Level 2 Instructor
Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2 Instructor: The Mentorship Pathway
The Level 2 Instructor certification marks your transition into leadership in dynamic coastal environments. At Kayak Ontario, we believe this level of responsibility is best developed through a professional mentorship approach rather than a traditional classroom setting.
By choosing this pathway, you won't just be a student in a course; you will be an apprentice instructor on active Level 2 Skills courses, learning to manage real students in real-world conditions.
The Mentorship Journey: A Two-Stage Process
To be successful and earn your certification, you must participate in two distinct mentorship phases. This "double-immersion" ensures you have the time to move from observing excellence to executing it.
Mentorship 1: The Observer-Assistant
During your first placement on an active Level 2 Skills course, your focus is on the "Instructor's Eye." You will work closely with your Mentor to observe student behavior, analyze stroke mechanics in rough water, and understand the logic behind site selection and risk management. You act as a secondary safety net and a "helpful assistant," learning the flow of a professional program.
Mentorship 2: The Lead-Apprentice
In your second placement, the roles shift. Under the direct supervision and mentorship of your Instructor Trainer, you will take on a significant leadership role. You will be responsible for planning and delivering core modules, managing group dynamics in Class 2 conditions, and providing high-level technical feedback to students.
This approach far exceeds Paddle Canada's minimum standard. Teaching at this level effectively takes a significant amount of preparation and experience. We feel this is your best chance to learn and grow.
Why Two Placements?
Experience cannot be rushed. Coming twice allows you to apply the reflections from your first course to the leadership challenges of the second. This iterative process is what builds the judgment necessary to keep students safe in 1-meter seas and 19-knot winds.
The Kayak Ontario Advantage: Blended Learning
Because your time on the water is dedicated to active mentoring, we move the "heavy lifting" of theory to our fully functional Learning Management System (LMS).
- 9 Modules & 40+ Lessons: Master advanced navigation, weather forecasting, and adult education theory before you arrive.
- Case Studies: Analyze real-world incident management scenarios so you can discuss "what-ifs" with your mentor with a solid theoretical baseline.
- Professional Toolkit: Access lesson plans and evaluation rubrics that you will use during your Lead-Apprentice phase.
Skills, Coaching, and Inclusion
Level 2 instruction is about technical grace over brute force.
- All Bodies Welcome: We mentor you on how to teach advanced rescues and strokes to students of all shapes and sizes. A great instructor doesn't just show how they do it; they show how the student can do it.
- Form Over Force: We prioritize efficiency. You will be mentored to use body mechanics to manage rough water, ensuring you have the energy to focus on your students' safety rather than your own survival.
Prerequisites
- Minimum age: 18
- Certification: Paddle Canada Level 3 Skills and Level 1 Instructor.
- Teaching Experience: Logged at least 15 days of instruction (including leading two Level 1 Skills courses).
- Other: Marine Radio Operators License (ROC-M) and Wilderness First Aid (16 hr) with CPR.
Certification and Career Pathways
Successful completion of the mentorship process earns you the Paddle Canada Level 2 Instructor certification. This allows you to lead multi-day trips and certify students up to Level 2 Skills. We view our L2 Apprentices as future peers, and we are proud to see many of them go on to start their own businesses or work as lead guides in the Great Lakes and beyond.
How to Start
Since this is a mentored approach, registration begins with an assistant role. We will look at our upcoming Level 2 Skills course calendar and find the two placements that best fit your schedule and development goals. It can be in one season or over multiple years. To take a lead mentorship, your assistant role must be previously completed with Kayak Ontario.
