Canoe & Kayak Schools

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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!

Swift Water Rescue Clinic

IWC/IDNR Swift Water Rescue Clinic
Dates:	Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28, 2024
Location:	Manchester Whitewater Park
Start Time:	9:00 am each day
End Time:	5:00 p.m on Saturday, 4:00 p.m on Sunday
Description:	This course is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills to perform moving water rescue for recreational and white-water boaters. It will focus on using rescue equipment like throw ropes and the rescue pfd. There will be an emphasis on swimming in current, tethered rope rescues, rescue wading and boat rescues.
Main Emphasis:	Provide the knowledge to perform moving water rescues as well as decision making skills during a moving water rescues. Rescue swimming and rope management are integral to this course.
Target Audience:	Kayak or canoe paddlers who paddle on Class 2 and above water.
Cost:	$70.00 for ACA members and $80.00 for non-ACA members. Sponsored by Iowa DNR and Iowa Whitewater Coalition
Maximum # participants:	15
Registration:	Find registration forms and information on equipment and skills needed online at www.iowawhitewater.org/wwclinic_swr.html

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Basics

1-day Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Basics
Dates:	SUP Intro: June 15, 2024, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. SUP Intro: July 13, 2024, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. SUP Intro: July 30, 2024, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. SUP Intro: August 3, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Locations:	Grays Lake in Des Moines
Oriented toward:	Beginner classes. This class is designed to introduce participants to stand-up paddleboarding in a flat water setting. We will cover launching, board control and different paddling strokes used on when on the water. 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 fee includes equipment and instructions.
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 21/22, 2024 - Register Online June 5/6, 2024 - Register Online August 6/7, 2024 - Register Online
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)
Contact:	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):	July 23/24, 2024 - Register Online August 27/28, 2024 - Register Online
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 Glenn Harman at glenn.harman@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-971-3962.

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