Youth Leadership Diploma Program contact: Saskia van Mourik

 Program Overview:
The Youth Leadership Diploma (YLD) is a program offered to youth who paddle in the province of Alberta who have an interest in developing their skills for instruction, leadership and safety. There have been no formal programs in the past; many youth who are underage have been taking certification courses only to find that they must re-take them once they are of age.

The YLD allows for youth to develop the skills and facilitates certification in all areas of whitewater paddling once the YLD participants become of age.

  • Upon graduation from the YLD program, all candidates are encouraged to challenge the levels they have completed during the YLD program without having to re-take courses.
  • This is not only cost effective for our junior paddlers, but an investment in leadership development for the AWA.

Practical Training:
Each participant must undergo practical training for each of the courses listed below. Practical training may be done through a local paddling club, the TAK program or any other AWA related leadership programs. Requirements for graduation from the YLD are that all participants maintain an instructor logbook of hours they are in a paddle sports leadership position. Please review the practical hour requirements for both the certificate and diploma levels. Activities may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Assisting with club, AWA or ASCK programming and events
  2. Promoting club, ASCK or AWA programs to a local paddling community, blogging
  3. Instructing, assisting with instruction or safety boating at club, ASCK or AWA events


Communication:
All participants of the YLD are required to submit  to the YLD blog as a method of communicating activities with other members of the paddling public. The concept is for youth to understand the benefits of communication as a means to enhance the paddling public’s knowledge. Websites are the easiest way to convey information because it is accessible to all, easily updated and with proper use of this medium we can engage not only those paddling, but those who may be interested in paddling. Topics that will be posted on the YLD blog may include:

  1. Stories about paddling trips
  2. Logistical information required for river running
  3. Tips and techniques
  4. Photos

Life Skills:
 Participants will be mentored to develop life skills. YLD activities to encourage life skills development may include:

  1. Development of healthy meal plans
  2. Promoting daily team activities outside of paddle sports
  3. Mentoring new participants
  4. Assisting in programming logistics with the Head Coach

Youth Leadership Certificate:

  1. Community Kayak Instructor – Pool Instructor
  2. Community Kayak Instructor - Open Water Instructor
  3. Kayak Leader 2
  4. Swiftwater Safety and Rescue Training
  5. Accumulation of 60 practical hours
  6. Demonstration of YLD Life Skills

Fees:
There will be one examination fee for the Instructor/Leader level attained, equal to 50% of the course fee + the course administration fee. There will also be an examination fee for Swiftwater Safety and Rescue certification, equal to 50% of the course fee + the administration fee.

Youth Leadership Diploma:

  1. Completion of the Youth Leadership Certificate
  2. Kayak Instructor 2
  3. Whitewater Leader 3
  4. Kayak Instructor 3
  5. Swiftwater Safety and Rescue Scenario Clinics
  6. Accumulation of 150 practical hours; 60 hours will be carried over from the certification program
  7. Demonstration of YLD Life Skills

Fees:
There will be one examination fee for the Instructor/Leader level attained, equal to 50% of the course fee + the course administration fee.

Youth Leadership Modules:
The YLD will be an ongoing educational progression. The YLD will begin with all participants as they enter provincial sport programming such as freestyle and slalom and continue on until they become adult participants. Adult participants are those who turn 18 prior to January 1st of the upcoming paddling season. Modules will have a specific focus on developing skills that may otherwise be difficult to acquire during the regular paddling season. Modules scheduled for this year:
 

Graduation:
Students will graduate from the diploma when they turn 18 and are no longer considered a junior participant. Upon graduation students will be encouraged to challenge the appropriate levels of certifications as recognized by Whitewater Canada and the Alberta Whitewater Association.

  • It is recognized that not all participants will complete all certifications required by the diploma for graduation.
  • Following YLD graduation and upon further skill development they will be encouraged to take a participant assessment to acquire any additional certifications.
  • Participants graduating will receive a Youth Leadership Certificate or Diploma depending upon level of program participation and skill level.

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