ACA Georgia, USACE at Allatoona Lake and US Coast Guard Auxiliary Partnering with
Georgia Leaders for ‘Kayaking 101’ Instruction to Kick Off National Safe Boating Week
Photo by ANDe Demetriou, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, 2023
ATLANTA, GA
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Allatoona Lake and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary are joining
the Georgia chapter of the American Canoe Association (ACA Georgia) and other stakeholders,
to offer low-cost kayaking instruction at multiple locations across Georgia on Saturday, May 18.
The event is in celebration of National Safe Boating Week, which begins the same day. Other
marquee partners include Georgia River Network, Georgia Power Company, Trust for Public
Lands, and REI.
“We are excited to be able to bring an event of this caliber to Georgia for the benefit of all of the
paddlers we see at Allatoona Lake and in other parts of the state,” said Ranger Rusty Simmons,
Chief Ranger of Park Operations at Allatoona Lake. “Being able to mobilize this many
nationally certified ACA instructors to help beginners is a very powerful way for the community
to come together to reinforce safety while we are having fun!”
In 2023, this event trained 279 students across North Carolina and Tennessee in 24 simultaneous
Kayaking 101 classes led by nationally certified ACA instructor volunteers in an event that
began in Tennessee in 2022. The National Safe Boating Council recognized the Kayaking 101
partnership with the 2024 IBWSS Communications Community Impact Award.
As a result of the success realized in Tennessee and North Carolina in 2023, 7 states are
participating in this event in 2024 with 43 simultaneous Kayaking 101 classes planned on May
18 in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Missouri and Florida.
“Our instructor volunteers are so excited to share their love of the sport with newcomers and
experienced paddlers alike,” said ACA Southeastern Chair and Georgia River Network employee
Andrea White. “Just one day of training can make the difference between setting yourself up for
a bad experience that ruins the sport for you versus setting yourself up for a whole lifetime of
paddling fun.”
The 2024 event in Georgia marks the first time a USACE operated lake is participating in the
ACA Kayaking 101 partnership.
Participating locations for this event include:
● Allatoona Lake, Stamp Creek Ramp, 365 Wilderness Camp Road, White GA
● Allatoona Lake, Kellogg Creek Day Use Area, 2077 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth GA
● Lake Allatoona, Old Hwy 41 #2 Day Use Area, 6693 North Main Street, Acworth GA
● Lake Oconee, Lawrence Shoals Campground, 123 Lawrence Shoals Rd, Eatonton GA
● Skidaway Island, Rodney Hall Boat Ramp, 25 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, GA
Classes cost $15 per person including a free kayak rental for anyone who signs up for it at
registration for training that often retails for $75-$150. All instructors are Georgia volunteers
who are nationally certified to give paddling and rescue training and are supported by
experienced safety teams.
Each location will be limited to 15 people. A limited number of kayaks, paddles, and life jackets
will be available as a free rental during registration. These classes are made available by certified
instructor volunteers, safety boaters and equipment donations from many organizations coming
together to help their fellow paddlers across Georgia. In addition to U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers at Allatoona Lake, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and ACA Georgia, these
organizations include: Georgia River Network, Georgia Power Company, Trust for Public Lands,
Georgia Canoeing Association, The Outdoor Foundation, Savannah Coastal Ecotours, Middle
Georgia Kayaking, Miller Kayak Trips and Training, REI Co-op and REI Co-op Experiences,
Tennessee Valley Canoe Club, Half Moon Outfitters, Westbrook Supply Co., and Southern
Conservation Trust.
Interested paddlers can register at this link. In-person spaces are limited. A free ACA online
class is also available; however, in-person training with a certified instructor is strongly
encouraged. The ACA is the national accrediting body for paddlesports education.
Related Content:
● May 18 Registration website
● American Canoe Association website
● Free ACA Online Safety Course
Press Release