ACA Packraft Instructor Course

    ACA Packraft Instructor Course

    Book This Course
    ACA Packraft Instructor Course

    ACA Packraft Instructor Course

    Book This Course
    June 8-12th 2026
    Duration5 Days
    Skill LevelAdvanced
    Price$650
    Re-Cert Price$300
    LocationClark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers
    ActivityPackraft

    Overview

    Want to become an ACA Certified Packraft Instructor? This course is focused on the latest technical knowledge, terminology, teaching skills, personal paddling skills, and safety awareness in a swiftwater teaching environment. This course helps you work on personal and interpersonal development and pushes you to build skills and knowledge through peer feedback, video analysis, and lectures. We combine practical on-water demonstrations and presentations with real-world scenarios that will equip you to deal with teaching this multifaceted sport as a professional. This course sets the industry standard for instruction in paddle sports. The ACA instructor certification process is broken up into two core components: the Instructor Development Workshop (IDW), and Instructor Certification Exam (ICE). The IDW presents students with the skills and knowledge that are required to become an instructor. The ICE is an opportunity for each candidate to demonstrate his/her proficiency in the presentation (logical progression) and demonstration (proper modeling) of the skills, and knowledge necessary for certification.

    Course Highlights

    • Introduction to Packrafting (Level 1)
    • Essentials of River Packrafting (Level 2)
    • River Packrafting (Level 3)
    • Whitewater Packrafting (Level 4)

    About the Instructor

    Dave Bumgarner

    Dave Bumgarner

    Dave has been working in the whitewater industry for over 20+ years. He has worked as a kayak & packraft instructor, swiftwater rescue instructor, raft guide, and NOLS river instructor. He is an Instructor Trainer for the American Canoe Association (ACA) in the whitewater kayak, packrafting and swiftwater rescue disciplines. He is also a whitewater canoe and SUP instructor. When the water is not flowing you will find Dave guiding backcountry skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. He teaches recreation and professional level avalanche education courses. He has a Master's degree in adult education and loves teaching his clients new skills.

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    (406) 546-0370