If you love spending time on the water and would like to share that passion with others, the Paddlesport Instructor course is a great place to start. This qualification is your first step towards delivering fun, engaging taster and starter paddlesport sessions for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Paddlesport Instructor qualification is widely recognised and used by outdoor centres, clubs and organisations across the country. Whether your interest lies in canoeing, kayaking, sit-on-top kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, the course helps you build the skills, confidence and understanding needed to become an effective and supportive instructor.

The course is open to anyone aged 14 and over and is suitable across all paddlesport disciplines. Learning takes place in a practical, hands-on environment with experienced tutors who will support and encourage you throughout. Alongside developing your instructional skills, you’ll also improve your own paddling ability and enjoy meeting other like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for paddlesport.

During the course, you will learn how to prepare groups for paddlesport sessions, including kitting up and getting safely afloat. You’ll gain experience delivering fun games, activities and short journeys, while supporting participants as they learn basic paddling skills. The course also covers how to plan inspiring sessions that encourage adventure and exploration, how to choose appropriate equipment for different participants, and how to maintain safety through good judgement and effective deployment. You will also learn practical tips and techniques for overcoming common challenges that instructors face on the water.

The course includes a hot breakfast, a packed lunch and refreshments on both days to keep you well fuelled. Accommodation can be requested and is subject to availability. There is also optional free access to the Paddlesport Instructor eLearning and the full course guide, providing additional support before, during and after the course- Paddlesport Instructor Course Guide