The Fairy Dance of the Oligarchs
Published April 6, 2010 | 
Show me sunset and I won’t forget
That I am one of two planets dancing
I am part of two planets dancing
– bat for lashes
What is important is often confused with what is required. What is required is rarely important at all, other than to those who require it. What is important is often very different. Thing is, sometimes you must do what is required in order to be free to do what is important… (yeah, it’s one of those posts…)
Right now I’m working to get back in good graces with the Gods of the ACA thanks mostly to a good friend who is helping to get my paddling life organized. I don’t know about you but I find the whole certification system to be just tiring. Expensive… and tiring. To be fair it’s not really an ACA thing, I find all “officiousness” of any sort to be tiresome regardless of its necessity. Having to drive downtown to get a burning permit.. or find some old grandma-lady to renew my dog license is tiring. We’ve turned our bloody lives into a series of forms, fees and ques where everything we do in life has to be sanctioned and approved by someone who could give a damn what we’re doing in the first place or even if we’re alive to do it. Bah!
Now we do need some way to tell if a coach will keep our students alive. On the other hand certification can’t really do that. It can only certify that you’ve passed a test, listened to a lecture or paid some fees. It can’t certify that you won’t panic when the **** hit’s the fan or that you’ll notice the upside-down kayak when you’re lost in the high of extolling your expertise from the cockpit of your custom ultra-light kayak. Add to that, what student actually cares, or knows anything about kayak coaches being certified? It’s hard enough to get them to wear a life jacket as it is. Therein lies the weakness in all “coaching” certification bodies and why the whole process has to be taken with a grain of salt. In the end those most effected are usually the members themselves. They’re the ones filling out endless forms, attending classes, lectures and re-certs (In kayaking & First Aid), taking time off work, traveling to this event or that one with little compensation all the while figuring out where find the cash to pay the various fees to remain “certified”. In the real world there are great coaches who are not certified and god-awful coaches who proudly wear their bloody ACA patches sewn to their PFDs! There are days when you can’t help but wonder if it’s all a big game.
Now don’t miss my point here.. I do recognise the need for governance and yet I also feel we spend too much of our lives being officious instead of simply conscientious. Heck, the reason I got into kayaking in the first place was because the wind and the waves don’t give a ****. They don’t care who I know, what classes I took, what I’ve done lately or what coach level I’ve achived. They’d just as soon drown me as give me a ride. The freedom is the whole point, not the club memberships. There are times when it’s fairly obvious that all human structure is simply the haphazard cobbling of old grey men in short sleeves and wide ties who go to bed at night having dark fantasies about bikini clad women giving lectures in macroeconomics. Isn’t that what Mark Twain said? Maybe not…
You see, the reason I coach is because I simply love to watch people discovering how cool they really are. Therein lies their own freedom. Freedom over doubt, over fears, or like me the freedom to get the hell away for awhile! The reason I put my self through the ACA process is simply to afford those I teach for and with a bit of extra insurance (and assurance…) because in the end it doesn’t matter how how I feel about it personally, I still have to play by the rules if I want to play the game. For the moment, that joy of helping others learn is more than enough to tolerate the fairy dance of the oligarchs.
Hmmm, now I’ve also got that Wilderness First-Aid class just around the corner…
Disclaimer – Now if you’re about to take everything I wrote above as the absolute gospel of how I think and feel, you’ve not been around here long enough. What I think and feel at any given moment is anyone’s guess and subject to change in a fat rabbits heartbeat..(just ask anyone). My Opinions may be outright fictitious, imagined, or channeled through spirits on the other side. As for tomorrow? Who knows…
16 Responses to The Fairy Dance of the Oligarchs
I don’t so much mind “attending” all the classes and recerts. I find them to be pretty enjoyable in most cases. It’s nice to meet up with other instructors and it reassures me that I haven’t fallen too far back on my own skills while I’m spending so much time paddling with my beginner students. On the other hand, I do wish it wasn’t so expensive to maintain those certifications. At least now that I’m instructing full time as my business, I can justify the expenses, but I know that most instructors are doing this in their spare time when they aren’t at their “real” jobs. Those Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and ACA/BCU courses can get pricey in a hurry, especially when you have to travel somewhere to attend (camping, motels, meals, etc.). Just keep in mind, Derrick, that we need to help your “friend” pay his even more exorbitant IT annual membership/certification fees.
