective strokes, use correct angles, momentum, and have the ability to read water well. In other words, paddling with grace, control, and mental tranquility, not just surviving.
High quality boat control means making the moves with “demonstration quality. Modeling should be done in a way that provides students with a clear visual image of the technique being taught without shortcuts. ACA Instructors Candidates should always be modeling good technique to their students.
4] On River & Classroom Teaching:
ACA Instructor Candidates will demonstrate the ability to explain, in layman's terms, the mechanics of stroke efficiency, maneuvers, and safety concerns. Teaching skills include: logistics, lesson organization, class control, teaching of specific technical topics, technique analysis, and demonstration of leadership skills and judgment.
ACA Instructor Trainer Evaluation System
Observations:
Evaluation of teaching and class interactions throughout the week.
Paddling Technique:
Proficiency test on Class III whitewater.
Presentations:
ACA Instructor Candidates are required to present two and five minute “teaching topics”directed toward beginning students. Evaluation centers on the quality of content, class interaction, and degree of prioritization. Successful candidates must be able to employ a variety of teaching methods. A quality presentation keeps the attention of the audience, organizes information in a logical way, and gives a level of detail appropriate to the level of students being taught. A successful teacher conveys enthusiasm for the sport and an ability to connect with students.
Subjectivity:
Certifying an individual as an ACA Kayak Instructor, in the final analysis, is up to the ACA Instructor Trainer. The trainer has to rely on his or her experience and careful observation before granting an instructor certificate. Candidates attending this week of instructor training should not be expecting a certification for showing up to the class. Candidates who do not meet the criteria for whitewater may be certified in moving water or flat-water at the discretion of the instructor trainer. In addtion to the ACA Kayak Instructor Certification Program a Class 5 Elite Instructor/ Guide Endorsement can be earned. You will be evaluated by Chris Spelius on the most difficult sections of the Futaleufu River.
Elite Instructor / Guide Special Endorsement - Class V
We will present intensive advanced workshops on rolling, safety for Class V paddlers, guiding Class V groups, and Class V boat control.
Rolling Skills:
Modeling of the following rolls: Sweep, C-to-C, Back Deck, Back Deck Rodeo, and some understanding of hybrid rolls. You will be required to demonstrate teaching sequences for 4 of these rolls.
Safety Skills:
Simulated rescue underneath the Mundaca rapid on the Futaleufu river. Safety rescue techniques demonstrated in bringing in a kayaker and boat without problems.
Paddling Skills:
The Elite Instructor / Guide Candidate will demonstrate river skills by successfully descending 3 of the 5 Class 5 rapids. Casa de Piedra, Terminator, and the Infierno canyon.
Leadership Skills:
Safely leading a group of our instructors through the Class V Casa de Piedra.
A certificate and a letter of recommendation from Chris Spelius will be given to all candidates that successfully complete the advanced workshops and examination. Passing candidates are welcome to apply for a kayak guide position with Expediciones Chile for the following season. If you are interested in this option please call the Expediciones Chile office.
ACA Instructor Certification Week
Day 1 Friday: Depart your home town:
Fly to Miami and connect on an over night flight to Buenos Aires Argentina. Welcome to the warmth of the southern Hemisphere in summer.
Day 2 Saturday: Travel to Trevelin, Patagonia Argentina
Early morning arrival in Buenos Aires. Change airports and catch another flight to Bariloche or Esquel, Argentina. From Bariloche, a luxury bus can take you on a beautiful drive along the Patagonian lakes and mountains to Esquel. It is 20 minutes taxi ride from the bus station to your hotel in Trevelin. If you fly direct to Esquel you can arrive in Trevelin (35 minute taxi ride from the airport) with some time to enjoy the area. Trevelin, Argentina is a Welsh mountain village just 45 minutes from the Futaleufu River in Chile. Trevelin is also serviced by a private transfer service direct from Bariloche airport (4 hrs) to your hotel in Trevelin. After you check into a hotel in this charming village you are walking distance to several superb restaurants. Unwind, relax, and get a good nights sleep before the start of you trip 9:00 am the next morning.
Days 3-5: ACA Instructor Development Workshop (IDW)
Over the next three days we will go over all the essential skills needed to pass the ACA Instructors Examination Course. Instruction will take place primarily on the Rio Espolon (Class II/III) and El Macal Section of the Futaleufu.
Day 6: Bridge to Bridge Section - Day Off
The kayaking this day is filled with the big exploding waves for which the Futaleufu is world famous. We put-in at the "Zapata's" swinging bridge and run the ""Corazón", – the Heart of the Futaleufu - previously named "The Continuous Section". Here you will kayak Futaleufu whitewater continuously through Class IV big water action, including ""Entrada", ""Pillow", and ""Mundaca" , one of the largest breaking wave-holes in the world. This is Futaleufu kayaking at its best! This non-stop Class IV section will keep your adrenaline pumping and the evening air filled with good cheer and plenty of fireside stories.
Days 7-8: ACA Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)/on to Trevelin
Wake up for an early breakfast and drive back to Chaiten, Chile and your flight to Puerto Montt, or relax for a couple of hours and take our shuttle to Esquel, Argentina. As you catch a final view of the Río Futaleufu; surrounded by hanging glaciers and snow capped mountains, take a moment to reflect upon all of the amazing sights and experiences of this past week. After all these years we are still stunned that views like these exist.
Day 9: Return to Capital City
Depending on your connections you are now are in Argentina ready for an early departure in a cab from your hotel to the bus station in Esquel for the trip to Bariloche and your flight back to Beunos Aires. A private transfer can be arranged direct from your hotel to the airport in Bariloche. If you have a flight from Esquel you have the morning to enjoy and buy gifts in Trevelin before your 2 pm flight to Buenos Aires and the connection back to your home country.
Day 10: ACA Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)/on to Trevelin
Eco Camp Campo Tres Monjas
Price per Person: $1995.00 USD |
Special Flexibilities: Exchile will be flexible to make your trip a total success. The actual program for your custom trip will vary according to the desires and skill level of your group, weather, or other factors. Patagonia has constantly changing weather patterns that might affect what day is best for a certain activity. If a certain part of your trip is not possible due to danger risks and weather extremes, our experienced guide staff will work with you to figure out the best possible option to substitute for the weather complications. If you have any concerns, please feel free to ask us more about the situations and what is guaranteed on the trip.
Included: Your described trip, guiding, instruction, activity equipment, local transportation, shuttles, all meals, wine with dinner, acomodations at our eco-camps, cabins, ranches or lodges, while on your trip. We offer a free pick up on Sunday mornings at 9 am in Trevelin at your hotel, and drop off to your hotel in Trevelin, Argentina on Fridays at 9 pm. See the packing list of your activity, for the specific clothing that is required.
Not Included: Transportation to and from your home town, and your accommodations and meals in Trevelin Argentina or alternate trip pick up point. You can reserve and prepay on the web your transport from your final air destination, to and from your pick up-drop off point before and after your trip, or you can direct us to charge your visa card and do it for you. We higly recommended having exchile make hotel reserves in Trevelin. (room capacity in this small village is limited). Expediciones Chile is not financially responsible for your travel complications getting to your trip pick up point and from the drop off point, HOWEVER, we will be relentless allies in offering our services to help solve any issues that you may encounter.
Join us for a second week of paddling on the Futaleufu for an additional $900.00 USD