Come enjoy the excitement and accomplishment of earning the Whitewater and/or kayaking Merit Badge with Ace Kayaking. Ace kayaking is the premiere kayaking school licensed on the Ocoee River. Our one-day Merit Badge program focuses on teamwork and in addition to our instructors being ACA certified, they are all professional kayakers also. It doesn’t matter if scouts are paddling in high performance funyaks or in traditional whitewater kayaks, they always have a blast working together to get down the river!
”From an early age Scouting played a major roll in my life. Not only did it introduce me to many of the skills I depend upon in my work and Travels, but it also instilled in me the desire to explore and push myself to higher levels. I place the blame for my taste in adventure and will to “cheerfully serve others” all on Scouting.
-Ace Kayaking Owner, Instructor, and Eagle Scout Joseph Gudger
Ace Funyak’s six-hour program does not just teach scouts how to kayak, but it encourages scouts to pursue kayaking. The day begins with classroom learning followed by flat-water practice and then climaxes with funyaking parts of the exciting Middle Ocoee River, or some whitewater kayaking on class I II.
Click to review Whitewater Merit Badge Requirements
Since our founding fifteen years ago Ace Funyaks has provided outstanding service with an impeccable safety record. We are permitted by the USDA, Forest Service, and the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide kayak instruction on the Ocoee River. Our 3:1 student to instructor ratio is unsurpassed. All instructions are led by owner and merit badge counselor Joe Gudger, and guided by the standards of the American Canoe Association.
Pricing: $125 per participant. We encourage parents to attend, and be sure to ask about our two-day program which allows scouts to earn the Kayaking Award the second day.
Joseph (Joe) Gudger
Kayaking and the lifestyle that accompanies it have led Joe to some of the most inspirational places and inspirational people. Although he finds it difficult to express what draws him to rivers so strongly, he is thankful for that draw and considers himself incredibly...
Joshua Huber
If you ask Joshua today, he’ll tell you he still remembers his first ever lesson with Ace. Josh was ten years old when Jeff, Joe, and Emily took him down the Hiwassee River for a joint lesson with his family....
Lucien Scott
Lucien is a whitewater paddling enthusiast living in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a deep passion for exploration and the pursuit of happiness. He wholeheartedly loves the outdoors, particularly the mountains and rivers. He has dedicated the last 25 years of his life to...
Josiah Roller
Hailing from the scenic city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Josiah is an avid kayaker with a deep love for all things whitewater. His journey into the world of paddling began back in 2010 when he first dipped his toes into the Ocoee River as a raft guide. Little did he...
Morgan Cox
Morgan has been a member of the ACE team for six years. Her love of whitewater started as a kid while taking summer family trips to raft on the Ocoee River. Nine years ago, a friend, who later became her husband, convinced her to go to Georgia State University’s raft...
Natalie Haberer
Natalie’s journey into kayaking began in the summer of 2015 when she embarked on her first thrilling adventure down the Middle Ocoee in a raft. She was captivated by the whitewater with its unique blend of adrenaline, tranquility, and community. She watched wide-eyed...
Kirk Eddlemon
Kirk’s dad cultivated a deep respect and appreciation in him for wild places and adventures when he was just a boy, where they spent lots of time exploring the mountains and rivers of the world.