The paddlesports world will come together to provide a wealth of knowledge for the ACA National Paddlesports Conference in Bend, OR this September. From coast to coast and north to south, a wide range of experts will be in attendance sharing their knowledge.

Some of the presentations to be offered this year (more updated monthly):

Rusty Cooper - Academic Style Rubrics in Assessment Courses

As an outdoor educator for many years, I have often run across the proverbial "stumbling block” of assessment in various outdoor skills for participants, as well as in training future outdoor educators and leaders.  What I mean by this, is that so many times, we set criterion for those we are teaching without giving clearly defined expectations of acceptable criterion.  For example, in an ACA instructor certification workshop, we ask candidates to "Demonstrate knowledge of teaching theory”, or to effectively "demonstrate the forward stroke with good form”.  But how many times have students come into our classes wondering—"what does this mean?” The outdoor education and outdoor recreation fields are growing by leaps and bounds.  In order for  American Canoe Association Instructors, Trainers, and Educators to stay relevant in a field that has such powerful momentum and speed, we must come in line with what the industry expects of us as professionals.  As a newly appointed Level 4 Kayak Instructor Trainer, I was striving for a tool that I could send to my instructor candidates as a method of "front-loading” the experience to prevent those often ambiguous questions they come into the course with.  After some deliberation and reflection upon my own studies in Outdoor Education, the best answer I could come up with was to develop an academic style rubric for the candidates.

Rusty Cooper, M. Ed. is an ACA Level 4 River Kayak Instructor Trainer, Level 5 River Kayak Instructor and Coordinator of Auburn Outdoors at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

Ben Lawry - Biomechanics of Paddling

Move beyond just putting your paddle in the water and pulling on it, to having your body work in a fluid, graceful, and efficient manner. This class focuses on body efficiency vs. paddle efficiency.

Ben has been paddling for over 35 years, and teaching/guiding for over 20. He has taught paddling on five continents and competed on three. Presently he works as head instructor and owner of Kayak Camp with his wife, Elizabeth. Ben presented at both the US WW symposium and the National ACA Conference in 2010. He has led trips and traveled extensively in South America, South Africa, Europe and North America. Ben splits his time now teaching paddling and working with stores. His teaching also takes him to symposiums, shows and paddling rendezvous all over the United States. As a brand ambassador, he is involved with kayak design in sea, light touring and racing kayaks. All of which has led to an in-depth knowledge of instruction/guiding practices and procedures, strong commitment to quality service, as well as excellent organizational and problem solving skills. He enjoys competing in sprint, sea kayak, slalom, rodeo, marathon canoe and kayak, outrigger, surf ski and wildwater events.

Jeremy Oyen - 2 Presentations

Best Practices for Inclusive Programming:

You have just found out that one of your students / participants in an upcoming class has a disability…Now what do you do!? In this session on the best practices for inclusive paddlesport, we will discuss different aspects to answer that key question and a few others:

- Legal: What are your legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act?

- Registration: How can I address issues like this before the fact?

- Equipment: How do I know what I can and can’t do?

- Training: What training options are out there?

Practical Session on Adaptive Paddling: 

Join us for an opportunity to explore paddlesport outfitting at it’s best! The ACA Adaptive Paddling program provides opportunities for instructors to learn how to properly outfit equipment for people of all abilities. During this on-water session, we will have examples of equipment outfitting that have been used for individuals with significant mobility and other disability related issues. The goal is to have you give the outfitting a try to get a better understanding of what is covered in an Adaptive Paddling Workshop and to show you how you can use simple tools, foam, tape or aftermarket products to engage a whole new student population.

Jeremy Oyen has been working in the Outdoor Education and Recreation field for 24 years at the local, regional and national levels. He is currently the Outdoor Programs and Outreach National Curriculum and Training Coordinator for REI. REI Outdoor Programs reached 170,000 people nationwide in 2011 through in-store and field classes. Prior to being with REI Jeremy served as the ACA's Safety Education, Instruction and Outreach Director (2006-2011) and ran Cleveland Metroparks Institute of the Great Outdoors (2001-2006). Jeremy currently holds many ACA instructor/trainer/educator certifications and is an ITE in Adaptive Paddling & L3 Coastal Kayaking / an IT in L2 Essentials of SUP, L4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking, L3 River Canoe / an Instructor in L3 River Kayaking.

Tim Mattson - 2 presentations

Greenland Style Paddling - A Journey to the Roots of Kayaking

The Inuit people of Greenland kayaked to hunt and hunted to eat.  Consequently, they had to paddle … even in gale force winds and rough seas … and became some of the finest paddlers in history.  In this presentation, we will explore the history of kayaking in the Arctic with emphasis on the Inuit of Greenland.  In addition to the history of this rugged culture, we will describe the equipment and the paddling technique associated with Greenland-style paddling.  Studying Greenland style kayaking is fascinating.  There are all those unusual rolls, of course, but the basic strokes and their emphasis on using the whole paddle, ergonomics, and fluid smooth motions are valuable as well.  And by studying these techniques and applying them to our own paddling, we become better kayakers.

Kayak Navigation for Normal People

As kayakers, we like to travel out to sea, reach exciting locations, and then make it back again. The art of navigation helps you plan such journeys and then manage them underway so you always know where you are. Many of us love to make navigation as complicated as possible; it makes us feel superior. In this talk, however, I will show you that it doesn't need to be so complicated. Any kayaker with a bit of practice can master the core techniques of kayak navigation. When done right (i.e. without a GPS brain-crutch) it is fun and adds a whole new element to play with as we kayak.

