Courses and Certification Available

Greenwave proudly teaches courses by the Recreational Canoeing Association of BC. RCABC instructors certified by Greenwave have taught all over Canada and all over the world, including New Zealand, Costa Rica, Japan, and England. RCBAC is a world leader in developing canoe programming and prides itself in it's high standards. Leadership and safety development of the students is emphasized in every course. Moving Water courses are specifically designed to account for British Columbia's rivers with their cold water, continuous current, long rapids and hazards such as wood debris.

This is a list of certifications we are able to offer. In most cases they can be taught as shorter non-certification clinics as well.

RCABC Day and Expedition Guide

RCABC Guiding Certifications:

• Day Guide (prepares people to work for companies that offer short excursions)
• Expedition Guide (prepares people to work in a river expedition environment)

The Day and Expedition Guide Certificates by the Recreational Canoeing Association of British Columbia are created specifically to prepare students to enter the guiding industry. This certificate is a very thorough introduction to the rewarding but demanding role that day or expedition guides assume.

Wilderness Canoe Guiding is a job that requires a diverse set of skills, including:

• Paddling skill (tandem and solo)
• Large Variety of Rescue Skills
• Group Management
• Emergency Planning
• Camping and Cooking Skills
• Food Safety & Hygiene
• Emergency Scenarios
• Service Industry Attitude
• Leave No Trace
• Interpretive and Cultural Skills

RCABC Lakewater Instructor Levels 1 & 2

RCABC Lake Water Certifications:

• Basic or Advanced Tandem and Solo Skills
• Lakewater Leader (for camps and teachers)
• Lakewater Instructor Level 1 and 2 (ideal for teachers and camp leaders)

For more detail go the Lakewater section of the RCABC website.

Lakewater certifications are the bread and butter of canoeing certifications, and are the most widely taught courses. Skills, or "Paddler Level" courses teach technique and safety to get you out on the water safely. Here is some of the content in the most common course, RCABC Lakewater Basic Tandem:

• Forward, stopping and reverse
• Basic turns while paddling forward
• Spins and Sideslip manoeuvres
• Capsizes and Rescues
• Canoeing Safety guidelines and equipment
• Paddles, PFDs and other gear
• Storing and waterproofing gear
• Paddling positions and boat trim
• Handling waves and wind
• Launching and landing

Leader Certifications are 2-3 day courses specifically designed to develop leaders in youth group situations. Here is a summary:

• controling a canoe, both tandem and solo
• basic rescues in a leadership role
• equipping canoes and paddlers with safety gear
• safety and risk management concerns
• youth teaching and group management concepts
• running typical 1 hour canoe activities
• all other topics covered in Lakewater Level 1 and 2

Lakewater Instructor levels 1 & 2 take the leader skills up to a higher level, summarized here:

The Lakewater Instructor course is based on advancing a candidate to the point of being able to teach Lakewater Levels 1-2, so there is a heavy emphasis on that content. The content of the Lakewater Level 3 and some of Level 4 is also covered to advance the skills of the instructor candidate. Teaching and leadership content is an important part of the course:

• Teaching methods and group management
• Leadership and group safety
• Canoe design and construction

Passing instructor certification requires grading and testing. The focus of the testing is on the following skills and topics:

• RCABC Advanced Tandem Circuit (At a high proficiency level with the candidate in the stern calling the bow paddler's strokes)
• Teaching strokes, theory and manoeuvres
• Written theory exam
• A variety of Solo and Tandem rescues

Lakewater Level 1 is an excellent course for teachers or outdoor leaders to get groups out on the water and certify them.

RCABC Canoe Tripping

RCABC Canoe Tripping Certifications:

• Canoe Tripping Paddler level - ideal for school groups!
• Canoe Tripping Leader level - ideal for teachers or leaders of outdoor programs
• Canoe Tripping Instructor - allows certificate holders to certify Paddler and Leader levels

RCABC River Canoeing

Moving Water (River) Canoeing Certifications:

• Basic or Advanced Tandem and Solo (4 levels to chose from)
• Playboating (solo or tandem)
• Canoe based River Rescue Level 1 and 2 (specialized canoe based swiftwater rescue)
• Moving Water Instructor

Instructor and Instructor Trainer Development

Greenwave has trained at least 400 instructors and mentored many Instructor Trainers. If advancing your certification in any of the areas shown above is of interest to you, let us know!