Education. Recreation. Stewardship. Competition

Education. Recreation. Stewardship. Competition

The ACA & You!

Presented by:

Event:

Date:

• Founded in 1880, the American Canoe Association (ACA) is a national, nonprofit organization serving the broader paddling public by providing EDUCATION related to all aspects of paddling; STEWARDSHIP support to help protect paddling environments; and sanctioning of programs and events to promote paddlesport COMPETITION and RECREATION.

Who is the ACA?The ACA & YOU!

• 1880: Established on August 3rd by twenty-three notable canoeists on Lake George, NY• 1903: Purchased Sugar Island in Canada • 1927: Incorporated in NY• 1944: Women given the right to vote in ACA• 1978: ACA Slalom & Wildwater Teams win World Championships!• 1980: Susan Chamberlin is the first woman to be elected Commodore

• 1990’s Clean Water Act enforcement (24 cases)

• 2004: Strategic Tenets of the ACA defined

• 2008: Founded the National Paddlesports Conference

ACA HistoryThe ACA & You!

Education

Stewardship

Competition

Recreation

Strategic TenetsThe ACA & YOU!

• Safety Education & Instruction Council

• Learn to Paddle Initiative

• Youth Development Program

• Extensive Paddlesports Safety Education Information

• National Leader in Paddlesports Education & Instruction

• Courses: Skills, Assessments, Certifications

EducationThe ACA & YOU!

• Established 1972

4500 certified Instructors – 250 certified Instructor Trainers

• Canoe (Touring & River)• Kayak (River, Coastal, Surf)• Raft• Safety & Rescue• Adaptive Paddling• Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

• Estimated 809,000 students taught annually

ACA Instructor Certification ProgramThe ACA & YOU!

• Water Trails Database• Stewardship Grants• Local, Regional & National Initiatives• Outdoor Alliance• We work with:

- U.S. Forest Service - Department of the Interior- White House Office of Management and Budget- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

- House Natural Resources Committee • Clean Water Network• Land and Water Conservation Fund Task Force • Trust for Public Land

StewardshipThe ACA & YOU!

• Sanctioned 1400 events in 2010

• Promote paddlesports events across the nation

• Provide insurance for club events and festivals

• Support the development of new initiatives for paddlesports recreation opportunities

RecreationThe ACA & YOU!

• Freestyle Canoeing• Canoe Sailing• Canoe Poling• Open Canoe Slalom• Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver• Collegiate Canoe & Kayak Championship

Race Series

CompetitionThe ACA & YOU!

• Paddlesport participation is at it’s highest levels in the history of the sport.

• The paddlesport community needs to expand it’s entry level education opportunities for paddlers.

Paddlesports ParticipationThe ACA & YOU!

• More people are trying paddling and they are entering from numerous non-boating related activities:

HikingBicyclingCamping Fishing

Paddlesports ParticipationThe ACA & YOU!

It’s CRUCIAL that these new boaters receive:

- Opportunity- Guidance- Safety Information- Basic Education

Paddlesports ParticipationThe ACA & YOU!

Today’s ObjectivesThe ACA & YOU!

• Family Opportunities • High Quality Educational Sessions • Instructor Updates • Reel Paddling Film Festival • SUP Summit • Whitewater Courses & Parks Workshop • Exciting events for paddlers of all experience levels • Flatwater & Whitewater paddling opportunities literally from the

hotel parking lot! • and much more...

ACA National Paddlesports ConferenceSeptember 30 – October 2, 2011 Louisville, KY

American Canoe Association 108 Hanover St.

Fredericksburg, VA 22401540-907-4460

888-229-3792 [fax][email protected]

Contact InformationThe ACA & YOU!