River AUXPAD Training

AuxPAD Operator: Learn the skills needed to successfully conduct patrols in a class 1 river environment.  You’ll be able to get most PQS tasks signed off on (the 5-mile paddle and navigation components will need to be completed on flat water within your AOR) as well as value-added skills such as learning how to read the river, ferrying, eddy turns and peel outs.  This sessions will be team taught by a volunteer instructor from the Ozark Riverways Foundation and an Auxiliary AQ.  To view the AUXPAD PQS, please see Appendix C of the AUXPAD Handbook. Enrollment is limited to 10 students, 5 of which will be funded by the Auxiliary Association. 

AuxPAD Qualifier (AQ): This is an L2 River Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop.  Learn how to effectively teach other people the skills they need to be safe and effective on the river.  Once certified, a member is eligible to be appointed as an AQ in their district and can certify AuxPAD operators.  Certification is not guaranteed and members must also have CPR and venue-appropriate first aid certifications (does not have to be completed prior to the workshop).  For most river environments, “venue appropriate” means wilderness first aid.  Participants in this track must be ACA members (Join the ACA)  and will be required to pay SEIC dues prior to certification.  Prior to registering for this class, members should review the L2 Skills Assessment and feel confident that they possess these skills. The focus of the ICW is to refine techniques and learn how to present them - not to learn the skills for the first time. It will also be helpful to review the Instructor Criteria . Enrollment is limited to 10 students, 5 of which will be funded by the Auxiliary Association. 

Ozarks National Scenic Riverways is the first National Park to protect a river system. It consists of the spring-fed Current and Jack’s Fork Rivers and provides hundreds of L1 River miles for visitors to paddle.  Participants in the operator track will get to experience much of the upper Current River as they learn to navigate easy rapids, avoid strainers and discuss educational opportunities influenced by the “float trip” culture.  ICW participants will get to preview limited areas of both rivers and will decide it’s an area they want to return to in the future! 

Many large springs feed into both the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, including Alley Spring (81,000,000 gallons per day (gpd)) and Welch Spring (75,000,000 gpd) either upriver from or immediately adjacent to areas being used for training. Because of this, water temperatures tend to be on the cooler side, often in the upper 60s to lower 70s in the middle of summer (based on recent measurements while on patrol). 

Lodging has been reserved at the Jack’s Fork River Resort.  All rooms have two double beds and most of the rooms at the resort’s lodge have been newly renovated. As of a 7/6/2024 site-visit, the on-site restaurant and lounge was undergoing renovation with it being anticipated to be completed prior to this event.  The lodge overlooks the river and provides seating outside of each room to relax and enjoy the view.  

Lodging is being provided based on dual-occupancy.  If you wish to have a single-occupancy room, that may be arranged dependent on enrollment but you will be responsible for the cost difference, $252 total for the weekend. If sessions experience full-enrollment, you will be required to either share a room or procure your own lodging, likely at a different hotel as we have all but two rooms reserved at Jack’s Fork River Resort. Please keep in mind, Eminence is a small town with limited lodging options as the majority of visitors camp within park boundaries.