Courses

1 Day Adult Introduction Course

Join us for a day to learn the basic skills of your chosen craft, be that a Paddleboard (SUP), Kayak or Canoe.

We'll go through all of the relevant skills & safety information to give you the knowledge to confidently control your boat/board and help you on your journey to becoming an independent paddler.

Over the course of the day, you'll learn about the key areas of your boat/board as well as safety considerations to think about, and how to move your craft around confidently and effectively.

The aim of these days are to help you achieve your aims, answer any questions you have or just have a great day out on the water learning something new!

1 Day Introduction to White Water

Are you looking to move on to some white water?!

Join us for a fun day taking on white water on the local River Tay, where we'll suit the day to your ability and make sure you come out smiling and ready for more!

Over the course of the day we will look at river safety skills, reading the river to support our decision making and looking at those crucial skills that allow us to be successful when paddling in this environment.

This course is aimed at introducing people to white water and/or developing skills for those already paddling in this environment on the odd occasion.

To join this course you should be comfortable and confident paddling your craft in a flat water environment and be able to self rescue. If you're not sure if this course is for you then get in touch to have a chat!

Paddlesports Safety and Rescue Course: British Canoeing

The British Canoeing Awarding Body:

This Course is also a pre-requisite for the Paddlesport Instructor Course.

Throughout the course, candidates will explore simple strategies and safe skills that can provide the tools to solve common paddling issues. The course is suitable for all ages and great for individuals, aspirant Paddlesports instructors and groups wanting to expand their safety practices when on the water. The course content focuses on rescuing from the paddlers specific craft and covers equipment, safety frameworks, as well as a range of rescues including contact and towing rescues, self-rescues and deep-water rescues.

Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor: British Canoeing

The Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor qualification is designed for instructors running SUP taster/starter sessions within the safety management systems of clubs, centres or other organisations in:

• Very Sheltered Water environments
• Stand Up Paddleboards deemed suitable for a first-time experience

The process of completing the qualification aims to help prepare candidates for their first SUP instructing role; ‘primed and ready’.

Course Length

2 days’ combined training and assessment

eLearning

Optional free BCAB Instructor eLearning will be available

Registration

You will need to register with your Delivery Centre ahead of your course. Registration will be available from December 2022. Visit your Delivery Centre website for further information (links below).

SUP Safer: British Canoeing (Paddleboard Safety Course)

The SUP Safer course is designed for anyone new or a relative novice to stand up paddleboarding, wanting to gain knowledge and raise their awareness of their personal safety in a sheltered water environment.

The 4-hour programme is delivered within the sheltered water environment, where you will explore and learn to appreciate the potential hazards you might encounter and be prepared to avoid or deal with them.

The aim of the course is to set you up in a way that allows you to be more independent with more knowledge to make effective decisions and when, where and if to paddle!

Stand Up Paddleboarding Inland Open Water Leader: British Canoeing

Are you looking to lead individuals or groups in an open water or river environment on Stand Up Paddleboard? Then this might be the right award for you!

Aimed at those looking to lead in open water (Up to 500 metres from shore & Force 4 winds) and Grade 1 rivers this awards put in place the appropriate skills and knowledge base to support you to lead in these environments.

2 Day British Canoeing Training, Bespoke training and assessments are all available for this award

Sheltered Water Coach (Canoe & Kayak): British Canoeing

• Do you want to coach canoeing and kayaking?
• Want to support your club?
• Looking to start your career in coaching paddlesport?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions, the Canoe and Kayak (Sheltered Water) Coach Award could be for you!

WHY BECOME A CANOE AND KAYAK COACH?

First of all, you will be joining a community of like minded individuals, keen to learn, develop and have fun whilst sharing their love of paddlesport. The Coach Award supports your development through formal and informal opportunities, part of your journey will involve an assessment, but this is just the start as we believe in life long opportunities for learning.

You can use the Coach Award to support you if you're a:

• Self employed coach
• Volunteer or work at a club
• Work at a centre or for an organisation

It is an appropriate level of training for those looking to develop individuals paddlesport knowledge and skills in a sheltered water environment.

