Hiya Donny,
Quick, run away....you'rte about to be assimilated into the world of roylex geeks......
here's my IMHO
madawaska canoe center....... absolutely the finest way to do it up vacation style.....for a 5 day course. The instructors aren't burdened with the schedule of getting you through ORCA (I'll qualify that later) unless that is your goal; it's attentive to what your goals are so be specific when you meet the instructor the first night. Claudia has an excellent eye for good teachers and communicators.
there's a huge caveat... the style or quality does not change BUT if you are looking for a 2 day (weekend) the MKC course is taught right alongside every other course being offered at Palmers Rapids. MKC pays for relases midweek at their location on the middle mad....weekend courses are not at this location.
I did say I'd qualify the ORCA comment:
it's a good program when you have to ensure your membership or participants have reached a certain level of comedency....it provides a consistant template on which you can describe your skills....the downfall is there is little room for customization in a 2 day course when there are several core modules to cover.....and if you decide you want to focuse on one aspect it can be done but you will have to engage the instructor and accept that you may or may not pass the "certification portion"
it's like choosing to ride a bike with a touring group who want to see the countryside and hoping on the wheel of a carbon cervelo hammerfest and getting the workout of your life but not really have breath for conversation or seeing much beyond wether he'she rides shimano or shram
most courses taught at palmers are close to equivalent..... paddlers coop would be my recomendation but ask who the instructor is and try and engage before the course to get them on your vision.
the Blackfeather course was the first white water course my hubby ever took and he's an ok paddler now. It's not exclusively ORCA (I'm not sure if they offer certification now?)and it focuses on skill elemnts that will help clients taking their northern trips to get down rivers. If you are saving some coin by taking this option go for it...if it's equal price well remeber that the focus of the instructors is to get their clients ready for a singular trip. If you're on that trip I wouldn't recommend yiou take anything but the blackfeather course. (the instructors have been doing this stuff since they were my kids ages)
BUT, if you are not, it's not a bad course but you have more likelyhood of personal attention to your goals elsewhere as the blackfeather guides are very often saddled with older clients who really have alot of ground to cover before they should be tripping in whitewater.
Honestly why not check out the WCA? get to your library and take out a couple of the books on whitewater skills and then engage the training committee of the WCA who offer moving water courses.
Often though that they should do a one day intro to intro on the credit or a little rifle soemwhere just so city folks could sample before giving up a weekend. They have some excellent volunteers who have tons of tripping experience.
tripping and playboating are quite different and being able to tell you how a loaded boat will react is something worth listening to or experiencing before you head out.
You could consult the ORCA site for training options remaining this year
_________________
http://campfireblues.wetpaint.com/home of the opinionated old farts!