Whitewater Raft Guide School: Class II-IV

Whitewater Guide Training

Adventure Rafting Company’s Whitewater Raft Guide Training is fun, comprehensive, and safe. Students tell us that Raft Guide Training week is the most fun and challenging week of their life…We know that their future rafting experiences will top it!

Working as a rafting guide is also one of the best ways to explore the outdoor recreation industry; gain confidence working with customers, learn valuable safety and rescue skills, become a reliable team player, and find out if adventure guiding is for you! Students in our Raft Guide Training courses include professionals, students, firefighters, teachers, nurses, interns, and recreational paddlers. We hope you can join us too!

Whether you’re looking for employment in the outdoor industry or just want to learn the ins and outs of rafting and reading the river for personal enjoyment, our training program is just what you’re looking for. Since 1983 Wave Trek (now Adventure Rafting Company) has produced world-class whitewater river guides.

What You’ll Learn

Each day of training is filled with hands-on skill building — we spend most of our time in and around the water gaining valuable skills and knowledge that prepare you to be a solid guide.

• Maneuver a raft downriver safely
• Read water currents
• Rig your boat
• Safety equipment and how to use it
• Instructing your paddlers
• Trip planning
• River safety and rescue basics
• Guest interactions
• and lots, lots more!

Discounts offered when you also register for ACA Advanced Swiftwater Rescue L5. If you have any questions please contact us 425-883-9039. We hire from our spring programs!

Prerequisites

We recommend that you are a confident swimmer in good health, and you must be 18+ years of age. No previous guiding experience is necessary. If you enjoy being in the outdoors, love working as part of a team, and enjoy meeting new people every day, then join us! You will need to complete the entire training program and attend all listed dates. You must demonstrate all required skills and complete 50+ hours of guide training in addition to having current CPR and 1st Aid in order to meet Washington State guiding laws.

Employment

If you are interested in becoming a commercial raft guide after you have completed guide training, we will help you with placement on the appropriate rivers. Please keep in mind that not everyone will develop the skills needed to guide commercially their first year. You may want to practice your first season and ride along with a veteran guide as many times as needed to gain the necessary experience. If need be, you may audit the guide training course for free in the future. Our purpose is not to leave anyone behind in skills training.

About Our Instructors

Adventure Rafting Company continues to lead the whitewater guide industry with our state of the art and recently revised whitewater raft guide training program. This 50+ hour intensive training program not only meets Washington State Guiding Laws but is now recognized by the American Canoe Association.

Adventure Rafting Company is the only outfitter in Washington State to exploit Certified Whitewater Raft Guide Instructor Trainers who use the American Canoe Association’s paddle rafting curriculum. Our Instructor Trainers have extensive whitewater and instructional experiences worldwide. They will go out of their way to make sure each student’s goals are met and their river experiences are positive and fun! We look forward to seeing you on the river.

Training Rivers

Each season’s training locations can vary, but the following rivers are often included in our training programs and students generally have the opportunity to experience a range of locations.

• Skykomish River (Index, WA)
• Wenatchee River (Leavenworth, WA)
• Skagit River (Darrington, WA)
• Sauk River (Darrington, WA)
• Deschutes River (Warm Springs, OR)
• Methow River (Winthrop, WA)

Deposit Option

A down payment of $250 will hold your space in your desired course. The remaining balance is due 14 days prior to your course start date. Please call our office at 425-883-9039 to take advantage of this offer. Questions? Please call or email us at [email protected] for more details.

For Certified Raft Guides

If you have worked as a commercial raft guide or are a competent Class III private rafter, and have at least 3 years of raft guiding experience, you may be eligible to enroll in our intensive Advanced Whitewater Raft Guide Training course. This program has limited space. Call 425-883-9039 or email us for details. [email protected]