ACA – American Canoe Association
Founded in 1880, the American Canoe Association (ACA) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization serving the broader paddling public by providing education related to all aspects of paddling, stewardship support to help protect paddling environments, and sanctioning of programs and events to promote paddlesport competition, exploration, and recreation. The ACA has a network of members spanning every U.S. state and 45 countries, who range from elite level competitors and internationally recognized instructors to recreational novices and beginner paddlers. Since 2017 the ACA has served as the National Governing Body for paddlesports (Sprint, Slalom and Paracanoe) for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and as the U.S. National Federation to the International Canoe Federation. The heart of the ACA is the people who paddle, cherish and protect the rivers, lakes, streams, bays and oceans of the United States and beyond.
ACA Mission & Vision: ACA provides paddlesports leadership, structure, and instructional resources to promote our sport’s many health and social benefits through connecting diverse communities and fostering a shared commitment to safety and stewardship, and by providing opportunities for challenge, achievement, and fun through paddlesports.