ACA Regional Activity Council leaders and Kayaking 101 use partnerships to amplify the impact of volunteer contributions for 10X community impact among the paddlers most at risk
For the fourth year in a row, ACA grassroots leaders brought together paddling leaders from across our communities to teach Kayaking 101 classes to beginner paddlers to kick off National Safe Boating Week. In 2024, this initiative was awarded the Community Impact award from the National Safe Boating Council as a successful, volunteer-led initiative having significant impact on the paddlers who, according to the US Coast Guard, are statistically most at risk of incidents and fatalities. Beginning in 2022 with only one state and 12 locations, in 2025 our paddlesports communities rallied to provide simultaneous Kayaking 101 classes in 33 locations across 5 states in collaboration with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, 7 state agencies, the US Army Corps of Engineers and 52 community partners including paddling clubs, outfitters, schools, and other stakeholders. In total, 170 volunteers taught 352 students in one day across 5 states: North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia. The collective effort also generated significant media including 3 network tv interviews in major media markets, a mention on NPR and 19 additional news stories.
A Strategic Push for 10X Impact
This initiative began in 2022 under the leadership of the ACA Regional Activity Council (RAC), ACA Regional Chairs and ACA State Directors in partnership with public lands agencies like State Parks, State Wildlife Commissions and the US Army Corps of Engineers and fueled by the contributions of individual ACA instructors, individual community volunteers, paddling clubs, outfitters, local US Coast Guard Auxiliary flotillas, and other stakeholders in the paddlesports community. The fundamental premise of the event is that when each person brings their contribution to bear they have a 1X impact from the effort they expend, but when we all bring our parts together, strategically so that we leverage contributions from volunteers, agencies and community partners until they compound and amplify each other, then we are able to have a 10X impact from the same amount of effort.
Additionally, in paddlesports our community often celebrates elite achievements, elite status and praising the people at the top of the paddlesports power structures. The Kayaking 101 Partnership is an annual event that recognizes and celebrates leadership at all levels across the community to deliver a community-based and teamwork-driven training event to cut through the noise of the general media marketplace and change the trajectory of beginners in our sport. We are celebrating leaders of all kinds and from all corners of our communities who come together once a year to reach more beginner paddlers than any of us could teach on our own in a day.
“This event leverages National Safe Boating Week to really let our ACA grassroots and paddlesports community leaders shine as we combine our collective efforts to help beginner paddlers across the region,” says Andrea White, Kayaking 101 Partnership co-founder who serves as ACA Southeast Regional Chair and RAC Executive Committee member. “By working in partnership we apply the principles of mechanical advantage to community-based training and realize results that none of us could accomplish alone.”
In 2025 the Kayaking 101 Partnership benefitted from the collective efforts of 170 volunteers, 7 state agencies, the US Army Corps of Engineers and US Coast Guard Auxiliary and 52 community partners to successfully teach 352 paddlers in one day. Additionally, we secured an interview on the ABC affiliate and a mention on NPR in the Nashville market, an interview on the NBC affiliate in the Atlanta market, and a recurring live shot on the Good Day Atlanta show on the Fox affiliate in the Atlanta market, as well as 19 additional news stories and a significant online presence on social media showing paddlers having fun learning to be safe.
These media hits in major media markets mean that hundreds of thousands more casual paddlers heard our messages about safe boating and the value of a day of ACA training than we can typically reach in person. And those messages were coupled with links to the free ACA online safety course and links to local community organizations where people can find additional classes and resources.
Highlights and Media:
- Georgia 2025 Kayaking 101 Partnership Highlights Reel:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14xd37zCXh/ - Tennessee 2025 Kayaking 101 Partnership Highlights Reel:
{INSERT LINK} - Interview on NBC affiliate in Atlanta: Safe Boating Week | How to stay safe on the water this summer | 11alive.com
- Interview on Good Day Atlanta on Fox affiliate in Atlanta: Low-cost ‘Kayaking 101’ classes offered this Saturday | FOX 5 Atlanta
- Additional interview with USACE on Good Day Atlanta on Fox affiliate in Atlanta: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ARwRp8uew/
- Interview on ABC affiliate in Nashville: TWRA, TN State Parks offering basic kayaking courses
- Full 2025 Kayaking 101 Partnership media catalog:
{INSERT LINK}
North Carolina: 13 Events Statewide & Milestones for Youth and Diversity
ACA North Carolina, partnered with North Carolina State Parks, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, 63 individual volunteers from across ACA North Carolina, and 17 local partners to offer Kayaking 101 in 13 locations throughout the state, training a total of 123 students in one day.
