Instructor Development Workshop

So, last weekend including Friday I went to Muskegon to take part in an IDW sponsored by the Lansing Area White Water Paddlers – the kayaking group I roll with here in EL. IDW stands for Instructor Development Workshop, which serves as training for instructor candidates or a refresher for instructors. It was extremely informative. I learned a lot of both kayaking skills and teaching skills, both of which need practice before the ICE (Instructor Certification Evaluation).

I did at one point in the weekend declare to someone (Josh or Doug) that “I know everything.” Ronnie the Instructor Trainer was in the house at the time and heard this and was amused. It helped that right afterward we reviewed the ‘group test’ and on the one question that I dissented from the group opinion on I ended up being right. That was a nice boost to Matt’s ego.

On Sunday the group was divided. I wanted to get on the water one more time to get my shot at teaching a stroke (which some, but not I, had done the day before). Josh and Doug were with me, all the others were more interested in getting home sooner. The problem with this is that Ronnie was riding with Tom and Connie and using a boat transported by Linda. But… I got my time on the water, and it was very good. Doug and I decided on the way home that we probably cost half an hour at most to the overall group schedule, so I don’t feel too bad about that.

At the end of our Sunday paddling time, Ronnie basically told Josh, Doug and I the same thing: We should practice, but we should be clear for getting Basic Coastal certification and maybe Open Water – but that will have to wait to be seen. He also commented to me that I picked up new techniques very quickly which was another delightful boost to me. He did our reviews as a group – probably because we’re all at about the same place skill wise and we are the three who are not currently instructors. Everyone else had individual reviews which took much much longer. I think there was some argument from some people, where as the three of us pretty much had no reason to do anything but accept his evaluation at face value.

Anyway, the weekend was great I made it through two classroom lessons and two on the water lessons without puking on myself or something like that. I got me some sunburn, which sucked but it wasn’t too horrible.

That’s all for now… I’ll check back in after visiting the vast land of Texas.