Freestyle Instructor Training
by Becky Molina

For those interested, there will be an American Canoe Association Freestyle Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) March 16-18 in Abita Springs, LA. This is just prior to and just down the road (30 minutes or less) from the La Louisiane Freestyle Symposium.
The IDW is for intermediate to advanced paddlers who are interested in refining their skills in an intensive yet collegial setting with a heavy emphasis on methods of teaching skills to others. Other than working through the entire repertoire of freestyle maneuvers, topics include safety and rescue practice, modeling and teaching skills that are prerequisite to Freestyle, a review of ACA structure and curriculum, theories of hydrodynamics and pedagogy, group management for on-water instruction, and more. These topics are covered in on-water and classroom sessions.
Participants will have opportunities to receive feedback on their skills and their teaching style. Those interested in earning certification as ACA Freestyle instructors must take this course (or one like it) prior to taking the Instructor Certification Exam.
For more information, please email me at beckmark@aol.com.
Hope to see you somewhere in Louisiana!