Our River class was able to get on the river this year and despite the ominous weather forecast, all locations were able to get quality on-water paddling time which is great. Several locations also offered kayak and stand up paddleboard (SUP) training, while others included canoe instruction. Students appreciated the opportunity to try multiple types of paddlecraft, further enhancing their skills and confidence. In addition to the huge success of the overall event itself, ACA North Carolina raised over $2,000 that will be donated to Western North Carolina to help with the recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene.
One highlight was the first-ever youth Kayaking 101 class, with 15 young paddlers led by ACA Instructor Trainer Chris Wing and supported by ACA Competition Director Jed Hinkley and U.S. Slalom National Team Members Bug Lokken and Marcella Altman. This class, coordinated by Tory Thompson, marked a major milestone for youth engagement in paddlesports, showcasing the rapid growth of youth competition in North Carolina.
The ACA North Carolina Kayaking 101 Partnership leadership team included ACA North Carolina State Director William Holman, State Park Ranger and ACA Instructor Trainer Jake Vitak, and Coast Guard Auxiliary Paddlecraft Safety Division Chief Roland McDevitt. In addition to North Carolina State Parks, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, local partners included: Carolina Kayak Club, Carolina Canoe Club, Piedmont Paddlesports, H2O Dreams, Knee Deep Adventures, Frog Hollow Outdoors, Paddle NC, Kitty Hawk Kites, Paddling for Pennies, City of Raleigh, Yadkin Riverkeeper, City of High Point, Catawba Riverkeeper, Team River Runner Fayetteville, Elon University, Get Outdoors Pedal and Paddle, and Cape Fear River Adventures.
First-ever youth kayaking 101 course held as part of National Safe Boating week, held at Lake Norman YMCA in Cornelius, NC.
Georgia: Expanding Statewide Impact and Amplifying Messages of Safe Boating on Good Day Atlanta
- Georgia 2025 Kayaking 101 Partnership Highlights Reel:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14xd37zCXh/
Georgia celebrated its second year of Kayaking 101 Partnership events for National Safe Boating Week with activities at seven locations across the state working in partnership with US Army Corps of Engineers, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Georgia Rivers, Georgia Power, Trust for Public Land and 13 additional local partners. A team of 21 ACA Instructors and 27 additional volunteers trained 75 new paddlers, offering a mix of flatwater, river, and coastal kayaking instruction.
The partnership in Georgia culminated in a Safe Boating Week proclamation from Governor Brian Kemp with a shoutout to ACA Georgia and Kayaking 101 partners. Media outreach about the proclamation resulted in a Kayaking 101 interview on the NBC affiliate, 11Alive in Atlanta on the morning show. Additional media efforts secured a 3 hour recurring live spot on the Good Day Atlanta show on the Atlanta Fox affiliate for Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day including an on water Kayaking 101 interview as well as a Kayaking 101 interview with Georgia Rivers and the US Army Corps of Engineers and several additional news stories.
In addition to the fun times on the water at Kayaking 101, many of the 75 students in Georgia are reportedly already signing up for additional classes and paddling trips with Kayaking 101 partner organizations supporting our communal efforts to help beginners gain positive first experiences on the water that build safety habits and convert casual paddlers to committed paddlers.
