Canoe & Kayak Schools

Do you often bring others out on the water in canoes or kayaks?

Want to improve your skills to better demonstrate to others how to paddle efficiently, elegantly, and safely?

These intensive courses follow the American Canoe Association’s “Intro” and “Moving Water” curriculum, and are targeted to those who teach others paddling skills, from lakes to rivers. These courses will be instrumental for students who plan to enroll in an ACA instructor certification course. Class sizes are limited, and they fill up fast, so don’t delay and sign up today!

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Basics

 

1-day Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Basics (3 different classes offered)
Dates:	SUP Intro: June 3, 2023 SUP Intro: July 8, 2023 SUP Intro: July 18, 2023 SUP Intro: August 5, 2023 SUP Intro: August 24, 2023
Locations:	Grays Lake in Des Moines
Oriented toward:	Beginner classes. This class is a joint effort between the Iowa DNR and the City of Des Moines parks and Recreation Department. All Des Moines Parks and Recreation SUP classes are co-taught by a certified Iowa DNR SUP instructor and a City of Des Moines Parks and Rec naturalist. Register through the City of Des Moines website, click on Nature Programs and select Stand-Up Paddleboard Introduction Class. Classes are $25.
Registration:	Contact todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-205-6845.

 

2-Day Canoe School for Naturalists and Trip Leaders

 

2-Day Canoe School for Naturalists
Date(s):	May 23/24, 2023 - class full August 23/24, 2023 September 12/13, 2023
Location:	Briggs Woods Park, Hamilton County (Boone River)
Oriented toward:	Naturalists who take groups on trips or who are expected to conduct canoe instruction. About 1/3 classroom, and 2/3 on-water, the focus is on skills, hazard and river feature identification, teaching to different learning styles, and risk management.
Class Length:	2 Day
Cost:	$65 (you can camp, rent a cabin or stay in town at a motel)
Maximum # participants:	12 (6 tandem canoes)
Registration:	Contact Todd Robertson at todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-205-6845.

 

2-Day Kayak School for Naturalists and Trip Leaders

 

2-Day Kayak School for Naturalists and Trip Leaders
Date(s):	June 6/7, 2023 August 29/30, 2023
Location:	Briggs Woods Park, Hamilton County (Boone River)
Oriented toward:	Naturalists who take groups on trips or who are expected to conduct kayak instruction. About 1/3 classroom, and 2/3 on-water, the focus is on skills, hazard and river feature identification, teaching to different learning styles, and risk management. This is for kayak only.
Class Length:	2 Day
Cost:	$65 (you can camp, rent a cabin or stay in town at a motel)
Maximum # participants:	8
Registration:	Contact Todd Robertson at todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-205-6845.

 

Canoe/Kayak Schools - What's included:

• 2 day course including  (includes 1 day flat water course) (Lake environment and on river)
• Experience in tandem canoes, recreational kayaks, whitewater crossover kayaks and SUP
• Classroom and on-water hands-on training
• Improved efficiency for skills on the water
• Improved leadership skills
• Increase safety, lower stress, have fun and pay knowledge forward based on ACA instructional foundations.
• You will receive an Iowa DNR certificate of completion.
• FUN!

Canoe/Kayak Schools - What to bring:

• Rain gear, brimmed hat for sun, sunscreen
• A small cooler with a lunch to bring during instruction days; you’ll be on your own for breakfast and dinner – there are restaurants in Webster City if you prefer, or bring your own food.
• At least 2 liters of drinking water per instruction day.
• Water shoes or old tennis shoes that can get wet (Flip-flops or bare feet are not allowed)
• Swimming suit and/or clothing that can get wet
• If you have a preferred life jacket (Type III paddlers’ life jacket), bring it; otherwise a life jacket will be provided.
• Sleeping bag & personal effects if staying in a cabin; otherwise bring your own tent and camping gear