Intro Solo Canoe Instructor Course

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Course Overview

Learn to adapt your teaching to your students, be flexible, and challenge yourself to be the best teacher you can be. Emphasis is placed on boat control, safety, river reading, and the beauty of whitewater canoeing!

Covered will be lesson planning, risk management, effective student analysis, and Paddle Canada course administration. Participants will get the chance to implement these skills and receive constructive feedback from the course instructors. Time will be spent both indoors and on the water.

Who is this Course for?

Anyone who is interested in teaching solo whitewater canoeing in a professional setting, or leading groups of canoeists on whitewater rivers. Participants must have Advanced Paddle Canada Skills Certification – we offer this course directly before the instructor course, for your convenience!

A current Paddle Canada Instructor Membership is also required ($99 annually to be paid directly to Paddle Canada). Click here to complete Instructor Candidate Registration.

*Level achieved is determined following evaluation

Please visit the Paddle Canada website to learn more about course curriculum and requirements to receive Instructor status.

Course Location

Our wilderness classroom is the beautiful Middle Madawaska River, located a short distance from our Resort, and just south of the town of Barry’s Bay, Ontario.

 

   

Cost

Instruction

$750

Accommodation + Meals

From $120-$555. See below for various accommodation & meal packages.

Rental Package

Rentals are included, but it is recommended to bring your own gear if possible.

All costs are in Canadian dollars & subject to 13% taxes

Accommodation + Meal Packages

Cozy Lodge rooms, off-the-grid Cabanas, budget-friendly Dorms or wooded Campsites. Our Wilderness Resort offers something for everyone.

Not Included: Instruction, Rentals & HST

Shared Lodge Plan* | $555

Our rustic Lodge rooms have everything you need! Choose either a queen bed or 2 twin beds. Rooms are at ground level with nearby washroom facilities (en suite not available). Meals included.

Shared Cabana Plan* | $555

Enjoy our off-the-grid Cabanas tucked in the woods! Choose either a queen bed or 2 twin beds. Washroom facilities are a short walk away. Meals included. No electricity.

Shared Glamping Plan* | $555

Come glamp in MKC's forest! Our newest accommodation options are cozy, comfortable, canvas tents. Two twin beds with bedding can be converted into a single queen bed. Washroom facilities are a short walk away. Meals included. No electricity.

Dormitory Plan* | $465

Dorm room accommodation sleep up to six per room. Dorms are on the second floor with nearby washroom facilities. Meals included. Bring your own bedding.

Camping Plan | $420

MKC's wooded campsites are great for tents, trailers and campervans. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, onsite parking, and access to nearby washroom facilities. Meals included. No electricity.

Camping No Meals | $120

MKC's wooded campsites are great for tents, trailers and campervans. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, onsite parking, and access to nearby washroom facilities. Bring your own camping and cooking equipment to enjoy meals at your site. Dishwashing station available. No electricity.

Check In

The evening before your course between 7 & 10pm

Check Out

Friday at 7pm

*For those booking for one for the Cabana, Lodge or Dorm: it is likely you will stay with other students of the same gender. As a wilderness resort we have chosen to not expand too far into our surrounding forest and therefore have limited indoor accommodations. To book a private room as an individual is an additional cost.

About our Meals

We take pride in serving healthy, hearty and delicious meals. As a proud member of FeastON, we source locally when possible and add our special touch with herbs and edible flowers from our own garden. Meals start with breakfast the first day of the course and include: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners plus an après-paddling snack. Coffee, tea and juice are complimentary. BYOB.

Locally roasted specialty coffee and homemade snacks can be purchased from our Riverside Shop & Café.

  

Industry Discounts

Outdoor industry professionals receive a discount.

What do folks think of the Canoe Instructor Course?

My goal in this course was to learn how to teach effectively to different experience levels, and this was achieved. All the lessons were well-prepared and flowed nicely. Watching videos of our own paddling and looking for ways to improve was very helpful. The atmosphere is great. Everyone seems to be happy here!

Josh D

May 17 - 19, 2025

BOOK NOW

Can’t find your preferred date? Let us know and we’ll do our best to help. Contact Us.

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Reviews

5 star ratingWhite water st madawaska kanoe club. MKC Thank you Tatiana and Reagan!!! Great fun family rafting guides. This us a affordable trip the whole family will enjoy. Will return for adventure rafting for sure!
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Teena S Avatar
Teena S
8/15/2024
5 star ratingExciting, fun experience! Great experience. Reagan did an awesome job on our family rafting experience. She along with her partner, Tatiana made us feel safe at all times. My 10 year old grandson had an amazing first time experience and can’t wait to come back to try the Adventure Rafting!
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Marg W Avatar
Marg W
8/16/2024
5 star ratingA great time. I highly recommend MKC This was my 3rd, five day white water kayaking trip with MKC. It was another fabulous week.

I always choose the all inclusive option. I camp, but there are a number of indoor options for those who prefer that. I select the full meal plan, as I really don't want to do my own cooking before I paddle, or after a long day on the water. Don't let the young cooks worry you. (They're students working the summer months. Some of them are in culinary arts training.) The meals are better that a lot of restaurants. There's always vegetarian options at every meal. I like this because, and I like variety, and sometimes I want a change.

It doesn't matter what your skill level is, you'll have fun and will learn. On this last trip, there was a couple in their 80s, who wanted a new adventure to try out. How great is that. The instructors/guides always give positive feedback. You'll never hear you did anything wrong. (Typically, you all ready figured that out.) The guide will say something like: "Try this technique, and see how you like it." The guide will then demonstrate the technique a couple of times, and watch you trying it, while shouting encouragement to you. Plus, the rest of the people in your group will be cheering you on. When someone in the group does their first practice roll, or any combat roll, the cheers are thunderous. The grin on the person who just did the roll, says it all.

This year I was in seniors week. (I'm 73.) Virtually everyone had their own equipment. No worries if you need gear. MKC has excellent equipment, and will outfit you with everything you need, appropriate to your experience level. If you want to try a performance boat, they'll let you try one.

All in all, it's a great experience. I plan to return next year for my 4th time.

Give it a try!

Alan - Registered Maine Guide in Sea Kayaking
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Sky K Avatar
Sky K
9/08/2024
Wednesday November 27th

Early bird sale.

20% OFF

KAYAK AND CANOE PROGRAMS AT MKC

Please get in touch with us prior, so we can prepare your quote in advance.

early bird sale heron
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Must place deposit between 9am and 6pm EST November 27th to receive discount.

We cannot combine discounts.

March 4th - 8th 2024

10% off

5 day kayak + canoe courses

5% of all revenue from this week is donated to your choice of three organizations

We are forever grateful for the support we continually receive from our communities. To say a small thanks, we want to give back.

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