Enhance your skills on the water and level up your outdoor kayaking skills with our masterclasses. Classes available for beginner to advanced level adventurers.
Introduction to Kayaking
A 1-day Introduction to Kayaking class offered on a variety of North Texas area waterways. The class includes equipment review, stroke mechanics and rescue techniques to ensure you are equipped for safe kayak paddling on calm lakes and rivers. Pricing includes all the equipment including boat, paddle, PFD and rescue gear.
Expect to spend 4-6 hours, depending on group size, as we discuss the different kayak designs, optimal use, materials, outfitting, and spend three or more hours on the water working stroke technique, self and assisted rescue and paddling etiquette.
River Kayak Skills Essentials
This class will allow you to develop and hone your paddling skills on moving water. Participants will spend 2 days at one of the area rivers with moving water. We create a weekend outdoor adventure to escape town and enjoy a quiet river side respite.
Day one includes paddling stroke review and running the river with time to break down strokes and water features as we progress downriver. Day two is reserved for a run of the river at a pace for you to feel the excitement of Texas whitewater with your newly developed skills.
Don’t have a lot of time? Try our Quick Start Classes
Do you want to build your confidence on the water and improve your paddling skills?
Quick Start Intro to Kayaking
Join us for our 4 hour Quick Start Intro to Kayak Class. The class provides a review essential gear and learn the basic paddle strokes that locomote and maneuver your boat. We will have time on land and over 3 hours on the water practicing your stroke mechanics. You will also have the opportunity try out several different boats to improve your knowledge for future paddling experiences.
Quick Start to Moving Water
This moving water, river skills refinement class often run in parallel with the LLELA Eco-Tour. However, we can discuss scheduling a session on your favorite moving water. We provide 4-5 hours of moving water skills development. This class is ideal for those with flatwater or river float kayak experience. We work on refining your boat maneuvering skills and introduce a few specialized strokes for moving water. You will learn how draw strokes allow you to cross the current and more quickly turn your boat.
Quick Start Safety & Rescue
Having the skills to safety exit and get back in your boat is essential to a successful day on the water. This 2-hour workshop teaches recognition and avoidance of common lake and river hazards, and more importantly, learn and practice several self and assisted rescue techniques. Emphasis is placed on personal safety and rescue skills.
All classes are taught by ACA certified kayak Instructor Trainers and outdoor educators ready to share their excitement of kayaking with you.
Prices include rental of all paddling gear appropriate for the class, including kayak, paddle, life jacket, and helmet, ropes and paddle floats as required for the class.
ACA Endorsement: Smart Start for Kayak Paddling
This hybrid 1-day class provides an introduction to kayaking class with an extra focus on paddle sport safety and managing groups on the water. The course includes completion of the on-line ACA tools and in-person kayak instruction and rescues.
The internationally recognized ACA Smart Start for Kayak Paddling is ideal for employees of City Parks and Recreation Departments, Scout and Summer Camps that offer water-based activities. Receiving this endorsement provides the designation of Qualified Assistant for ACA structured classes.
In addition to the basic paddling equipment review and stroke mechanics the course covers environmental awareness, trip planning, risk assessment and mitigation strategies and rescue techniques to ensure you are equipped for safe paddling on calm lakes and slow moving rivers.
This endorsement is the perfect starting point for those wanting to continue their paddling journey with paddling instructor certifications
ACA L1 Introduction to Kayaking Instructor
In an L1 Introduction to Kayaking Instructor course you will focus on teaching effective paddling technique, while refining existing kayak paddling and rescue skills, expand your technical knowledge, and demonstrate group management. The L1 Certification is appropriate for flat water paddling on generally protected waterways such as lakes and calm rivers. The two-day class is presented on flat, protected waterways consistent with the certification.
ACA L2 Essentials of River Kayaking Instructor
L2 Essentials of River Kayaking is offered to those that demonstrate the skills to paddle moving water on rivers up to and including Class 1 sections.
Instructor candidates must have completed an Introduction to Kayaking class or hold a Paddlesport Safety Facilitator endorsement, and have an ACA skills assessment for the instructor level they are applying for.
