Guide School: Introduction to running rivers
Have you ever dreamed of taking your friends and family down a river in your own raft or even working as a professional guide but don't know where to start?
It starts here! Build a skillset for a lifetime on the water!
Details:
Spring 2025:
3 weekends
- Tuition:
$ 600
- Includes all course materials
- Includes all equipment
- Includes camping
- Includes Lunch
What to expect:
- Expect to get wet
- Expect to learn to self-rescue
- Each day of training starts in our classroom. Readings and discussions from our carefully selected materials provide an opportunity to learn concepts, and vocabulary, and visualize scenarios.
- On-land skills sessions include:
- Equipment work; raft care, maintenance, personal gear
- Rope work; throw bag rescues, knot tying, anchor building
- Rigging a raft and learning about safety equipment
- On-the-water skills sessions include:
- Use of safety equipment
- River etiquette and safe practices
- Reading water & currents
- Paddle commands / commanding a crew
- River rescue basics
- Flipping a raft / recovering a raft
- As a team we move from river to river, section to section, and spend most of our time in and around the water.
Instruction:
An International Rafting Federation-approved curriculum.
Prerequisites:
No previous experience is necessary
Participants must be 18+
We recommend that you be both in good general health and know how to swim.
Accommodations:
Students may choose to camp at our boat yard in BZ Corner, White Salmon, or make other arrangements.