Become a Paddlesport Instructor

Enjoyed being on the water over summer? Enamoured with Stand Up Paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, sit on top kayaking etc? Make your passion part of your work and become a Paddlesport Instructor. Ready to take the plunge?

Coming up on 3 consecutive Fridays – by the end of these successful 3 days you will achieve the status of British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor.

Friday 30 September 2022 – Foundation Safety and Rescue Course – essential learning for all prior to undertaking Paddlesport Instructor.

Friday 7 October and Friday 14 October – Paddlesport Instructor Course

To book please follow this link

The Paddlesport Instructor qualification is designed for instructors running
paddlesport taster/starter sessions within the safety management systems of clubs,
centres or other organisations in:
 ‘Very Sheltered Water’ environments;
 craft deemed suitable for a first time experience.
The primary role of the Paddlesport Instructor is to deliver safe and enjoyable
taster/starter sessions based on their group’s needs and aspirations. The
qualification will support the instructor with practical skills such as kitting up a group
and getting afloat, initial familiarisation activities, games and activities to support
learning and how to use mini journeys to support learning, inspire adventure and
exploration. This will be enhanced with support on how these sessions can be
delivered in a way that is enjoyable, safe and rewarding.
We anticipate that the qualification is likely to be used by instructors in clubs,
centres, schools, Duke of Edinburgh, Youth Groups, Uniformed Groups, etc.
Instructors who are involved in running taster/starter sessions for:
 children and young people as part of a wider educational experience;
 people as part of a leisure, activity, social or holiday experience;
 people wanting ‘to have a go’ at the sport; maybe as a potential new
regular participant.

Further information regarding this British Canoeing course on the Scottish Canoe Association website

Pupil Adventure Events 2017/18

Adventure Award Days

  • Below is a table of scheduled ‘Adventure Award Days’ and other pupils events including Secondary Challenges.
  • These opportunities are mostly free and open to all age ranges.
  • This list is not exhaustive of the offers from your Outdoor Learning Service. If your class/school has ideas on how to embed outdoor learning opportunities and require some specialist help from an Outdoor Learning Teacher then please get in touch.
  • Please don’t miss: the Festivals – Orienteering and Watersports; Residential – fieldwork and winter/summer adventures
  • Bookings for the scheduled dates below to be made through Keith Christie (outdoorlearning@elcschool.org.uk)

Happy planning for adventures 17/18

New Paddlesport Leader Award

From the 3rd April 2017 your Outdoor Learning Service will be able to deliver quality training and assessment leading to Paddlesport Leader Award.

The Paddlesport Leader is aimed at paddlers taking on formal leadership responsibilities in benign, sheltered water environments and aims to support Leaders to run safe, quality, enjoyable trips based on their group’s needs and aspirations.

The assessment is one day (plus a meeting prior). East Lothian Council Outdoor Learning (ELCOL) are able to run this assessment from 3rd April. ELCOL will also run endorsed Paddlesport Leader Training. Costs can be reduced for those operating within East Lothian – please contact us for more details

For more info and further details please click on image below and/or contact Martyn on 0131 6535217 or email outdoorlearning@elcschool.org.uk

 

For UKCC Level 1 coaches thinking if the course is for them – please read these wise words from SCA
Link to the Level 1 Coach Award
We believe that a Paddlesport Leader who also holds the Level 1 Coach award is well placed to fulfil their coaching duties with more autonomy. The Paddlesport Leader award requires a higher level of personal skills and safety/rescue skills than the Level 1 Coach award; providing further assurance that they have the skills to make, and fulfil, sound leadership decisions whilst out on the water.

Adventure Award Days – first steps toward World Championships

Adventure Award Days are now published for next year. These days give whole classes over the course over a day (or half) to experience some real world learning in a variety of outdoor sports. Who knows – the next Orienteering/ Bouldering/ Canoe Sprint world champion may be lurking in your class. Make sure everyone has the opportunity to unleash their hidden talent. Book by getting in touch with your Outdoor Learning Link teacher –

Martyn, Andy or Liz

The sessions listed below are open to all schools in East Lothian – will not affect any other allocation with Outdoor Learning. First to book a day chooses venue. Watersports (Kayak;Canoe;SUP;Sail), Climbing (Indoor and Outdoor), Orienteering all available.

Adventure Award Days

Adventure Award Days from Outdoor Learning. Foundation or Progression sessions. All open for booking. Develop your class through the outdoors. For more information concerning Adventure Award Days click here

The sessions listed below are open to all schools in East Lothian – unlimited days – will not affect any other allocation with Outdoor Learning. First to book a day chooses venue. Watersports (Kayak;Canoe;SUP;Sail), Climbing (Indoor and Outdoor), Orienteering all available.

Contact Andy or Martyn to book – aduff@elcschool.org.uk or mpegg@elcschool.org.uk