WHAT CAN A CANOE AND KAYAK COACH DO?

Designed, to support you to coach paddlers who want to gain/improve their paddlesport skills.

You will coach in canoe and/or kayak in the sheltered water environment. This will include coaching beginners new to the sport, or paddlers looking to develop their skills.

As a Coach you can work independently or you could be deployed by a club, centre or organisation. Being a Canoe and Kayak Coach allows you to design coaching to support your learners. You will be able to provide British Canoeing Awards and Training such as:

Open Water Stand Up Paddleboard Coach: British Canoeing

• Do you want to coach stand up Paddleboarding?
• Want to support your club?
• To start a career in coaching Paddleboarding?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions the Stand Up Paddleboard Open Water Coach Award could be for you!

WHY BECOME A STAND UP PADDLEBOARD OPEN WATER COACH?

First of all, you will be joining a community of like minded individuals, keen to learn, develop and have fun whilst sharing their love of paddleboaring. The Coach Award takes what you know and supports you through formal and informal development opportunities, part of your journey will involve an assessment, but the assessment isn’t the end as we believe in life long opportunities for learning.

Where can I operate as a Open Water Stand Up Paddleboard Coach:

• 500 Metres from Shore
• Winds upto Force 4

Private Coaching

Looking to achieve a specific outcome or further your skills specific to your needs? We offer 1:1 or small group private coaching, specific to your needs. This can include paddleboarding (sheltered water, touring, white water & coastal), kayaking (sheltered water, touring, white water or sea) & canoeing (touring or white water)

Sessions can be anything from 1 hour to multiple days to suit your needs.

You can either bring your own equipment or we can supply it as part of the cost of the sessions.

Sessions range from £50 an hour to £200 for a full day with a private coach!

2 Day Learn To Paddle

Have you always wanted to get into paddlesports?

If you want to try stand up paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing then this could be the perfect course for you!

Try out a variety of crafts or just stick with one, whichever suits you best!

Over the 2 day course we will look to develop your skills in a single or multiple crafts. Day 1 will be spent at Willowgate focusing on fundamental skills to allow you to paddle effectively and efficiently as well as being safe on the water. Day 2 will see us meet offsite for a day of exploration and putting the skills into practice.

Stand-Up Paddleboard Leadership Awards: British Canoeing

Being a SUP leader allows us to take people places they might not have gone without us!

Introducing people to new environments and instilling a love of paddleboarding is what being a Stand-Up Paddleboard leader is all about. Whether you're looking to take out friends, young people or groups these British Canoeing leadership awards are a great way to ensure you have all the safety experience needed as well as those crucial leadership skills to make sure you're delivering the best experience possible to the people you'd like to lead.

For all British Canoeing leadership awards you can choose to go straight for an assessment if you're experience and confident in leading groups. However, many people choose to partake in a training course first to make sure they have the best toolkit possible to pass the assessment with ease and ensure they become the best SUP leaders possible.

Whether you're looking to lead in coastal environments, on slow moving rivers or in open water, Willowgate can offer all of the British Canoeing SUP leadership awards available. We're committed to ensuring this ever increasing sport is as fun, enjoyable and safe as possible, so in our eyes, the more SUP leaders out there, the better!

Navigation Training Course

Navigate your way to your next adventure!

Learn to Navigate on tracks using compass, and map. Beginners course suitable for those looking to improve also.

The 1 day course is ideal if you want to explore more of Scotland or anywhere in the world and would like to learn in-depth about how to read maps, and compasses.

Starting at Willowgate Adventure Centre and exploring the surrounding areas.

£45pp

This course is limited to 7 people, to secure a place book now.

5 Day Paddlesport Instructor Training -

If you're looking to work towards becoming a Paddlesport Instructor, then this is the course for you!

From rescues, to perfecting skills to long trips and white water fun. This 5 day course will give hone your skills to get you ready for your Paddlesport Instructor course. You'll also gain the following British Canoeing qualifications along the way: Paddle Explore, SUP PPA, Paddlesport Safety & Rescue (PSRC).