I hear ya, Derrik. I need to recert this year and it’s a hassle figuring out when and where and how much. It seems like this year nothing aligns with my free time. And the ones I can make it to are in months so packed with travel that it’s going to test my sanity.
There has to be a better way.
I’m with you on that. As I said, I find myself re-certifying as well.
You make a good point that at least coaches who have done the program have been exposed to the correct methods. Of course, I had an experience once where a certified coach totally bailed on me too. So you just never know..
LOL! Sherri you’re right. That’s the reason to do it.. because all our fees can help keep our favorite Milwaukee IT in the pink.
Derrick:
Have you seen the hbo series deadwood?
The line between order and chaos is always a fine one.
I have seen certified instructors choke in big seas, and freestyle coaches shine.
The decision is up to the individual on what they want to do, my argument would be: we need more certified coaches worth 2 cents.
Man/woman up and get certified.
I believe you are doing yourself and others a great dis-service by, it appears to me,
trying to “well yeah, but…”ing the function of certification.
“Now we do need some way to tell if a coach will keep our students alive.
On the other hand certification can’t really do that.”
Indeed, but that’s not really the purpose of certification.
“It can only certify that you’ve passed a test, listened to a lecture or paid some
fees.”
Yes, but this comment has the feeling of damning the contents of the test or the
lecture. What’s wrong with someone testing ones ability to, say, set up a rafted tow?
“It can’t certify that you won’t panic when the **** hit’s the fan
or that you’ll notice the upside-down kayak when you’re lost in the high
of extolling your expertise from the cockpit of your custom ultra-light
kayak.”
Agree again, it cannot certify those things either. However it can certify that you
have been put into a circumstance as close as possible to shit-hit-the-fan and performed.
It can certify that you have an understanding of CLAP, and how to apply it in a variety of
specified circumstances.
“Add to that, what student actually cares, or knows anything about kayak coaches being
certified?”
The ones who got scared off the water. Those who’ve been hurt. Those who plan an outing
well beyond their capabilities because they were not properly taught the limits of same?
Let me suggest that students not caring about certification is an issue of ignorance not
diligence.
The concept of certification is or should be, at it’s core, a good one in many dimensions.
It allows students to make informed choices about what instructor/coach they seek out in order
to realize a goal. It enforces the point that the skill in question has levels of
competency that perhaps cannot be discerned a priori. It allows an instructor/coach to
better understand the limitations of their skills, motivation and capabilities.
All of these real (I think) benefits and more come out of certification or, if you prefer,
assessment. But only if that certification/assessment is constructed, administered and
pursued with the good intentions embodied in the idea of of asking the very reasonable
question “Can you do these specific things?”. Can you land the plane in a crosswind?
Can you calculate the forces on the bridge during rush hour? Can you return to shore all
your students after an all-in? Can you recognize potential all-in causing conditions and
avoid them? A constructive and well intentioned response to “Yes I can” is not “Umm, ok”.
Rather it is “show me”, “Prove it”, “Within what bounds?”
“It’s hard enough to get them to wear a life jacket as it is. Therein lies the weakness in all
“coaching” certification bodies and why the whole process has to be
taken with a grain of salt. In the end those most effected are usually
the members themselves.”
I find this to be a remarkably cynical perspective, conflating the perception of a process and a
desired set of outcomes that few reasonable persons could argue with, to the detriment of the outcomes.
The purpose of certification should and must be one of betterment, consistency and predictability.
What part of a students (likely initially tacit) requirement that their instructor/coach can get
them out of circumstances they place them in should be taken with a grain of salt? What part of
the handling a sea sick student should an instructor take with a grain of salt? The purpose of
certification should be looked at, from an instructor/coach point of view, as an attempt at the
removal of self-delusion, at least in part.
