Sea Kayak Skills Training

Sea Kayak Skills Training

We are devoted to providing skills trainings for current ETC Guides. In the Sea Kayak Program this takes two forms. To allow opportunities for guides to practice skills covered in Sea Kayak Guide School, we offer at least one  Skills Refresher annually. We also offer Skills Builders, which are opportunities for Guides to take classes to further develop sea kayaking, group leadership, and teaching skills and build upon what they learned in Sea Kayak Guide School. See below for more information:

Skills Refreshers

Skills Refreshers offer current Guides and AGs the opportunity to practice the skills ETC expects of all current Guides. They are fun days on the water, and Guides and AGs of all skill levels are encouraged to attend one each season. If you have not performed a self rescue in the past two years and are looking to progress from an AG to a Guide, this is the perfect opportunity to practice and demonstrate that skill. Please prepare for submersions and email the Program Manager if you need to borrow a wetsuit.

Skills Refreshers may cover the following topics, depending on the needs of attendees:

• Equipment Storage Locations
• Boat and Paddle Talks
• Stroke Review
• Towing
• Paddle Float Rescue
• T-Rescue and Dump and Pump

Who: All ETC Guides regardless of skill level are encouraged to attend one each year. Sessions are limited to 8 participants.

Dates: 2024 dates TBD
Start Time: 9:00AM
Approximate End Time: 4:00PM
Location: Sausalito
Sign Up: Email Gracie at kayak@etctrips.org

Skills Builders

Skills Builders offer an opportunity for current Guides to develop skills beyond what is covered in training. Each Skills Builder focuses on a specific topic, some that apply directly to leading ETC trips and others that are simply opportunities for current guides to continue learning more as kayakers and outdoor educators.

The Next Generation of Science / Environmental Education (Led by Bec Detrich)
Workshop led by environmental educator and outdoor program director Bec Detrich. Bec will teach best practices for how to encourage participants to engage with their surroundings. Strengthen your EEL skills and learn how to ask questions that stimulate people’s sense of wonder!

Date: (Future Dates To Be Announced)
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Approximate End Time: 9:00 PM
Location: San Francisco Location TBD
Sign Up: Email Rose at kayak@etctrips.org

Rescues of People with Disabilities (Led by Adam Krey)
If a blind person or a paraplegic capsizes, how can you keep them safe and help them to efficiently re-enter their boat?  In this hands-on practice day, we will practice rescues of participant boats, and will simulate a number of disabilities so that everyone gains practice with these important skills.

Date: (Future Dates To Be Announced)
Start Time: 8:30 AM
Approximate End Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Meet at the ETC Containers in Sausalito
Sign Up: Email Rose at kayak@etctrips.org

Presentations from Skills Builders

Weren’t able to make it to a training that interested you?  Made it to the training but want copies of the slides?  Here you go – download away!

• July 2011, SF Bay Ecology
• July 2011, SF Bay Habitat Restoration Projects
• August 2014, Coast Guard 101
• November 2014, Plastics, the Ocean, and You
• April 2015, Working with Youth, Handout 1 and Handout 2
• June 2017, Tides and Currents, plus Video 1 and Video 2
• September 2017, Games on the Beach – Handout on 5-Question Debrief