Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top Kayak Touring Skills Course Course Overview The Essentials of Sit-On-Top Kayaking ****course is to teach beginner paddlers to safely and enjoyably kayak on lakes, calm protected ocean environments, and other flatwater settings. Note: This course is designed for sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks only and this curriculum is meant to highlight this limitation. Participants should understand that rescuing decked kayaks requires additional and separate instruction. Bulkheads are not required; however, some form of flotation must be present to keep the kayak from sinking. Course Prerequisites

• Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• Agree to comply with the ACA Code of Conduct
• No prior paddling experience or training is required to participate in this course

Course Duration The course duration should be adjusted to best fit the needs and goals of the participants. Suggested time: Half a day to one day (4-8 hours). Course Location / Accessible Venues Protected water with constant access to safe landing and within .5 nautical miles from shore:

• Winds less than 10 knots
• Waves less than 1 foot (0.3 meters)
• Current less than 1 knot

Course Size 5 Participants : 1 Instructor; with an additional qualified assistant, the ratio can be 10 : 2. For additional details, see SEIC Policy Manual Chapter 7. Instructor This course may be offered by Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top Kayak Touring (or higher) ACA Instructors, Instructor Trainers, or Instructor Trainer Educators. Succeeding Courses Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring Skills Assessment Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring Trip Leader Training and Assessment Level 3: Coastal Kayaking Skills Course Course Outline The following is a general summary of content for this course. The content and sequence of instruction should be adjusted to best fit the participant’s needs, class location and time allowance. Introduction, Expectations, and Logistics Introduction, Expectations, and Logistics:

• Welcome, introductions, paperwork
• Student and Instructor course expectations and limitations
• Course itinerary and site logistics
• Review waiver, assumption of risk, challenge by choice, medical disclosure
• About the ACA
• Life jacket policy (always wear on water)
• Appropriate personal behavior
  • No alcohol / substance abuse
  • Proper etiquette on and off the water
  • Respect private property
  • Practice Leave No Trace ethics

Paddling Environment:

• Wind
• Waves
• Weather
• Water

Personal Preparation:

• Personal ability
• Swimming ability
• Water comfort and confidence
• Fitness, conditioning, and warm up
• Safe paddle and boat handling
• Safety and rescue considerations
• Personal equipment (reviewed by Instructor)
• Learning judgment. prudent behavior, being aware of what you do not know, cannot handle, or should not risk
• Group equipment: extra paddle, dry bags, first aid kit and rescue equipment (depending on the environment and nature of the trip this may include cell phones, 2- way radios, vhf radios, paddle floats, rescue slings, etc.).
• Guidebooks, maps/charts, local knowledge
• Assessing relevant existing and approaching environmental conditions including: tides, weather, time of day, water and air temperature, traffic, and accessibility
• Assessing personal and group dynamics (skills, equipment, group makeup, emotional concerns, logistics, and leadership).
• Filed trip plan

Getting Started:

• Warm-up and stretching
• How to pick up and carry a kayak safely
• Car topping: loading and unloading, racks, straps
• Launching and landing
• Boarding, three points of contact, weight kept low, etc.
• Posture, safety, comfort, effectiveness, rocking, balance
• Wet Exits
• Water comfort and confidence, wet exits
• Self-rescue
• Basic Terminology
• Types of strokes (covered in this course): power, turning, support, control, correction
• Stroke components: catch, propulsion, recovery (CPR)
• Safe and effective body usage

Equipment:

• Lifejackets (PFDs): types, fit
• Kayaks: types, parts, backbands, seats and footrest
• Paddles: types, materials, parts, length, blade size, shape and offset, hand position
• Care of equipment
• Personal equipment: water, food, shoes, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, eyeglass straps, protective clothing for heat or cold, sponge, bailer/pump, whistle (or other approved sounding device), knife, light
• Optional equipment and outfitting for improved control such as thigh braces

Safety:

• Exercising judgment, safety as a mind-set, etc.
• Hypothermia and cold immersion shock: recognition, prevention, and treatment
• Dehydration and hyperthermia: recognition, prevention, and treatment
• Hazards: wind, waves, weather, current, rocks, bridges, piers, dams, strainers, traffic, etc.
• Paddling as a group
• Signaling
• Interactions and sharing water with non-powered and powered traffic
• Emergency procedures

Rescues:

• Rescue sequence: RETHROG (reach, throw, row, go)
• Rescue priorities: people, boats, gear
• Demonstrate and participate: deep- water re-entries, assisted and solo, including use of sling
• Boat assisted rescue, assisting a tired swimmer (pushing or pulling to shore)
• T-X rescue (blown hatch rescue) with pump
• Cross kayak PFD grab assisted rescue
• Unresponsive paddler rescue (for example, Hand of God and boat flip)
• Contact towing and bulldozing a capsized boat
• Swimmer tows (bow, back deck, toggle)

Maneuvers:

• Paddling in a reasonably straight line
• Spins
• Stopping
• Moving abeam (sideways)

Strokes:

• Forward
• Back (stopping)
• Draw (in water and out of water recovery and sculling draw)
• Sweep (forward and reverse)
• Stern rudder
• Low brace
• Low brace turn

Conclusion and Wrap Up

• Group debrief and individual feedback
• Course limitations
• Importance of first aid and CPR
• Importance of additional instruction, practice, experience
• Importance of appropriate level of safety and rescue training
• Life sport and paddling options
• Local paddling groups and clubs
• Handouts and reference materials
• ACA membership forms
• Course evaluation
• Participation cards (optional)

© American Canoe Association Date of last revision: 5/1/2024 https://americancanoe.org