Instructor Courses & Mentorships

Offering Paddle Instructor Training, Mentorships & ACSKG Guide Training programs.


Not to mention recertification, and professional development programs.

Basic & L1 Instructor Course

If you enjoy teaching your friends and fellow paddlers to kayak, becoming a Paddle Canada kayak instructor could be a rewarding experience. This program provides a national certification in the instruction and administration of the Paddle Canada Basic & Level 1 Sea Kayaking Skills course, as well as the ability to assist on a L2 skills course.

  • $800 (plus GST & Service fee)
    Booking Terms

L2 Instructor Course

This is a uniquely designed program to provide instructors with the confidence to teach sea kayaking in more dynamic conditions. Introducing paddlers to tripping, expedition behaviour, preparing them for more dynamic paddling, and multi-day trips. This program spends time focusing on the ability to teach ‘instructor led’ topics such as weather, navigation and seamanship with developing your leadership and group management skills. This program you will be assessed on classroom choice and your ability to deliver lessons in demanding conditions, including broken water, surf and current.

Rolling Instructor Course

If you enjoy rolling, breaking it down to the very beginning and building on the skills from there. This one day program may be perfect for you. If not being used to improve your understanding and rolling abilities, it will help you be able to teach others how to roll, and challenge the way you imagine teaching it. This program often has live students as part of the day, this will give you the opportunity to continue building your teaching techniques and see how they work for a students understanding.

  • Contact amber@bluedogkayaking.com for a base price to run a private program for your club or group of paddling friends.

Mentorships

Blue Dog Kayaking thrives on providing opportunities for paddlers and instructors to progress, and offers both L3, L4 instructor mentorships and L1 & L2 Instructor Trainer Mentorships. We also provide opportunities to shadow on programs and gain coaching experience. To find out more about this please fill in our form below

Association Guide Courses

Blue Dog Kayaking is now running Guide training programs in partnership with the Association of Canadian Sea Kayak Guides.

The Blue Dog Kayaking Assistant Guide course is designed for adventurous individuals seeking to challenge their current leadership and outdoor experience with the potential of assisting multi-day kayak tours. Assistant guides will be able to assist lead guides in ACSKG class I, II and III waters on day and overnight trips. Course curriculum will comply with ACSKG standards. The assistant guide certification will be the stepping stone to becoming a lead multi-day guide in British Columbia, Canada and around the world.

  • Course Length 
    5 days out of the Port Sidney Marina and into the Gulf Islands learning the fundamentals. 2 days west coast  for dynamic water workshops.

    The first 5 days from Port Sidney Marina will include a 10 minute paddle out from our base where we have access to dynamic landings, navigational challenges, boat & ferry crossings as well as current. The 2 days will involve some west coast & more dynamic water exposure.  

    Each location offers possibilities to focus on the fundamental aspects of the guiding courses, with great assessment areas, and good learning challenges.

    Our programs will be focused on more than just your guiding abilities but also your skills. We want to develop strong, capable guides who are going to strive in the industry, as well fostering a more inclusive community within the sea kayaking world.

    * We reserve the right to alter the location due to weather or unsafe conditions.

    Examination:

    Each student will be assessed through the ACSKG practical exam at the end of the course. Which will be assessed on the last two days of the course. A written open book exam will be required to pass the Paddle Canada Skills portion of the programming. This can be done before the course, or after.

    Certification:

    After completing the 7 days of the course as well as the practical and written exams, the participants will be eligible for their assistant ACSKG certification. To become a fully certified assistant guide you will also need your Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime), and basic 40 hour wilderness first aid. Based on current ACSKG standards. Paddle Canada skills certification is also available on this program.

    $1150 (plus gst & service fee)
    Booking Terms

“Dave and Amber ran a very well organized and challenging course for our Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor certification. For higher level courses the paddling and teaching experience of your instructors really matters and in this regard we could not have asked for better instructors. I'd highly recommend other prospective instructor candidates consider Blue Dog Kayaking for a hands-on course using proven teaching methodologies."

-Dan Wong, Owner of Jackpine Paddle

Private Instructor Programming

Our company thrives on providing the best sea kayak instruction, and coaching. Safety, creating challenging environments, fun and adventure are at the forefront of our programs. Meeting paddlers where they’re at and facilitating learning to get them to where they would like to be, filling in the learning gaps along the way. Our private programming provides the opportunity for you to hire our instructors to teach a private program for you, your business or your group of friends. Private instructor programs need a minimum of 3 instructor candidates to be considered and ideally 4-6, with a max of 10.