“They’re the ones filling out endless forms,
attending classes, lectures and re-certs (In kayaking & First Aid),
taking time off work, traveling to this event or that one with little
compensation all the while figuring out where find the cash to pay the
various fees to remain “certified”.”
I have heard this position articulated so many times that I can only chuckle because it dodges
entirely the issue. Certification is a cost of doing business. I’ll leave it as self evident that
that cost must be passed onto the consumer. So, if one cannot “find the cash” it is not because
certification is absolutely expensive, rather it’s because the business can’t pay for it. That is,
one is charging too little or there is no market, but let’s ignore that last one. The position I’ve
been presented with again and again is that if you charge too much then nobody will show up. That
it’s purely a commodity market. Which is true, as it turns out. But why?
Down the street from me you can take an all day “beginner class” for $59. $59 bucks. With instructors
who may or may not be certified in any way. With, if you will, skills that have not be objectively
assessed. Why should I seek out, say, a Level 5 BCU coach who might charge me $120 for a “beginner
class”? I have some ideas about that, but most first timers don’t. So, with some hand waving here,
it’s a commodity market because the consumer (student) is ignorant. Does anyone who has spent time
on the water, time in class, reading, discussing, arguing in a conscientious attempt to be a better
instructor/coach think it’s worthless? Students genuinely get no benefit from that investment?
Really?
The real issue of this whole “it costs too much” thing is not one of the market. It is one of
marketing. All of this effort trying to discern the downsides of certification, gnashing of teeth
over “hoops to be jumped through”, all of that would be far better spent organizing an effort to
educate students on the value of certified, conscientious instructors. Tell me please the downside
of having students who are willing to pay a living wage for a better “product”? And I don’t mean it
from a short term, charge-em-more, cut throat perspective. I mean it from the getting people happy
in the sport and keeping them there perspective.
This has gotten too long for this venue, apologies. Certification/assessment should and can be a good thing providing tangible
benefits to everyone involved. It provides a framework for instructors to get better and for students
to get more certainly competent. It can help to avoid losing people from the sport due to negligent
injury, fright or random discomfort. Which tends towards more people entering and staying in the
sport. This, I think, is a good thing.
Good points. BTW, I think it does everyone a positive service to “well yeah, but…”ing the function of certification” as it keeps us thinking about what we are doing and why. In fact it inspired your long, thoughtful and detailed response. A good thing.
Just one quick observation on Rick’s mostly excellent post. Regarding the amount charged for classes and how much the instructor makes: I have my own business and can charge what I think I need to to cover my expenses. Practically all the other instructors I know in the Midwest are doing this as a part time job a few weekends a year. They teach for a paddle sport shop that pays them by the hour or class, or they volunteer to help out at a symposium and are given a small stipend to help cover their transportation and lodging. Most shops would be unable to offer lessons without this kind of instructor. From personal experience, I can tell you that the costs to maintain your certification most often exceed what you earn in these circumstances. Be very thankful that these people continue to teach and remain certified out of a love for the sport despite losing money on the deal.
This entire subject has been on my thoughts for several years….I am on of those people that is not certified, but goes and helps teach at a few symposiums a year to try and help.
I never charge outside of the small stipen offered to defray some of the cost of travel and food at the symposiums.
I can not justify the cost of certification, even thought there are some very fine instructors that I would thouroughly enjoy doing some time on skills with.
Besause of this entire certification issue and cost I have many times thought that I would relinquish the joys of helping at symposiums.
I’m still on the fence about it as the symposium season is fast aproaching.
Best Wishes and thanks for the many opinions
Roy
I was working a store paddle demo event last May when I witnessed the store’s safety boater paddling a capsized paddler (on his bow) to the dock. The paddler once out of the water on that cool, blustery spring day looked a little disheveled. I chose to check in with her. Turns out it wasn’t a demo paddler. She was on a class/outing with the local University on the same body of water. After a series of questions where I found my self trying to contain my emotions. In a nutshell:
~ The group was 15 students. One instructor.
