2005 ACA logo   North Atlantic Canoe and Kayak, Inc.
NACK
An ACA Paddle America Club
and
A NYS Not-For-Profit Corporation
   2006 NACK logo  
 
Serving Long Island and Northeastern USA . . . "Get the NACK for paddling"
 
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* * * Training Resources * * *
  Trip Ratings Skill Levels Instructors Assessors Leadership Curriculum Support


 

NACK Training Assessment and Certificaton System - TAC

NACK has been formed as a club dedicated to paddler development at all levels. The NACK Training Assessment and Certification system is designed to insure on-water safety, facilitate good group management and support member development. We hope build a body of paddlers that are trained in skills and safety, and are supportive group members on the water. From a strong base of basic skills the club as an organization can expand to specialize in many interesting aspects of paddling. We would like our members to be limited only by their imagination and desire.

NACK Skills Assessment is required for participation on club paddling trips. An Assessment is not required for Training Sessions, New Member Paddles, Peer Practices and other functions which are appropriately staffed by the Training and Safety Committees.
 
  The more skilful a paddler you are, the safer you are. Train hard!
  NACK Training Committee 2005
 
 
  'Practice makes permanent' NOT 'Practice makes Perfect'

or, more properly stated:   'Perfect practice makes perfect.'
  Top Tips for Coaches 2002
 


 

NACK Trip Rating System - TRS

The NACK Training Committee has developed the Trip Rating System shown below that describes trips of progressively challenging nature in terms of environment and skill level. This system is consistent with the ACA Instructor Ratings and the proposed ACA Coastal Skills Ratings that are under development. The TRS forms the basis for the NACK Skills Ratings that are intended for use in member development.

Code Nomenclature Description of Requirements
FW   Flatwater   Protected ponds, lakes
AFW   Advanced Flatwater   Protected estuaries & coves
IC   Inner Coastal   Inland coastal bays
OW   Open Water   Open coastal waters, 3-ft surf
AOW   Advanced Open Water   Open ocean, night, 6-ft surf

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  Skill is the elastic in the system. When conditions worsen, having a reserve of skill makes the difference between terror and excitement.
  Top Tips for Coaches 2002
 
 

NACK Skill Ratings

The ACA has published a draft description of Coastal Kayak Skill Ratings that is still under development. NACK has prepared its own system that closely follows the ACA Ratings, with designations to meet the demands for paddling in our region. The NACK system may even offer more detailed guidance to the candidate at selected skill levels. This system of skills ratings and assessment criteria is now complete for the first four levels shown below:

  Guidelines 1 - FW 2 - AFW 3 - IC 4 - OW 5 - AOW  

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  Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.
  Greek Statesman & Orator Demosthenes 384-322 BC
 
 

NACK Instructors

The programs of Instruction offered by the American Canoe Association in the various disciplines of canoe, kayak and rafting represent the highest quality instruction that is generally available in this country. NACK intends to facilitate development of member safety and skills through the use of ACA Certified Instructors. By learning from a Certified Instructor you can be sure that your Instructor has completed one or more ACA Instructor Development Workshops (IDWs) following a detailed and demanding curriculum and has passed an Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) under the supervision of a certified ACA Instructor Trainer or ACA Instructor Trainer Educator. Periodically (every three years) ACA Instructors must re-affirm their certificaton through the process of an ACA Instructor Update with a Certified Instructor Trainer.

Just as there are levels of skill ratings, there are also levels of Instructor Certification which increase the range of skills the Instructor is certified to model and teach. It is relatively easy to gain certification at the "Introduction" level in a specific aspect of paddling (sea kayak, river kayak, canoe, etc.), certification at the "Essentials" level is more demanding in the breadth and depth of curriculum which must be mastered, as well as quality of stroke modelling. Certification as a "Basic" level instructor is significantly more demanding of advanced and refined skills with requirements for understanding and modelling combined strokes as well as certifying in more demanding conditions. Higher level ratings such as "Open Water Coastal" (kayak), "White Water" Canoe or Kayak or "Advanced" Open Water or White Water Kayak are even more comprehensive and require more extensive training in risk assessment, duty of care and generally demand a higher commitment to multi-day IDWs and a challenging ICE. ACA encourages all it's Instructors to maintain certification in First-Aid/CPR or Wilderness First Aid.

If you are a student, be sure you are working with a properly certified ACA Instructor whose rating is up-to-date in the appropriate discipline. Any ACA Instructor should be able to present assurance from the ACA of their current rating and status. Those wishing to pursue advanced training to become an ACA Instructor should consult with the Divisional Instructional Facilitator in their region, who will put you in touch with an ACA Instructor Trainer who can advise when the appropriate courses are scheduled. Information on training can also be acquired on the ACA Website or by contacting the ACA Safety Instruction and Education Committee (SEIC).

The requirements for NACK Instructors are detailed in the Training Policy. Basically, all NACK Instructors must be ACA Instructors, members of NACK and also be approved by the NACK Training Committee. The following trainers are all approved NACK Instructors.