Tim Mattson is a "born again” paddler, sea kayak instructor (ACA level 5), and an instructor trainer (ACA level 3). He has paddled in exciting places around the world including Australia, Scandinavia, Baja, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. To support his kayaking obsession, Tim works as a professional scientist (Ph.D. theoretical Chemistry) with a background in molecular physics and computer science. He has published four books, over 75 scientific articles, and is a highly sought after speaker at scientific conferences.

 Ty Tuff - "Let’s be better at Developing Artificial Rescue Scenarios"

Many of our go-to rescue scenarios are actually terrible teaching tools.  Unknowingly, most of us design artificial scenarios for our classes based on scenarios we’ve personally experience rather than focusing on the student’s needs.  Instead of following this antiquated model, let’s develop and spread a new one.  Come join me and we’ll collectively develop a series of awesome scenarios together. In this classroom workshop we will work together to build scenarios that carry a wide appeal and focus heavily on student learning.  I encourage you to bring something to take notes so you can go home and share with everyone. You do not need extensive rescue knowledge or experience to have fun and learn something in this class.    

Ty Tuff is a scientist with a passion for whitewater.  He's paid his way through graduate school, in part, as an Instructor Trainer for both whitewater kayaking and advanced swiftwater rescue courses since 2003. His lessons focus on contemporary, data-driven techniques that target students with a variety of learning styles while embracing modern equipment and boating techniques.  In combining the practices of modern teaching science with aggressive skill development he send students away as well-rounded instructors with a well-developed ability to both practice and teach their discipline at a very high level.  For Ty, "whitewater” primarily means "creeking” so he tends to specialize in small group safety and low-volume maneuvering.   This usually results in a strong focus on individual and small group dynamics rather than large groups or professional rescue crews.

Marcel Bieg - Adventure Education, Paddlesports and Everyday Life: Making the Connection

Many misconceptions surround the industry of Adventure Education. Most revolve around the belief that Adventure Education is nothing more than the teaching of hard skills based in an outdoor adventure setting. This baseline misconception often leads to many assumptions surrounding the legitimacy of adventure education and the practitioners therein. This presentation will look at and discuss the theories of adventure education specifically focusing on demystifying the true purpose of adventure education. The presentation will offer tools to assist instructors in making the transference between what is taught during class and the student’s everyday life. Specific, nonspecific and metaphoric transfer principles will be presented to assist in this experience to life connection. As instructors of adventure education our goal is not to show people how to recreate; but instead to strengthen the tools to living more full, healthy and happy lives. This is the true purpose of adventure education.

Marcel Bieg earned his Bachelor of Arts in Wilderness Studies from Alaska Pacific University in 1996. He received his Masters of Science in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2006. Marcel is currently the Director of the Outdoor Leadership, Education and Recreation Program at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico. Marcel has made a career in the experiential education field, beginning as a Raft Guide and Kayak instructor in 1994. Mr. Bieg has earned several Instructor certifications through nationally and internationally recognized organizations including the American Mountain Guide Association, the Association of Avalanche Research and Education, Leave No Trace and the Association of Challenge Course Technologies. In Paddle Sports, Marcel has worked with the American Canoe Association since 2003 and is a certified instructor Trainer in Whitewater Kayak and Whitewater Raft. Marcel is actively pursuing Instructor Trainer status in both Coastal and Kayak and Swift Water Rescue.

 Raphael Kuner - Modern Skills for an Old School Tool!

Using flip-charts and whiteboards while teaching is very common. But to be honest,  most of us never thought about about how to use them in a modern and proper way. Most of the illustrations and drawings are more confusing than helpful. A flip-chart is easy to use and there is no plug or projector which seemingly always have technical problems. Using a flip chart or whiteboard, you can be highly flexible, you can be spontaneous and you can prepare yourself. Whiteboards are durable, waterproof and magnetic. Raphael will show you, how to use different types of boards, markers, magnetic tools and much more. He will explain how to make a drawing clear and understandable, and how to interact with your board AND your audience. Be a flip-chart-wizard - the board is your stage!

Raphael Kuner is a mulch-discipline Instructor and Instructor Trainer from Germany. He runs one of the two European ACA pro-schools and is the current vice-chair of ACA Division Europe. He is an passionate user of flip-charts and whiteboards.

 Julie Chick & Tillamook Estuaries Partnership - Tillamook County Water Trail Project

The Tillamook County Water Trail (TCWT), led by the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP), a 501 (c) (3), is a countywide water trail system. Tillamook County borders the Pacific Ocean on the north coast of Oregon and has abundant rivers, sloughs, and bays optimal for non-motorized recreational water use. The TEP has created a webpage and guidebooks, including maps, tailored specifically to paddlers, rafters, drift boaters, etc. As a non-contiguous trail, the TCWT represents each of the five unique estuary systems and their navigable waterways.

Jose Gonzales - SUP Racing for the Recreational Athlete

This workshop is for the novice to experienced paddler looking to do his/her first SUP ocean race.  Participants will learn about the different types of ocean racing opportunities in the USA and internationally; followed by the different types of courses, race strategy and logistics.  The workshop will end with a fitness-centered overview on necessary training for the recreational athlete. 

Jose Gonzalez, is a SUP L2 Instructor trainer and a Sea Kayaking L1 instructor.  He has been teaching and managing outdoor programs for over 20 years.  He has competed in multiple SUP races including the HanoHano and Battle of the Paddle race.  He considers himself a recreational athlete mostly doing functional training and fitness in the outdoors in order to qualify for the Molokai 2 Oahu race.