Becoming a Whitewater Rafting Guide

From Project GO

At Project GO’s Basic Guide Training, adventure will seek you. Each day, you will stand at the edge--of what you know, what you can do, who you are--and leap forward. You will risk trusting your team, and be rewarded. You will grow new muscles, build new skills, and wonder anew at the transformative powers of nature and nurture. (You will also bump into many, many rocks. Don't sweat it.)

In eleven days, we will teach you the basics of rigging and guiding an inflatable raft, reading and running Class II & III water, commanding a crew, following safety and rescue protocols, teaching and learning with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, running an efficient river camp, and handling the logistics of a day on the river. We'll train on the always-entertaining South Fork of the American River, staying at developed campgrounds with showers and a small general store. We provide gear, food, snacks, trainers, and a comprehensive curriculum. You'll share in the preparation & clean-up of delicious meals (vegetarian fare always available), and provide your own transportation for getting to the rivers and shuttling people & gear (carpooling often available).

Project GO! runs the guide training at cost. The training fee will equal the cost of food, river use & camping permits, and some transportation, divided by the number of participants. The cost was around $400 for the entire eleven days of the June 2006 training. (Scholarship funds may be available: contact us for details.)

Training is traditionally held in June. The dates for 2009 training haven't been decided yet. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer guide for Project GO or simply want to learn how to raft, fill out the application Basic Guide Training Application and send it to us at mailto:training@projectgo.org. Thanks!