Whitewater River Rafting Guide Training
Since 1982, River Recreation has hosted our premier whitewater river rafting guide training course each spring. We are proud to be the only professional training organization in the Northwest offering American Canoe Association (ACA) certifications included in our whitewater river guide training class
Our comprehensive program includes over 100 hours of instruction—doubling the State of Washington’s minimum requirement—and covers the following certifications:
Upon successful completion of the class, all participants will receive certification for all four ACA courses. Our instructors are current professional guides and certified ACA Instructors skilled at working with various learning styles to ensure every student meets their daily goals.
The course is designed to fully immerse you in the world of professional rafting and safety. Graduates receive discounts on professional-grade gear, the opportunity to learn kayaking or oaring, and the ability to access the river with us throughout the season at no cost. Our ultimate goal is to equip you with the skills needed to join our team as a professional guide upon course completion.
If you have any questions, please visit our guide training page or contact our office at office@riverrecreation.com or 206.276.8774.
Schedule:
Our 12-day intensive guide training class runs from April through May each season. You can expect to spend 12 Saturdays and Sundays on the Wenatchee river. Our goal is for our students to experience and learn from a range of river conditions, and we achieve this by running and training hard in our class.
Class Instructions:
Our instructors in our river guide training class are handpicked, industry experts, and professionals who are leaders in the whitewater industry. Many have been whitewater rafting and kayaking for over 20 years; some are certified rescue instructors, trauma doctors, EMTs, or teachers. In addition, our river guide school teachers have extensive experience rafting worldwide.
Costs:
The base price of our 6-weekend training class is $700. Each student will be issued a wetsuit, booties, a helmet, and a PFD for the duration of the class (included in the course cost). We are now offering the class for a $100.00 deposit to secure your spot. There may be an option to work off some of the class tuition – email us for more info.
Class Structure:
Our class is structured to maximize your learning in an on-the-river environment. The class syllabus we use is based on the American Canoe Association’s river guide training outline and adapted for the Northwest. Each day, we use an established skill set to build on what was taught in class. Each day is spent on the river: Expect full days each day on the river filled with the highest-quality instruction. You should expect cold-water conditions and be ready for a wet environment for much of the time. Training is spent swimming in the river. In addition, please remember that this class can be very physical, and we do ask that you are in good physical shape and ready for a long day on the river.
Working After Training:
Most every student who completes our river guide training works for us as a guide at the completion of the class. Some work full-time, some weekends, some once a month. We take a “creative scheduling” approach to scheduling our guides to work. We recognize that not everyone can make this a full-time endeavor, and not everyone can work every weekend, so we schedule our guides to work on the river when their schedules allow. 1st-year guides can expect to make $70 to $100 per trip plus tips. In addition, we offer the opportunity to work as a river guide worldwide, as the role is highly portable once learned. We have had past graduates of our program go on to guide in Chile, New Zealand, Alaska, Idaho, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Switzerland, just to name a few.
Class Objectives:
A few of the many things you can expect to learn in our river guide training class include:
- River Safety
- “Reading” rivers
- River communication
- Boat rigging
- Flipping rafts
- Self-rescue
- Swimming rapids
- Basic river guiding techniques
- “Unwrapping” boats
In addition to the many skills we teach in class, you will learn to direct a team of paddlers, public speaking, team-building, problem-solving, and rescue/safety skills that can be applied to various emergencies.
Washington State law requires every commercial guide to complete a 50-hour on-river training class; our class includes over 100 hours of training. Our whitewater river guiding class can, and has changed some people’s lives and, in addition, has led to lifelong friendships both on and off the river.
Additional Perks:
Above and beyond the education, training, and knowledge you gain from our river guide training class, there are several other perks of taking the class. These include:
- Access to professionals-only discounts on all kinds of outdoor gear and equipment
- Ability to take additional river safety, rescue, and outdoor classes
- Free rafting with us for the whole year, even if you are not working
- Access to many different river crafts, more than just rafts, to enhance your river experience
- Access to guide-only trips on rivers and adventures
- Great discounts for friends and family on rating adventures
Everyone here at River Recreation knows that learning to guide is a lifelong process– our guides and our staff are committed to helping you in all your whitewater learning endeavors.
We here at River Recreation consider ourselves a family-based organization. We are hands-on, work hard, play hard, and enjoy all the wonders that Washington state has to offer. In addition to whitewater, many of our family members enjoy hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, camping, surfing, fishing, and hunting.