~ The instructor had an ACA certification.
~ The group had no spray skirts and no pumps. There was one or two pumps between them.
~ The student, who was wearing cotton shorts and a sweatshirt, capsize once, was rescued and then was able to get back in her boat. She was “having a hard time balancing in the boat because of all the water in it.” Her boat was not pumped nor did the instructor offer to pump it. She continued on with the group and ultimately capsized again near the vicinity of the demo where she was taken to the demo dock.
~ The group continued on with their paddle, someone towing her boat and LEFT HER ON SHORE as the cold, embarrassed, and fatigued student said she would walk to her car. Left her alone. Her car was at least a mile away. Had she walked in the current temps soaking wet I am certain she would have been dealing with a level of hypothermia.
The worst part? The student said she was never, ever going to do this again.
I begged her to consider this a learning experience and to seek out a great instructor, like Sherri, and that she might see things in a different light.
I did confirm that the instructor was ACA certified. Can the ACA (or BCU for that matter) control what happens once a person passes the course and leaves? No. But then, who is accountable, or who follows up when situations go awry and that it is clear that the instructor could have taken several steps to prevent it?
This is an unfortunate and saddening tale.
“~ The group continued on with their paddle, someone towing her boat and LEFT HER ON SHORE…”
I’ve heard of type of thing at least a few times. In one case someone was left after going
over several times and having been knocked nearly unconscious after a boat smacked him in the
head during one of the rescues. It was a well publicized event, you’ve probably read about it.
I do find that the safety continuum for paddlers is bounded by “What can happen?” on one side and
“What can happen?” on the other. The words are the same, the inflection is different. Someone once told
me, “If you’re on the water as much as we are, everything that can happen does.”
—
“The worst part? The student said she was never, ever going to do this again.”
and
“But then, who is accountable, or who follows up when situations go awry and that it is clear that
the instructor could have taken several steps to prevent it?”
I too boggle at the irony implied. Those who invest the time and effort to become certified do
very little or nothing to maintain the standards of same. Here’s this “instructor” who has
probably diminished the potential market by one (which is probably a measurable percentage of the
paddling market in the US), substantially diminished the value of certification for all ACA
instructors and yet, as you point out, this “instructor” was very likely not admonished in any
way.
Certification has to do with standards and adherence to them. Implicit in that equation is a
requirement that the certified conscientiously operate at the level given by those standards. I
don’t think one can certify conscientiousness, but certification means very little without it. Thus
it is the members of the set of certified that must ensure and enforce that conscientiousness. It
is the absence of this feedback mechanism that is the problem with certification. Not the expense,
not the endless forms, not any of that. Every time something like this happens and the certifying
body does nothing about it they are saying and allowing to be said, very clearly I believe,
“Certification doesn’t matter.” And that sounds right. But I think it’s missing a little bit. I think
it more accurate to say, “Certification doesn’t matter without conscientiousness”.
What should have happened? I think something like this. Someone, perhaps the safety boater,
should have been morally offended. They should have found the name of that “instructor” and gone
to the (I’d guess non-existent) part of the ACA that enforces conscientious adherence to the
standards all of the members have agreed to and reported it. That should have been provided to
the “instructor” with a requirement for his reply. That (again, likely non-existent) body should
have decided to strip the “instructors” credentials or not (has it happened before, etc).
But that won’t happen. And it doesn’t really matter. Because, in this case, with this group,
certification doesn’t matter. Why? Because you can’t have certification without standards,
you can’t have standards without adherence and you can’t have adherence without enforcement. And
they don’t. That, I think, is what leads to The Fairy Dance of the Oligarchs.
So next time you fork over whatever dollars you need to for whatever certification you’re after,
, it’s perhaps a good idea to know what percentage of those dollars are being used to
and you expect that certification to have some value outside of personal edification (or cheap
insurance
protect your investment.
At least that’s what I think.
