General Aims

The Level 2 Open Canoe Instructor qualification aims to enable participants to:

1. Become qualified to instruct basic open canoeing skills and lead open canoeing journeys on flat water with groups of up to 6 students.

2. Train and Assess for the Levels 1 & 2 Open Canoe Skills Award

3. Teach basic River Safety and Rescue and run RSR 1 Training Courses

4. Mentor Level 2 Canoe Instructor trainees.

5. The Level 2 Instructor is specifically not qualified to journey across a lake or more than 50 metres offshore.

Attendance Requirements

Before applying to attend a Level 1 Kayak Instructor Training Course, a candidate must:

  • Have begun training for the Level 3 Canoe Skills Award
  • Be registered as a member with Canoeing Ireland.
  • Be at least 16 years of age at the time of application.
  • Have unrestricted access to a fully equipped canoe, personal equipment, and additional equipment as listed for a Level 2 Canoe Instructor Assessment.

Course Outline

The Level 2 Canoe Instructor requires that a candidate attend a registered two-day Level 2 Canoe Instructor training course (or a programme of similar duration) and a half day assessment.

The training course comprises of practical and theory sessions that try to allow participants to engage in learning opportunities to explore their own instructional skills development.

The training course are usually tailored as much as possible to groups of participants attending the course, but the training course is structured to cover a number of knowledge areas, these are as follows:

  • Personal and technical skills knowledge
  • Communication
  • Session Planning and logistics
  • Safety and rescue and risk assessment
  • Professional Practice

Course Documents

Please consult the following documents prior to applying for an assessment to ensure you have complete the relevant training and certification, and for details on the format of the assessment –