These courses teach essential skills that range from beginners to advanced and will help you learn skills used to navigate Class I-4 whitewater. Participants will focus on fundamental maneuvers, river reading, hazard identification (like holes/waves), basic safety, and self/group rescue, emphasizing personal judgment, proper equipment use, and team responsibility for an enjoyable experience.
Core Objectives & Skills
River Reading: Identifying features, hazards, and safe lines in rapids (waves, hydraulics).
Paddling Techniques: Efficient strokes, teamwork, and maneuvers to control the raft.
River Safety: Understanding river dynamics, personal safety, and basic rescue techniques (self-rescue, swimmer recovery).
Raft Handling: Maneuvering the raft effectively and learning guiding skills for paddle rafts.
Equipment: Familiarization with paddle raft gear and appropriate personal clothing.
What You Learn
"Hard Skills": Strokes, boat control, and how to navigate specific river features.
"Soft Skills": Developing judgment, awareness, and responsibility for your group.
Leadership: Introduction to leading a paddle raft, managing incidents, and coaching others.
Who It's For
Paddlers looking for more advanced skills and to gain confidence in larger, more difficult rapids.
Those wanting to learn the fundamentals of paddle rafting for personal or future guiding roles.
Skill Development
Take your skills to the next level
Guide Schools
We specialize in personalized Multi-day Guide Schools for both commercial raft companies and private boaters of all levels.
Personalized instruction
All of our rafting courses have a low 6:1 participant-Instructor ratio. This allows us to deliver high-quality instruction, increases time management, enhances individualized attention, helps form more personal relationships, and promotes a more positive learning environment.
We offer the following ACA courses:
Level 2: Essentials of Rafting - Paddle
Level 3: Rafting - Paddle
Level 4: Whitewater Rafting - Paddle
Level 5: Advanced Whitewater Rafting - Paddle
KIDS WELCOME
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Course Bundle Deals
Whitewater Sampler Package
Bundle Courses for the Most Value!
Mentorship Program
Check our schedule to find this and other great courses!
All courses are internationally recognized as official American Canoe Association (ACA) courses. We teach paddling courses based upon approved ACA course outlines for both skills courses and assessments.
Contact:
Got questions?
We are happy to customize courses, offer private events, and travel to your location. Get in touch!
We look forward to hearing from you!