Level One Guide

(4 days) Get into guiding!

This fun and exciting program teaches you the skills and theory necessary to lead day-long (or shorter) kayaking tours. We’ll develop your existing kayaking strokes and rescues techniques so that you can lead groups on the water. You’ll learn to confidently navigate by reading marine charts, interpreting marine weather forecasts, and predicting tides and currents. You’ll learn how to teach new paddlers basic kayaking skills and safety requirements. In addition, you’ll learn group management skills to keep paddlers together on the water, and strategies for responding to incidents. Successful candidates will be awarded Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC (SKGABC) Level 1 Guide status. For more information on guide certification and requirements, please visit the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC website www.skgabc.com. In addition, successful candidates will be awarded Paddle Canada Level-1 Skills certification. For more information on Paddle Canada, please visit their website www.paddlingcanada.com.

2012 Dates: May 25–28, Jun 22–25

Times: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Location: Victoria, BC

Course Cost: $635      Kayak and Paddling Gear Rental: Included

Ages: 19 and up

Prerequisites: Participants must be 19 years of age and should have previous sea kayaking experience. This course is designed to develop and add to existing kayaking skills. It is designed to teach you to guide from a kayak; it is not designed to be an introduction to basic sea kayaking skills. Participants are encouraged to enter the course with basic sea kayaking strokes and rescue techniques. Specifically, it is recommended that you are familiar with the following skills before entering this course:

• Paddle forward in moderate sea conditions (up to 8 knots of wind) while maintaining a speed of 3 knots for one hour.
• Control your direction without the aid of a rudder
• Move your kayak directly sideways using a draw stroke
• Paddle backward in the above conditions and maintain a straight course
• Rotate your kayak 180 degrees without the aid of a rudder in fewer than 8 strokes
• Prevent a capsize by performing a low brace
• Stop your kayak under control
• Capsize calmly and perform a wet exit
• Rescue another paddler using an approved rescue technique.

If you have not previously received instruction in the above or are unsure of your skills, we recommend that you take an introductory kayaking course, such as ‘Introduction to Kayaking Skills’ from a qualified kayaking centre, such as Ocean River Sports, before entering this course. Doing this will not only facilitate your success in the course, it will also increase your enjoyment during the course. Because of time limitations, the instructors will not be able to fully teach the above skills during this course, although a review will be provided. If you have questions about your level of experience, please give us a call.

It is not necessary to have a strong background in navigation, weather interpretation, nor leadership, as these topics are covered in detail during the course.