MWA reimburses for certain trainings in order to build up MWA as a club and its sponsored events. Therefore, all reimbursement comes with a MWA volunteer commitment expectation. MWA reimbursement for training will be offered as long as the club has the funds available.
The following courses are approved for reimbursement for MWA members, please read details below.
Single Course Reimbursement: Up to $60, every two years.
Combined Course Reimbursement: Up to $90, every two years.
MWA volunteer commitment: Within 2 years after training, at least once be:
a) A registered volunteer with the MWA races or clinic, in any capacity {both days of your chosen event}; OR b) an MWA trip leader who leads a trip; OR c) actively serve in an MWA office for 1 year {e.g. Board member or Committee Chair or event Director}.
Reimbursement: Up to $200, every two years (OR First Aid reimbursement; not both).
Half of WFA fee can be reimbursed after 1st volunteer activity; 2nd half after 2nd volunteer activity.
MWA volunteer commitment: Within 2 years after training: a) Be a registered volunteer with the MWA races or clinic, in any capacity {both days of your chosen event}; OR b) Be an MWA trip leader who leads a trip; OR c) Actively serve in an MWA office for 1 year {e.g. Board member or Committee Chair or event Director}.
Reimbursement: Up to $200, every two years.
Half of fee can be reimbursed after 1st volunteer activity; 2nd half after 2nd volunteer activity.
MWA volunteer commitment: Within 2 years of training: a) Be a registered safety volunteer with the MWA races or clinic {both days of your chosen event}; OR b) Be an ACA instructor for MWA clinic; OR c) Be an MWA trip leader who leads a trip; OR d) Actively serve in an MWA office for 1 year {e.g. Board member or Committee Chair or event Director}.
Reimbursement: Up to $100, annually.
MWA volunteer commitment: Within 2 years of training: a) Be a registered safety volunteer with the MWA races or clinic {both days of your chosen event}; OR b) Be an ACA instructor for MWA clinic; OR c) Be an MWA trip leader who leads a trip; OR d) Actively serve in an MWA office for 1 year {e.g. Board member or Committee Chair or event Director}.
Reimbursement: Up to $50, as often as needed for training.
MWA volunteer commitment: After completion of the training that required the assessment.
Reimbursement: Up to $575, once for each level (see notes below).
Half of ACA instructor certification fee can be reimbursed after 1st clinic; 2nd half after teaching a 2nd time.
MWA volunteer commitment: Teach for MWA clinic twice within 4 years after certification, ideally teaching at your highest level of instructor certification {both days of the clinic}.
Reimbursement: Up to $200 every four years.
Half of ACA instructor certification fee can be reimbursed after 1st clinic; 2nd half after teaching a 2nd time.
MWA volunteer commitment: Teach for MWA clinic twice within 4 years after certification, ideally teaching at your highest level of instructor certification {both days of the clinic}.
Reimbursement: Up to $30 annually
MWA volunteer commitment: After an ACA certified instructor (any level) teaches for an MWA clinic {both days of the clinic}.
Reimbursement: Must be pre-approved by the MWA Board.
MWA volunteer commitment: Must be pre-approved by the MWA Board. Please submit your request to leadership@missouriwhitewater.org for consideration.
NOTES
Board approval – MWA Board pre-approval must be submitted in writing, with a written response for a) Other trainings for reimbursement; and b) Other reimbursement-qualifying volunteer activities. If the MWA member’s approved training course costs more than the reimbursement rate listed, the trainee may request Board pre-approval for a higher reimbursement rate (which may or may not be granted).
1 Swift Water Rescue (SWR) course completion / certification is highly valued by the MWA, but is NOT required for ACA-certified instructors.
2 If an instructor is unable to teach for the MWA clinic twice in 4 years, they may propose another MWA teaching opportunity and submit it in writing to the MWA Board for pre-approval (as an instructor reimbursement alternative). Possible examples: teach 3 pool class sessions; or 3 Tuesday night moving water sessions; or other.
3 An ACA instructor needs to teach at least 2 clinics/classes at their level within four years post-certification in order to qualify for certification update / recertification (the instructor can apply to ACA for an extension) OR the ACA instructor will need to complete the whole certification again. Many ACA instructor updates are offered by assisting with an ACA Instructor ACA Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)for minimal cost.
This reimbursement structure is for trainings completed after 9/1/20. Any MWA reimbursement agreements prior to that date hold the previous agreement structures (or lack thereof). All trainings for MWA reimbursement need to have an instructor and curriculum credentialed by one of the following: American Canoe Association (ACA), Red Cross, Sierra Rescue International, or Wilderness institute. An exception is #6 “Whitewater Rescue Basics”. There are no MWA reimbursements for gear related to certifications, e.g. Rescue PFDs, pin kits, throw ropes, first aid kits, etc.
6. “Whitewater Rescue Basics” is a course requested by the MWA Safety Committee and developed to support primarily the MWA Races and Clinic. It focuses on boat-based rescue scenarios that are most common on the St. Francis River. It covers less content and instruction hours than Swift Water Rescue (SWR).
7. ACA River Skills Assessment is a pre-requisite for ACA Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and Instructor Certification Exam (ICE). A current ACA Instructor follows an ACA checklist to assess that a boater can perform the skills necessary for the instructor course desired. Assessment is usually a 1-day experience.
8-9. American Canoe Association (ACA) River Instructors: MWA will offer reimbursements for newly certified ACA L1-4 River Kayak & Canoe instructors (completers of IDW and ICE). MWA seeks to support ACA instructors to achieve and maintain the following ACA Instructor requirements:
- Successfully complete the ACA level course and receive the certification pursued
- Teach at least twice in 4 years after certification, aiming to teach for MWA at the instructor’s highest level of credentialing
- Have a current CPR certification
- Have a current First Aid certification, at a level appropriate for the teaching venue—ideally Wilderness First Aid (WFA), but First Aid is acceptable
- Instructor has their MWA dues and ACA Safety Education & Instruction Council (SEIC) dues paid in full
If an instructor is being reimbursed for instructor certification and later pursues a higher certification (eg 1st L3, then L4), they may separately request reimbursement for both trainings, not to exceed the maximum instructor reimbursement in 4 years.
10. ACA and SEIC dues – In acknowledgment of ACA instructors’ required dues, the MWA will reimburse $30 after a certified ACA instructor teaches an MWA 2-day clinic. Instructors must have their ACA Instructor requirements in good standing (or describe in their MWA reimbursement request how they are pursuing the requirements).
Candidates for MWA training reimbursements need to
- Have an active MWA membership (e.g. dues paid in full during the timeframe in which they are seeking reimbursement).
- Fulfill the post-training MWA volunteer commitment
o An MWA member may propose an alternative volunteer commitment to meet reimbursement requirements, submitted in writing & pre-approved by the MWA Board.
- Submit a reimbursement request on MWA’s web page
o Reimbursement requests to MWA presume there is no other payer for the training (e.g. your employer, another outdoor group/club).
o All the requested information, including course registration receipt and certification, must be submitted to MWA.
Anyone may register for any MWA-sponsored training. For MWA sponsored trainings, MWA reserves the right to prioritize slots in a course for
- A. MWA member ACA kayak or canoe instructors who agree to teach for the MWA clinic
- B. MWA members who agree to volunteer with the MWA races or clinic
- C. MWA members