If this “instructor” was in fact an ACA-certified instructor, the ACA Safety, Education, and Instruction department should be notified and sanctions can be imposed against any instructor who shows a lack of appropriate skill, knowledge, and/or judgment in their performance as an instructor. This person was obviously not following the guidelines that the ACA has set forth for conducting a class, trip, or event and this person may have been operating outside her level of certification. Obviously, we would need to know the name of the person who was the “instructor”. I think I know which incident this is and while I did not personally witness it, I do know people who did. I will make a few further inquiries.
ACA/BCU certification does not guarantee that every instructor will perform well anymore than official training and certification in any occupation (police officer, architect, teacher)guarantees that a person will perform well. While there have been many instances cited of certified instructors choking at critical moments, I would also argue that there have been many cases of people who were put in danger by an uncertified “instructor” who was ignorant of the risks (s)he was taking with students. An incident here in Milwaukee a few years ago had a local sea kayaker taking two “Pungo”-paddling rec boaters outside the Lake Michigan breakwall in windy conditions. The “instructor’ had one of the boaters do a wet exit in preparation for teaching a rescue. Not surprisingly, the “instructor” was unable to complete the rescue with a Pungo and the paddler was in the water unable to get back into his kayak. Luckily, two other skilled sea kayakers and a sailboat came to the aid of this unfortunate couple and the incompetent un-certified instructor who had attempted to teach them, preventing a near tragedy. As bad as the other incident last May was (and it was bad from what I understand) it pales in comparison to the danger that this couple was intentionally placed in by someone who had no business doing any instructing. No certification program will ever be perfect and produce perfect results every time. The best we can do is work to raise the overall quality of instruction across the entire corps of instructors. Individual results will always vary.
Nothing sways the masses towards instructor certification than people calling the aca with safety injunctions and sanctions!
I think Derrick should re-read these comments aloud with a faux british accent.
Or maybe we could talk one of the many Nigel’s into reading them aloud for money. Let’s all pitch in and see if we can get a sponsored youtube video made!
after reading about the student left on shore ..and the outrage that insued….the question arises. At what point is an evac done? (I know the answer, when the evacuee is safe) This sounds like it was an outdoor ed outing sponsored at least in part by the college. At what point do all the experts say…the rest of the group will continue? The student was on land, and although wet and aledgedly one mile from her car.(some would argue she was safe, some say not home and in her jammies yet)(at what point does a person saying they are OK and everyone else should go on, count?)
this trip, as are most outdoor ed trips , run on a shoestring budget and by very few staff…it’s that way everywhere. This doesn’t excuse some of what I’ve read here pertaining to this particular situation….but……. ?
and please, let’s not hear any more talk that this is one less unit of possiable income for the rest of the ACA instructors to make a wage off.(because she is NEVER going to do it again) (This detracts from my notion of why someone went to teaching in the first place)
Best Wishes
Roy
Another one of your important questions, Derrick! Thanks. You sure inspired some intelligent thinking and useful responses.
The certification process fails perhaps in one main place in my mind – in fully establishing experience. When I took my first sailing lessons, I had more sailing years and time than all five instructors put together. I learned heaps of knowledge and info during my courses, though, and just as importantly, had fun beyond description. I know of sea kayak instructors who have 30 years experience paddling canoes who’ve successfully transferred their gained experience and wisdom to the sea kayak world. I’ve also met paddlers who’s toes are barely wet, who’ve never actually done a single real (versus practice or simulated) water rescue whom are fully certified.
One can climb quickly up the certs without gaining that much experience. A half dozen day trips, a couple of over-nighters. Do the course. You’re certified. You know just about sweet nothing! You may have never chosen whether nor when to get off the water as a thunderstorm approaches, or passes harmlessly by. Some Great Lakes paddlers will know well about thunderstorms, yet remain rusty on tides, tide rips and faces full of man-o-wars in the surf on the Atlantic coast. Pacific Northwest paddlers can go years without seeing a CB and never develop the ability to recognize their approach.
