Paddlesport Leader and Paddlesport Touring Leader
The primary role of the Leader is to lead, to supervise, or facilitate safe, quality, enjoyable trips/sessions based on their group’s needs and aspirations. Specifically a Paddlesport Touring Leader can lead a group on the open inland water environment and on slow moving water, slow-moving rivers up to and including grade 1, and which may include the occasional short rapid of grade 2 and simple safe weirs.
You will be able to provide British Canoeing Awards and Training such as:
- Personal Performance Awards – Paddle Start, Paddle Discover, Paddle Explore, Touring Award, Open Water Touring Award and Multi Day Touring Award๏ปฟ
Note: other experience, training or qualifications may be required.
Informal learning, experience based learning and an availability of individualised choices are important to developing skilled Leaders.
To supplement this, British Canoeing provides quality training opportunities for those that seek them. It is important that you take an active role in deciding the appropriate preparation, training and experience that you need prior to presenting yourself for assessment. Guidance is offered below to help you construct this personalised development journey.
- The British Canoeing Leader self-analysis tool will aid you in identifying specific areas of development, helping you to plan your own unique learning journey. Based on your responses you will be provided an indication of areas that you may need to consider for your development. Click here to access the Leader Self-Analysis Tool.
- The digital library is full of resources to support you in your understanding and knowledge, alongside other eLearning such as buoyage, nutrition and looking after the environment.
- The downloadable logbook gives you the option to record your experience, forming a diary to capture and aid reflection. This will help you consider your progress ahead of an assessment as well as keeping a record once qualified.
- The guidance for leading mixed craft is ideal if you’re looking to become a Paddlesport Leader or Paddlesport Touring Leader. Whether you’re driving 20 miles down the road to a new location or planning an overseas expedition, the leading in an unfamiliar environment resource will provide top tips and considerations.
- You may also wish to consider the following more specific British Canoeing courses for some targeted development:
- British Canoeing Safety Training or Navigation Training
- Personal Skills Training with Personal Performance Awards
- British Canoeing Guide Modules๏ปฟ
Paddlesport Leader & Paddlesport Touring Leader Overview
Minimum Age
16 years.
Duration
Optional training /1-2 day Assessment.
Prerequisites
- Valid (within 3 years) British Canoeing Awarding Body recognised 1-day First Aid Award
- Valid (within 3 years) Safeguarding Training recognised by British Canoeing Awarding Body
Course Documents
View the associated documents for the course, please click here.
Registration
You will need to register with Paddle Scotland ahead of assessment.
Optional British Canoeing Awarding Body Training
British Canoeing Leadership Training courses are available across all of the pathways to support you in your development of the required skills. These courses typically cover leadership skills and the associated personal skills, safety and rescue skills. As this training is delivered by British Canoeing Leadership Providers, they will also be able to help you identify an appropriate action plan to support your progress towards a successful assessment. This is the comprehensive option; courses are normally offered as 2-5 day programmes, with longer courses providing more time for you to practice and develop the skills.
Other Training Opportunities
There are lots of experienced leaders who can support you in your development in a personalised and individualised way. For example, in-house training at your club or work-place, working alongside of shadowing other leaders, private tuition or conferences, symposiums and workshops, the list is endless! You could also work with a Leadership Provider on an individualised programme as they have explicit knowledge of the award requirements.
Course Assessment
We do everything we can to take the stress out of assessments, we are focused on the journey and not the destination. The experience will be safe, engaging and enjoyable, with you at the heart of the process, involving you in as much of the decision making as possible.
By the end of the assessment, you will have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in four areas:
- Participant focused leadership skills
- Personal paddling skills
- Rescue skills
- Underpinning background knowledge, understanding and experience
Help and Support Ahed of your Assessment
Every leader will prepare differently for their assessment. The resources, courses and other support outlined above will help give you the best chance of success.
If you’re nervous about your assessment and want to make sure you’re ready, why not ask a Paddlesport Touring Leader Provider to check your readiness for assessment?
The assessment takes place over 1 or 2 days depending on the logistics relating to access to suitable environments.
