Trip Leader Membership

ORCKA's Day-Trip Leader certification is the requirement to responsibly lead or assist single-day non-wilderness paddling trips. Trip Leaders are 17 years of age and agree to abide by ORCKA's Trip Leader Policies and Standards in order to take advantage of ORCKA's Trip Leader Insurance Program when leading trips. 

Trip Leaders for multi day trips must be certified in the highest skill category for any or all of canoe tripping, kayak tripping, or voyageur canoeing - level 3.  Trip leaders can apply for Trip leading insurance by completing and keeping an up-to-date risk management and emergency response plan.  This includes using the ORCKA waivers, following all ORCKA trip leader standards and preparing a Trip plan for every trip. The trip leader standards delineate whether the Trip Leader has enough experience (determine by km paddled) to be an Assistant Trip Leader or the main Trip Leader

Benefits of Trip Leader Membership

  • $5 million Liability Insurance plan (optional $50.00).

  • Listing on ORCKA's Trip Leader for Hire list.

  • Pro-deal discounts with paddlesports retailers and manufacturers.

  • ORCKA's program resources, docs, and support materials.

  • CANEWS magazine quarterly - ORCKA's publication, keeping you up on Ontario paddling news and culture.

  • Subscription to Rapid Media's Paddling Magazine.

  • Participate in ORCKA's governance; vote at the AGM, become a member of the Board of Directors, etc.

ORCKA Trip Leader: $85.00 plus the optional $50.00 Trip Leader Insurance plan

Membership Year is from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st

Trip Leader Standards for Insurance

ORCKA Organizational Members and Instructors agree to abide by the following standards when tripping is included as part of conducting ORCKA Program.

Trip Leader to participant ratio -- 1:8

Trip Leaders follow the safety procedures and best-practice guidelines outlined in ORCKA's Program Manuals

Non-Wilderness Day-Trips

Flat-Water Trips

Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Day-Trip Leader or ORCKA Instructor

  • Standard First Aid and CPR

  • 250km tripping experience

    Assistant Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Day-Trip Leader or ORCKA Instructor

  • Emergency First Aid and CPR

  • 100km tripping experience

Moving-Water Trips

Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Moving Water [River Running] Instructor or ORCKA Trip Leader with Moving Water [River Running] Level 3A [Tandem]

  • Standard First Aid and CPR

  • 250km moving-water tripping experience

    Assistant Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Moving Water [River Running] Instructor or ORCKA Trip Leader with Moving Water [River Running] Level 2A [Tandem]

  • Emergency First Aid and CPR

  • 100km moving-water tripping experience

Wilderness Multi-Day Trips

Flat-Water Trips

Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Trip Leader

  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid and CPR

  • 1000km tripping experience

Assistant Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Trip Leader

  • Wilderness First Aid and CPR

  • 500km tripping experience

Moving-Water Trips

Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Trip Leader with: Moving Water [River Running] Level 3A [Tandem] or Moving Water [River Running] Instructor certification

  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid and CPR

  • White Water Rescue Technician

  • 1000km tripping experience [500km of which in a moving-water environment]

Assistant Trip Leader Credentials

  • ORCKA Trip Leader with: Moving Water [River Running] Level 2A [Tandem] or Moving Water [River Running] Instructor certification

  • Wilderness First Aid and CPR

  • White Water Rescue Technician

  • 500km tripping experience [250km of which in a moving-water environment]