3 New Canoe Instructors

[Walter Felton]

Most of you know that the Arkansas Canoe Club sponsored a whitewater canoe instructor workshop this spring. The development weekend was several weeks ago and the certification exam was this past weekend. The initial plan was to have the ICE in Arkansas but the lack of water forced us to travel to North Carolina. There of the six candidates were unable to make the journey to NC due to family and logistical issue. However three candidates and three support instructors did make the journey to the Nantahala river and Sylva North Carolina.

The 3 candidates (Adam Willard, Tom Kennon, and Steve Shepherd) struggled with injuries, fatigue, and stress to complete the process and all three certified as whitewater instructors in both tandem and solo canoes. This is a long and difficult process and they should be very proud of their accomplishments. Hopefully the three that could not make the trip can complete the process at a future event.

Additionally the three support instructors (Arthur Bowie, Marcell Jones, and Larry Pearce) that made the trip received and update to their certification.

The dedication of these six Arkansas Canoe Club members, and others like is what has made our club what it is today. They will continue to influence boaters and provide quality paddle training for many years into the future.

Walter Felton

[Eric Esche]

Congratulations to Walter and our newest instructors and to those who renewed. They worked hard to do this while many of us were playing and I know it was not without cost on many levels. You did it not for yourselves, but for all of us. You all have my respect, although you had it before this achievement, as it is who you are, just now higher and deeper.

All joking aside, may y'all never thirst - my cooler is always open to y'all. If you ever need help in any way - ask.

Thank you.

Eric Esche

[T Yamashita]

Waay to go!!!!
ty

[GN YAKN]

So, do we have a new canoe IT??!?!? What is the status of that project? Hope it's just a matter of mailing in a check and learning a new secret handshake!!!

Thanks Mr. Felton!

[PattiV]

Congratulations to everyone!!!

I have a very good idea of what the three new instructors went through to get to this point and they deserve a big hand. I fully appreciate now the amount of effort, energy, time and dedication that it takes to become an ACA certified instructor. It is a process not for the faint of heart! :shock:

The club is lucky that individuals continue to step up and get their certifications so that the activities of the ACC can continue. Without the certified instructors, we can't provide the instructional opportunities that we are able to do.

Again, pats on the back to all of the new instructors!

[OzarkTom]

Well Done!!

Thanks to all of you for helping our club maintain a solid group of top quality instructors. As has been said already, without your efforts and the efforts of all our instructors, events such as Canoe School and Rec School couldn't exist.

Your hard work and dedication is appreciated by us all.

Cheers!!

Tom

[Randy Dodson]

congrats Adam, and i'm sorry you never get to spend any time in your Ocoee if I'm around.

congrats Steve, the man with too many boats, which will come in handy as an instructor.

congrats Tom, the man who wrote the book.

[Walter Felton]

Hey Dave, yes the ACC does have an new canoe IT. I have completed the teaching requirements. There are still some adminstrative items to be taken care of and a review of the paper work by the ACA standards committee. So it may be a few months before it is official assuming it passes the acid test with the committee.

I can't say enough good things about the group that took part in this process. That includes everyone involved, the support staff, the candidates that both could and could not make the trip to NC, the support instructors, and the group that did the same process a couple of years ago that was the first step. This was not achieved by one person but by the entire group.

Walter Felton

[David L]

Congratulations to all of our new canoe instructors--I know you all put in a lot of hard work, but hopefully it was a fun and rewarding process. Congats, also, to Walter; this is a very impressive accomplishment.

[Roger]

Props to all! Walter, it's a cinch!

[Tim Eubanks]

Way to go guys! You should get a certificate of endurance for putting up with Marcel, Arthur,and Walter for 3 days as well.
Now you just need some students!

[T Yamashita]

Great going on the IT status. Doesn't that automatically put you into a permanent ACC board seat?!!!

Thanks for making such a large commitment to the club. I guess that means the rest of us need to do our part to keep the ball rollin'.

ty