The ACA is committed to providing the youth of today, and tomorrow with the opportunity of experiencing the outdoors via a canoe, kayak, stand up paddleboard or raft.
Having FUN (and teaching safety), in and around water is a vital component of any paddlesports youth education program.
Children are not only the future of paddlesport, they are also the future stewards of our rivers, lakes, streams, seas, and oceans.
As with any youth educational program, a progression based approach is crucial to learning:
- Paddle Safe - Paddle Smart curriculum: components of this curriculum can be used for an inside or 'dry land' course as well as on the water
- Smartstart Paddling Orientation: approximately a one hour program that can be used for a wide range of youth groups both on and off the water
- Quickstart Your Canoe and Quickstart Your Kayak: ideal on water courses for children to learn the basics, and safety, of paddling
- Skills Assessment Program: as responsibility and paddling skills progress, these assessments are a logical next step
For more information about how to teach paddlesports to youth or promote paddlesport safety for youth, please contact the Safety Education & Instruction Department.
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