NACK
Instructor		 Certifications Training Approvals
ORG Specialization FW AFW IC OW AOW
Roy Baillard ACA   Essential Kayak Touring X X      
Mike Bogart ACA   Intro. Kayak X        
ARC   Instr. Trainer, WFA, CPR - -      
Gordon
Dayton*		 ACA   Open Water Kayak X X X X  
  Essential River Kayak X X      
  Essential Touring Canoe X X      
  Essential River Canoe X X      
ARC   Kayak Instr., WFA, CPR - -      
Buddy Ficarelli ACA   Intro to Kayak X        
Doug Ford ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X    
  Adaptive Paddling End. X X X    
ARC   Instr. Trainer, WFA, CPR - -      
Steve McDonald ACA   Essential Kayak Touring X X      
Armand Mickune-Santos ACA   Instr./Trainer Educ.: Sea X X X X X
Elizabeth O'Connor** ACA   Open Water Kayak IT X X X X  
  Essential River Kayak X X      
ARC   Instr. Trainer, WFA, CPR - -      
Dan Troup ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X    
ARC   Kayak Instr., FA, CPR - -      
John Weickert ACA   Essential Kayak Touring X X      
Tim
Williams		 ACA   Open Water Kayak X X X X  
  Traditional Skills End. X X X X  
* ACA Atlantic Division, Coastal Chair; ACA/SEIC Clubs Liaision
** Chair: NACK Training Committee, Divisional Instructional Facilitator - ACA Atlantic Division.

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  If the first time you rely on a skill is in a survival situation and you find you have not mastered it - then what?
  Top Tips for Coaches 2002
 
 

NACK Assessors

The NACK skill assessment program is consistent with published ACA guidelines. NACK Skills Assessors are ACA certified Instructors that have received further approval from the NACK Training Committee. Requirements for Assessors are detailed in the Training Policy . Members may, if they choose, seek formal ACA Skills Certification. This certification will also be acceptable to NACK and upon application a NACK rating can be granted. Currently only ACA Instructor Trainers may grant ACA Skills Certification.

NACK
Assessor		 Certifications Assessment Approvals
ORG Specialization FW AFW IC OW AOW
Gordon
Dayton		 NACK   Coastal Kayak X X X X  
  River Kayak X X      
  Touring Canoe X X      
  River Canoe X X      
Armand Mickune-Santos NACK   Coastal Kayak X X X X X
Elizabeth O'Connor NACK   Coastal Kayak X X X X  
  River Kayak X X      
Tim
Williams		 NACK   Coastal Kayak X X X X  
  Traditional Skills X X X X  

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  When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.
  Chinese Philosopher Confucius 551 - 479 BC
 
 
  If you never paddle with those better than you, you never improve.
  NACK Training Director Elizabeth O'Connor 2005
 

 

NACK Leadership Program

NACK needs good trip leaders to function as an active paddling club. Becoming a Trip Leader is an enjoyable way to get out on the water and paddle where you want to go. If you choose venue's that are generally accessible you will always have a good group of participants. Because all participants must be rated, you can be assured of good support skills in your group. Trip Leaders who give of their time to plan and execute safe trips deserve the respect and admiration of all members and receive work credits for each paddle.

There are two ways to become a NACK Trip Leader. All ACA Instructors are trained to lead a group on the water and are therefore certified to lead trips at levels consistent with their Instructor Certification level. However, most Instructor schedules are too busy to lead club trips, especially at the height of the season.

The NACK Training Committee has detailed a program for development of member NACK Trip Leaders in the NACK Training Policy. Upon completion of a basic leader training program and an on-water mentoring program any member may lead trips at levels consistent with their skill rating. This Training Policy describes requirements for members leading trips of different ratings. All NACK members are encouraged to volunteer to become NACK Leaders and help support our programs.


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NACK
Leader		 Certifications Trip Leader Rating
ORG Discipline FW AFW IC OW AOW
Roy Baillard ACA   Touring Kayak X X      
Mike Bogart ACA   Touring Kayak X        
Gordon
Dayton		 ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X X  
  River Kayak X X      
  Touring Canoe X X      
Doug Ford ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X    
Steve McDonald ACA   Touring Kayak X X      
Armand Mickune-Santos ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X X X
Elizabeth O'Connor ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X X X
  River Kayak X X      
Dan Troup ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X    
John Weickert ACA   Touring Kayak X X      
Tim Williams ACA   Coastal Kayak X X X X  
 
  Leadership requires relentless preparation. You cannot predict every possible challenge. But if you prepare for those challenges that you can predict, you will be better equipped to handle all problems, even the unexpected ones.
  Rudoply W. Giuliani, former mayor of New York City.
 
 

NACK/ACA Training Recommendations

NACK has reviewed current ACA training curriculums and is working to prepare recommendations for courses that provide preparation for different levels of skills certification. Because current membership is largely committed to kayaking, the first set of recommendations is directed toward this group. A simplified listing of proposed courses is contained in the link below:

Training Recommendations



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NACK/ACA Instructor Development Assistantships

The NACK Training Committee in concert with the Board of Directors has determined a need to grow the NACK Instructor Team. Accordingly NACK has developed an Instructor Assistantship program to help fund the training and certification examination for up to three members who have appropriate interest, talent and qualifications. Please click on the link below to access the program description and application form:

NACK Instructor Development Assistantship

NOTE: This program is comlete for the 2008 season. If you are interested in becomming an instructor or are already an instructor and wish to join the NACK Training Committee please contact Elizabeth at 631-563-6654.


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  Find places to practice where the technical difficulties are challenging but the consequences are forgiving.
  Top Tips for Coaches 2002
 
 
  Copyright 2005 by North Atlantic Canoe and Kayak, Incorporated