Compare the certified novice paddler to the one who’s done many hundreds of weekend and longer trips in all weather conditions and many differing types of boats, canoes, sailboats etc alone, in groups, in fleets. We’ll assume no certification, but this paddler, unless mentally challenged should become fully versed in the judgment that comes from experience, from time on the water, and many mistakes made safely without too much consequence (or rescuing others after their mistakes) to discover what maybe NOT to do, and how to avoid it. That paddler is able to make decisions based on not theory, but experience, and will likely make better / safer choices. Add a certification course to that paddler, and they’ll learn a few fragments of useful information, but they’ve likely already sponged all the Big Paddling Writer’s books for their wisdom. A course adds little to that except good useful and rarely-done rescue practice. That might be enough right there, as few are playful enough to go out there and practice getting wet, getting upside-down, getting out and getting back in. That’s for the weird, like you Derrick, and like me, and a thousand others, but not a hundred thousand.
Our early paddling writers like John Dowd, Nigel Foster and Derek Hutchinson to name but a few all started somewhere before much bureaucracy was in place. They started in Canadian canoes or white water or Kleppers. Was their competence inadequate because they arrived before the oligarch did? Did the Northern traditional paddlers need certification, or was their initiation, practice and education to paddling enough for survival? In arctic waters in traditional gear, they survived, or died. Pretty serious learning environment. Imagine our school teachers saying while teaching Math, “Pay attention or you will certainly die…” The Aleut and Greenland fathers who passed on their paddling wisdom generation after generation weren’t certified**, and didn’t likely need to explain the danger to their kids. They already knew. **It could be argued that they were indeed certified by experience.
I’ve read some brief phrases that the BCU is in trouble, but have completely missed out on any details. Even Google is frustratingly void. It must be being spoken about out on the water, or in pubs after paddles.
Every organization has a cycle, a time. Have any of our cert already bodies passed their peak? ( I hope not – still seems like there’s much to do!) Can anyone please shed some more light?
MarcP
Interestingly while I was at Tybee I got a chance to paddle with Dale Williams and we were discussing how any certifying body can ensure the people they cert are compentent. One can look at any professional body, physicians, attorneys, teachers, etc. and all of us can cite some who are extremely compentent and those we avoid because of their obvious problems.
The question is how does any certifying body improve the quality of people they certify. One possibility perhaps is more time being mentored by more experienced instructors/coaches to ensure newer people gain or have the needed experience to make quality decisions. Another possibility is that those of us who are certified coaches/instructors need to take a more active role with newer coaches/instructors. How many other ideas are out there to consider?
I transferred over 30 years of canoeing experience to kayaking, this allowed me to assimalate kayak knowledge easily. However what it did allow was me to bring 30 years of failures and successes with me which influences many of my decisions and joy I have for paddling.
I am a practicing professional that requires on-going training minimum of 30 hours every two years as well as on-going supervision. I am now in the mentoring role for younger practioners and am involved in peer supervison and review of my treatment practices. I know that mentoring newer practioners allows me to review and keep current and the review of my practices by peers allows more objective feedback from outside practioners.
As to the cost of updating to stay certified, I must agree that money and for me mostly time to complete these requirements are often difficult to come by. However, I know many instructors, and the majority have said they teach/coach/instruct because they want others to become addicted to the sport we all love. For me finding extra time and money for something I love is a lot easier than paying taxes.
The ACA has evolved greatly since I first became an instructor, mostly for the better. The addition of skill levels helped clarify what skills should be present in a paddler and perhaps one should not be able to do an IDW until they have attained the appropriate skill level. I have been to IDW/ICE’s where there are people present that are certainly not ready to be instructors. The recent addition of needing first aid and cpr to me are simply common sense and cost and time needed for such training at a local Red Cross is minimal, however is a cost. I view organizations much like people they adapt as conditions change. But organizations like people need objective feedback from people on the outside. How many of us have actually contacted the ACA, our regional ACA representatives and provided feedback. Or have merely sat back and provided arm chair criticsm.
JohnT