Interested in becoming an American Canoe Association L3 Instructor or stepping up your leadership and teaching skills? The Bay Area is one of the best classrooms for developing skills and building confidence as an instructor. You’ll have the chance to train and assess in an exciting environment with quick-changing conditions. For this course, the workshop and exam are each three days. Candidates participating in the combined IDW/ICE will commit a full week (7 days) that includes one rest day on March 11, 2027. 

Pricing:

• Combined IDW & ICE: $1,000

• IDW Only: $500

• ICE Only: $500 

• IDW Update: $500

Updating Candidates: For candidates looking to update their existing certification, you can choose either the IDW or the ICE. 

Book the IDW

Book the ICE

This IDW and ICE will be facilitated by Laura Zulliger (ACA L4 Instructor Trainer and L5 Instructor) and LouAnne Harris (L3 Instructor Trainer Candidate and L4 Instructor) will be hosted by Sea Trek in our Sausalito location. We’ll dive into understanding L3 conditions, teaching techniques, and maneuvers all while learning and testing new pedagogical approaches both on and off the water.

We will hone our teaching ability in tidal current up to 2 knots, wind up to 15 knots and surf up to 2 feet. We will focus on how to teach navigation, mitigate risk and manage incidents and provide effective coaching on technique. Please review the ACA’s L3 Instructor Criteria that was updated recently in 2025. The examination portion (ICE) will comprise three days in which candidates will be assessed while teaching actual practice students.

Pre-requisites: In order to participate as a candidate, you will need to complete an L3 Skills Assessment prior to the IDW or ICE. For ICE-only candidates, you will need to have taken an IDW within the past two years. 

PREREQUISITES

In order to participate as a candidate, you will need to complete an L3 Skills Assessment prior to the IDW or ICE. For ICE-only candidates, you will need to have taken an IDW within the past two years.