Leadership and Safety
Leadership
Find yourself showing your friends the way on the river? Are you the one working out the shuttle logistics? Maybe you want to take the first steps of turning your hobby into a career?
With our 2-day PaddleUK White Water Leader Training courses, we dive deep into safe river leadership strategies, planning adventures on the river, equipment and practical scenarios you might encounter as a leader.
What is included:
Professional coaching from a qualified and highly experienced tutor.
PaddleUK registered training course.
A comprehensive action plan to help you continue your development.
Digital copies of any pictures and videos taken during your course.
What is not included:
Parking or facilities fees at venues
Accommodation or transportation
Equipment hire (unless prearranged and agreed).
What do you need to bring:
White water appropriate kayak
Personal paddling equipment suitable for the environment.
Suitable closed toe footwear with solid and grippy sole.
Any group or leadership kit you might already have.
A section of this course will cover the extra equipment we might carry and use as a white water leader and gain hands on experience using it. Please don't feel you need to go out and buy all the kit before the course, there will be plenty of examples available to try. If you would like any advice on equipment before the course, please contact us and we will be able to help.
Cost:
Our White Water Leader Training are £220 per person including registration fee.
Up coming course:
12-13/10/2026 - 2 Days - Perthshire
21-22/11/2026 - 2 Days - Perthshire/West coast Scotland
Safety
Safety is one of the most important part of our paddling journey, but it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom and serious, we put the focus on fun learning and practicing the things you need to know to keep you and your paddling team safe.
Our 2 day PaddleUK White Water Safety Trainings cover a wide range of the tools, techniques and strategies you and your team might use paddling together and help give you a feeling of independence on the river.
What is included:
Professional coaching from a qualified and highly experienced tutor, including certification fees.
A comprehensive action plan to help you continue your development.
Digital copies of any pictures and videos taken during your course.
What is not included:
Parking or facilities fees at venues
Accommodation or transportation
Equipment hire (unless prearranged and agreed).
What do you need to bring:
Craft you usually paddle (please let us know what craft you intend to bring)
Personal paddling equipment suitable for repeated immersion in cold water.
Suitable closed toe footwear with solid and grippy sole.
15m minimum throwline (8mm rope thickness or above) with floating line.
Sling or webbing tape with a loop at one or both ends.
2-3 locking carabiners, preferably HMS shaped
Sharp river knife
White water PFD with releasable rescue harness
Whistle (designed to be used whilst wet)
We understand this is a comprehensive list and part of the course is learning about what kit you might want or need, if there is anything you don't have please let us know and we can help advise you on what to get.
Cost:
Our White Water Safety Training are £220 per person including certification fee.
Up coming courses:
10-11/10/2026 - 2 Days - Perthshire
19-20/11/2026 - 2 Days - Perthshire
Leader Assessments
Here at the White Water Adventure Academy, we understand that assessments can feel a little daunting and like a big step to take. We don't put on dates for you to sign up to, we are here and ready to help you with this part of your journey when you are ready.
What to expect:
We want to give you the opportunity to treat your day completely as your own, find your participants, plan your day with them on the river and show us how you provide a safe, fun participant focused day on the water.
We strive to make every assessment as realistic as possible and use real life situations where ever we can. Where this might not be possible, we will set up scenarios as closely mimic what you might encounter on a day journeying through white water.
At the end of the day, you will get a comprehensive debrief, and no matter the outcome, a clear and agreed plan on continuing your learning and journey as a white water leader.
What is included:
Supportive leadership assessment, including certification fees.
A comprehensive action plan to help you continue your development.
Pre-assessment call or meeting to help answer any questions and discuss how the day will run.
What is not included:
Parking or facilities fees at venues.
Prerequisite administration fees with your home nation governing body.
Accommodation or transportation
Equipment hire (unless prearranged and agreed).
What do you need to bring:
3-4 participants for you to lead on the river. They need to be able to make moves in the environment, but need leading in the environment
All person paddling equipment and group equipment needed to lead in the white water environment.
Proof of registration with your home nation governing body and prerequisites for the award.
Cost:
We can offer assessments for individuals or two candidates, if you would like to share the day with another candidate. Individual assessments are £250 and two candidate assessments are £200 per candidate.
For further information on the exact requirements from Paddle UK, please follow the link and download the White Water Leader Assessment Guidance and White Water Leader Skills Checklist. https://britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/leadership-moderate-water/
If you feel ready, drop us an email and lets make your day come to life.
