Summer Solstice Celebration
2024-06-21 17:00 - 2024-06-23 17:00 (America/Chicago) | San Marcos River Retreat, 444 Pecan Park Dr, San Marcos, Texas, United States
Join Outdoors with Grace, KayakPower and Kayaking Houston for a weekend celebrating the longest day of the year at a Summer Solstice weekend of paddling and camping. Our weekend of celebration will begin with a Strawberry Moon Sunset paddle on Friday and include a paddle down the San Marcos River on Saturday.

Summer Solstice Activities

Summer Solstice weekend events start around 5PM on Friday June 21st at San Marcos River Retreat. Cost for the weekend is $40 which includes camping, facility use fees, shuttles and commemorative sticker and T-shirt.

Participants must provide their own camping equipment and food for the weekend. Limited equipment available for rental when booked in advance.

ACA L1 Instructor Certification Class - Dallas
2025-05-14 09:00 - 2025-05-15 17:00 | Samuel Farms, 100 US Hwy 80, Mequite, Texas, 75149, United States
ACA L1 Instructor Certification Class City of Dallas

This L1 Instructor Certification Class will be held at the beautiful Samuel Farms park, part of the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department portfolio of parks. The 2 day class begins Wednesday May 14th at 9:00 AM at the main building and will have the opportunity to get on the water both Wednesday and Thursday.

The L1 Instructor Certification class is 2 full days of classroom and on-water exercises. Be sure to bring snacks, a lunch, and plenty of hydration and sunscreen.

ACA L1 Instructor Certification - Lewisville
2025-05-15 09:00 - 2025-05-16 17:00 | LLELA, 201 E. Jones St , TX, Lewisville, Texas, 75057, United States
ACA L1 Class Railroad Park

2 Day ACA L1 Instructor Certification Class

ACA L2 River Kayak Instructor Certification Workshop
2025-06-20 09:00 - 2025-06-22 17:00 | San Marcos River Retreat, 444 Pecan Park Dr, San Marcos, Texas, United States
L2 River Kayak Instructor Certification Workshop (IDW/ICE)

Share the joy of river kayaking and moving water. This workshop develops moving water skills and teaching technique. Develop the paddling and teaching skills necessary to become an American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 Essentials to River Kayak Instructor. This three day class will allow students to develop the skills necessary to teach and demonstrate the paddling skills necessary for success on moving water. To read more about class offerings check out the classes page.

Day 1 focuses on the flow of a River Kayak class, providing an overview of required kayak equipment, stroke mechanics and rescue techniques to ensure you are equipped for safe paddling on calm lakes and slow-moving rivers. Day two develops teaching techniques and learning styles with a focus on water safety and rescue. It includes plenty of time to practice paddling and teaching skills. Day 3 will further develop and demonstrate the skills required for teaching on moving water. We will get on the water each day paddling various sections of the San Marcos River including Rio Vista and the Tom’s Rapid to Sculls sections.

River Kayak Instructor Candidate Information

Review the course outline for Essentials of River Kayak that you will be certified to teach on the ACA website prior to class to prepare for candidate qualification. Qualifying candidates must meet the ACA requirements outlined in the Instructor Criteria

Instructor candidates must have completed an Introduction to Kayaking class or participated in a Paddlesport Safety Facilitator session. Reach out by email to grace.arianoutsos@gmail.com to schedule time to be considered for this class.

Final River Kayak Instructor certification will be granted to those successfully demonstrating the paddle strokes, safety techniques and teaching skills. Certification at the time of class is not guaranteed, a continuance is possible with a path to completion provided.

River Kayak Specific Skills

After this class Instructor Candidates will be able to demonstrate the ability to teach and model the following moving water skills and techniques in addition to the basic kayak paddle strokes. Basic safety and rescue skills will also be covered.

BASIC KAYAK STROKES

Forward stroke

Reverse/back stroke

Forward and reverse sweeps

Draw and sculling draw

Low brace to avoid capsize

Rudder (stern) to glide straight and turn to paddle side

RIVER KAYAK SKILLS

Eddy turns

Peel outs

Ferrying across a river

Front ferry with control

Duffek turning stroke

Summer Solstice 2025 Celebration Campout
2025-06-20 17:00 - 2025-06-22 17:00 | San Marcos River Retreat, 444 Pecan Park Dr, San Marcos, Texas, United States
Join Outdoors with Grace for a weekend celebrating the longest day of the year at a Summer Solstice 2025 weekend of paddling and camping. Our weekend of celebration includes 2 nights of camping at the San Marcos River Retreat and co-insides with the L2 River Kayak Essentials Instructor certification class. Those wanting to participate in the Solstice weekend campout but not the class are able to paddle the San Marcos at their leisure and arrange their own shuttles. Paid registrations received before June 14th will be guaranteed a souvenir t-shirt.

Summer Solstice 2025 Celebration Kayak Instruction

Outdoors with Grace will offer an ACA L2 River Kayak Instructor certification (IDW/ICE) class June 20th through June 22nrd and will meet all 3 days. Instructor candidates will have an opportunity to paddle Rio Vista in San Marcos as well as the San Marcos River from San Marcos River Retreat to Sculls Crossing several times during the weekend to develop their paddling and teaching skills. The L2 River Kayak Instructor class follows the ACA L2 River Kayak Essentials curriculum. See L2 River Kayak Essentials under classes and events to register for the Instructor Certification Class.

ACA L1 Introduction to Kayaking Instructor Certification
2026-02-09 08:00 - 2026-02-10 17:00 | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 West, Cedar Creek, 78612, Iraq
This 2-day class offered to achieve ACA Level 1 Introduction to Paddling Instructor Certification and Smart Start for Safe Paddling assessments. In an L1 Introduction to Kayaking Instructor course you will refine your paddling and rescue skills, expand your technical knowledge, demonstrate group management and teaching ability. 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.

To receive certification participant must be a member of the American Canoe Association and have all SEIC dues paid.

ACA L1 Instructor Certification Workshop
2026-04-17 08:00 - 2026-04-18 17:00 | Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area, 7463 Deer Creek Canyon Rd, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 73503, United States
ACA Introduction to Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop

This 2-day workshop will cover the ACA L1 Instructor certification requirements at Level 1, Introduction to Kayaking along with the ACA Smart Start for Kayak Paddling endorsement. Participants seeking L1 Instructor certification will learn teaching techniques and practice teaching the stroke mechanics and maneuvers to manage a kayak safely on flat water on lakes and slow moving rivers.

The ACA Smart Start for Kayak Paddling is a hybrid course ideal for seasonal employees to support Level 1 instructors. The Smart Start course includes completion of the on-line ACA tools for safe paddling, and completion of the in-person kayak instruction. The Smart Start course concludes with a test of safety, rescue techniques and kayaking knowledge.

Fees range from $100 to $299 per person. The class is taught by ACA L2 River Essentials Instructor Trainer Grace Arianoutsos.

Participants in this class must obtain a Fort Sill Visitor’s pass. It is free and can typically be done online. Go to this address and click on visitor pre registration: Visitor Welcome Center | VWC | Fort Sill | Oklahoma | Fires Center of Excellence
