Is there a specific regimen of training and assessments through which interested sea kayakers work to attain guide certification? If there are various certifications, which is the most valuable in terms of learning the best kayak seamanship? In terms of guide employment value? Has anyone on the forum attended guide schools in the northeast USA? I live in southwestern Maine. Would you have any recommendations? Thanks in advance for your advice! Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Sunday 23 November 2003 01:55 pm, TomL wrote: > Is there a specific regimen of training and assessments through > which interested sea kayakers work to attain guide certification? There are the BCU and ACA certification courses, and then there's the "Master Maine Guide" certification as well. (see below for links). > If there are various certifications, which is the most valuable in > terms of learning the best kayak seamanship? In terms of guide > employment value? I haven't tried the BCU or ACA courses (haven't tried any courses! :-)), but there are several people on this list who have gone through, or are currently involved with these, so I'm sure they'll be happy to offer their opinions. > Has anyone on the forum attended guide schools in the northeast > USA? I live in southwestern Maine. Would you have any > recommendations? I just found these sites with a bit of Google searching on "Master Maine Guide". I'm in a bit of a rush to get out the door and on the water, but I'm sure you could find more: http://www.southernmaineguideservice.com/ http://www.eaglelodgemaine.com/guidesch.html -- Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
To guide in Maine you must pass the Maine Guide test administered by the state. Guiding without being a registered Maine Guide is illegal in Maine. The test includes a written and an oral section. If you want to guide kayaks you must also take the sea kayak portion of the test. This does not include any on-the-water testing. Their is no training required to take the test or to be a guide. If is conceivable that you can pass the test to be a registered Maine guide without ever having placed a paddle in the water. You can learn everything required to pass the test by reading books. The only qualifications required to guide in Maine is to be a registered Maine guide. Passing the test would probably guarantee your ability to get a job at one of the many outfitters which do 3-hour tours in Bar Harbor. The test is not easy, so there is demand for registered guides. However, having personally pulled a couple of registered guides out of the water when they did something really ignorant, I can tell you that doing what it takes to be a legally registered Maine Guide does not give you what you need to be any damn good. It is just the lowest requirement. Becoming a guide who can reliably keep guests safe and out of trouble requires experience. Classes will help learn some of the skills, but time on the water is the best training. Tom Berg at Maine Island Kayak gives guiding classes. I have not taken his classes, but he has an excellent reputation. Take some classes, get on the water, do some trips. Nick On Nov 23, 2003, at 4:55 PM, TomL wrote: > Is there a specific regimen of training and assessments through which > interested sea kayakers work to attain guide certification? > > If there are various certifications, which is the most valuable in > terms of learning the best kayak seamanship? In terms of guide > employment value? > > Has anyone on the forum attended guide schools in the northeast USA? I > live in southwestern Maine. Would you have any recommendations? > > Thanks in advance for your advice! > Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I don't know anything about guide certification for Maine, but the ACA's IDW (instructor development workshop) for coastal kayak instructor is the best kayak training I have ever taken. Very well rounded, with a strong emphasis on group management and safety of not-so-skilled paddlers. Here's a link: http://www.acanet.org/sei-bec-instructor.htm The certification (ICE) can be done after taking the IDW. Steve Brown -----Original Message----- Is there a specific regimen of training and assessments through which interested sea kayakers work to attain guide certification? If there are various certifications, which is the most valuable in terms of learning the best kayak seamanship? In terms of guide employment value? Has anyone on the forum attended guide schools in the northeast USA? I live in southwestern Maine. Would you have any recommendations? Thanks in advance for your advice! Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The ACA and BCU training that Melissa talks about, is more for instruction/ coaching than it is 'guiding'. While much of the info is similar the focus is on teaching paddlesports more than guiding peeps in the woods/ at sea. For trip leadership, my company requires the ACA cert 'and' our own guides training, which is focused on our own program and employees. good luck steve Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe N 45: 36.285' 250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr. W 122: 39.841' Portland, OR 97217 Web: www.aldercreek.com Phone: 503.285.0464 Email: aldercreek_at_qwest.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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