A STRONG TRADITION...A STRONGER COMMITMENT

Founded in 1880 by a group of avid canoeists, the ACA has grown into the nation's largest and most active nonprofit paddle sports organization. Today the ACA is dedicated to promoting canoeing, kayaking, and rafting as wholesome lifetime recreational activities. We accomplish this mission by providing a variety of worthwhile programs and public services in such areas as: event sponsorship, safety education, instructor certification, waterway stewardship, water trails, paddler's rights and protection, and public information campaigns.

Membership in the association is approximately 50,000 in 2005. In additional to individual members, more than 300 local paddling clubs and organizations across the country have aligned themselves as ACA Affiliates. The association is the nation’s recognized leader in the fields of paddlesport instruction and education. Currently there are more than 4000 ACA certified canoe and kayak instructors in the U.S. and approximately 240 ACA instructor trainers. Collectively, these instructors teach ACA approved programs to an estimated 125,000+ students each year, primarily through summer camp programs, affiliated groups (e.g. scouts, YMCA, etc.), liveries / outfitters, and professional paddlesport schools.

In conjunction with the United States Coast Guard and other groups, the ACA has developed and distributes a number of safety videos, books, and other literature, including the Paddlesport Safety System which reaches hundreds of thousands of novice paddlers through outfitters and rental outlets each year.

The association has played a prominent role in supporting federal and local funding for access and recreation opportunities and has launched a national program for Water Trails.

Historically and still today, the ACA is the largest national organization of its kind in terms of sanctioning, supporting, and producing paddlesport events. The ACA sanctions nearly 1400 paddlesport events each year, providing event organizers with assistance through the ACA Event Support Program, a comprehensive program including insurance/risk management, technical assistance, loaner equipment, and event promotion and funding.