Level 2 and 3 Training and Assessments

[Maryanne]

Hey everybody!

There are about 10 club trips left this year and I'd like to gauge the interest for running level 2 and 3 training and assessment trips while there's still plenty of time to organise it all. I've tried to answer some of the obvious questions below, but if anyone has any more just post up and ask!

What's training?
Every river trip is an opportunity to have fun and improve your personal paddling and rescue skills, which is what we're all about as a club!
A specific level two or three training trip would be a concentrated version of that, where everyone gets the chance to work a little harder and really get the most out of the experience!

What are these "levels" you're on about?
There is a multitude of skills and techniques within the world of kayaking and the ICU (Irish Canoe Union, the national governing body for kayaking) has grouped a selection of these into levels and created 5 syllabi (ie sets of skills over 5 levels of difficulty).
It is of course possible to learn all of these skills independently of level-specific training or assessments, but they are a very useful guideline for teaching and a handy model on which to base your personal paddling development.

What is required for level two or three?
Check out the syllabus here -> http://canoe.ie/en-us/awardsqualifications/skillsawards.aspx#_Toc286832618
You do not need a L1 cert to do a L2 assessment or a L2 cert for a L3 assessment.
You do need a L3 and L4 certs to do L4 and L5 assessments respectively.

How much does training or an assessment cost?
I hope to run both the training and assessments for a minimal additional cost to a normal club trip (€10) thanks to the extraordinary network of UCDCC friendly instructors. When you pass an assessment the certificate costs €5.
Outside the club: L3 training = €140, L3 assessment = €50.

Why be assessed?
Does a piece of paper make you a better paddler? Well, no.

But here some of the reasons people go and do it anyway:

"I wanted to have something to brag about to my family and friends who don't kayak,
I can tell them I'm on level 2 or 3 out of 5.
It's something they can understand better than
'I rolled and got a really good line down Jacksons today!' "

"I'm interested in instructing
and you need a L3 certificate to become a L2 instructor,
a L4 cert to become a L3 instructor
and a L5 cert to become a L4 instructor."

"I wanted to enter the Liffey Descent,
Wacko on the Jacko and other events
without needing to be signed off by an instructor"

And finally...on a more immediate level, a note from your friendly neighbourhood safety officer:
Obviously seeing everyone have fun on a river trip and want to come back is the most important part of club trips!
However, I do love to see people learn and progress along the way, so I do my best to sort everyone into groups according to their proficiency whenever possible. Unfortunately I can't observe all the progress everyone makes, which is where certifications come in handy since they mean a qualified kayaking instructor has officially signed a paddler off as competent on a whole list of skills. That way it's easier to understand what they know and what level they're at. The more accurately I can group paddlers the more easily the instructors can cater for everyone and the more efficiently everyone can progress! At least, that's what I think.

So, if you're interested:
Sign up for a Level Two Assessment!
Sign up for a Level Three Assessment!

[Bogger]

Any chance of a cheeky level 2 CANOE Skills assessment?

-G

[kmck]

Canoe as in candian or canoe as in level 2 kayak?

[Tiny Tim]

for a canoe (canadian canoe) award you would need a canoe instructor as well as the boat and paddles and experience.