Big Canoe Lake Water Intermediate Leader Course (Big Canoe Skipper Course)
Paddle Canada Certified
Course Dates:
Monday June 2nd + Tuesday June 3rd
Location: Alice Lake – Squamish
This Big Canoe Skipper Course is designed to help participants develop intermediate skills for leading and paddling in a big canoe. Perfect for those with a basic understanding of paddling strokes, the course focuses on teaching the stern position and preparing participants to lead novice paddlers on easy (flat/lake) water.
Participants will cover essential leadership and rescue techniques, as well as strategies for managing groups of paddlers in a safe and effective manner. By the end of this course, you will have the skills needed to safely guide big canoe trips, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of everyone involved.
Prerequisites
- Minimum age of 16 years or demonstration of a high level of fitness and maturity
- Recommended to hold at least Standard First Aid, with up to Wilderness First Responder certification depending on planned paddling destinations/journeys
(It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they have the appropriate first aid skills for their paddling environments)
Check out our Ridge First Aid course offerings here!
Course Details
- Duration: 2 days of on-water instruction
- June 2nd + 3rd: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Location: Alice Lake – Squamish
Course Content
Safety and Rescue
- How to carry a big canoe
- Recognizing environmental hazards (water, wind, waves, weather)
- When to exit the water due to hazards
- Understanding and managing hypothermia & hyperthermia
- Transport Canada regulations for safe canoeing
- Developing a float plan and managing a group
- Signals (whistle/paddle) for communicating across multiple canoes
- Basic canoe rescues
- Using communication devices
Paddling Skills
- Entering and exiting a canoe from dock or shoreline
- Paddling strokes (forward, reverse, sweep, draw, pry)
- Crew commands and leading paddlers
- Docking and shoreline maneuvers
- Straight-line paddling and turns (wide and tight)
- Pivots and reverse paddling
- Changing paddler placement for trim and balance
Leadership and Group Management
- How to lead novice paddlers and manage group dynamics
- Risk management strategies on the water
- Following Leave No Trace principles
- Understanding your limits: Paddlesmart
Knowledge
- Understanding the roles and positions of your crew
- The fundamentals of holding a paddle
- Commands for your crew