The ACA Georgia Kayaking 101 Partnership leadership team included ACA Georgia State Director Paul Winget, ACA Southeastern Chair Andrea White, and the Fish Georgia Rivers Program Coordinator Kendon Townsel. This expansive effort was made possible through partnerships with Georgia Rivers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Allatoona Lake, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Georgia Power, Trust for Public Land, Forsyth County Parks and Recreation, Nantahala Outdoor Center, City of Chattahoochee Hills, Chattahoochee River Lands, Moon River Kayak Tours, Middle GA Kayaking, Kayak Trips and Training, Georgia Canoeing Association, Whitewater Express- Columbus GA, Festive Water Paddlesports, Wild Wood Outfitters, Coosa River Basin Initiative, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Westbrook Supply Co.

Kayaking 101 course held as part of National Safe Boating week,
held at Allatoona Lake in Acworth, GA.
Tennessee: 10 locations statewide including specialty opportunities to learn Kayak Fishing and Adaptive Kayaking
- Tennessee 2025 Kayaking 101 Partnership Highlights Reel:
(INSERT LINK)
(INSERT PHOTO WITH LINK)
ACA Tennessee, partnered with Tennessee State Parks, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, 50?? individual volunteers from ACA Tennessee and the paddlesports community, as well as 14 local partners to offer Kayaking 101 in 10 locations throughout the state, training a total of 130 students in one day.
Highlights across the state included a mixture of lake and river classes as well as specialty classes for newcomers focused on Kayak Fishing and Adaptive Paddling. We also were able to secure a mention on NPR in the Nashville media market as well as an interview on the local ABC affiliate station in Nashville and 11 other news stories to help spread the word.
At David Crockett Birthplace State Park – a perennial and enthusiastic Kayaking 101 partner – the park is still closed due to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in the region. Unwilling to be left out of the National Safe Boating week activities, park rangers joined leaders from the local paddling club, Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts, to publish a safety video on social media.
The ACA Tennessee Kayaking 101 Partnership leadership team included ACA Tennessee State Director ANDe Demetriou, ACA Event Coordinator and Chota Canoe Club leader Kim Abney, ACA Southeastern Chair Andrea White, as well as Tennessee State Parks partners Laura Franklin and Leigh Hardcastle. In addition to Tennessee State Parks and TWRA, local partners included: Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts; Blues City Kayaks; Bluff City Canoe Club; Catalyst Sports; Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Services; Chota Canoe Club; East Tennessee Whitewater Club; Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute; Team River Runner-Atlanta; Tennessee RiverLine; Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association; Tennessee Valley Canoe Club; Tennessee Kayak Anglers; and West Tennessee Canoe and Kayak Club, and the local instructors and volunteers of ACA Tennessee.

Kayaking 101 course held as part of National Safe Boating week,
held at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park near Memphis, TN.
South Carolina: Tailored Efforts at 2 Locations Spread the Word about Safe Boating
Working in partnership with South Carolina State Parks and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, ACA South Carolina led tailored classes at 2 locations thanks to the efforts of 7 volunteers and 5 local partners.
The ACA South Carolina Kayaking 101 Partnership leadership team included ACA South Carolina State Director and RAC Vice Chair Geoffrey Chambers, RAC Secretary Bev Cosslett, South Carolina State Parks partners Terry Conway and Jim Stanton, South Carolina DNR representative Phillip Robertson, US Coast Guard Auxiliary representative Walter Runck and US Coast Guard representative and ACA Instructor Trainer Scott Szczepaniak supported by contributions from Low Country Paddlers, Augusta Canoe and Kayak Club, Sun City Indian Land Paddling Club, and Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Commission.

ACA Instructor Trainer Scott Szczepaniak with students at Aiken State Park
Virginia: Friends of the Rappahannock Trip Leader Training
In Fredericksburg, Virginia, National Safe Boating Week on-water training took the form of an ACA River Kayak Day Trip Leader course for Friends of the Rappahannock’s environmental educators. The session combined a classroom portion with 16 participants and an on-water portion with 12 paddlers. Utilizing the new ACA Smart Start for Safe Paddling book as a framework, participants practiced strokes and rescues on flatwater before tackling a class II+ section of the Rappahannock River. Key lessons focused on trip planning, making go/no-go decisions, rescue scenarios, and sound judgment—critical skills for safe group paddling.

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