ACA Course - Charles City, IA

"To be a good teacher, you must FIRST be a good student!"

This last June, I traveled back to the Midwest to teach a Level 1-3 ACA Instructor Trainer Course in Charles City, IA. This particular course was a private group of Iowa's DNR team that taught the sport of kayaking in their local community. Their particular role is to teach other lead paddlers how to teach and lead larger groups out on the water.

This was a 4-day course, covering all the basics of kayaking and teaching in water up to class II. The days are always long, yet rewarding. We held the majority of the days on the Charles City Whitewater Park. If you haven't been there yet, it's a great venue for every level of boater. What makes this park even better is the community supporting it. Our class was welcomed with open arms, smiles and "goodie bags" from the Chamber of Commerce.

The best comment at the end of our course was (from a young, non-paddling, local after he asked where I was from), "Our whitewater park is known out in Washington State?" I said, "yep . . . people travel from all over to enjoy your park." And, he was blown away and very proud of the Whitewater Park that sits right in the middle of their city.

Here's a quick glimpse into the 4 days we spent together on the water . . . enjoy!