Every year, we increase our guide crew by attracting people who are excited about the river, and about sharing the river experience with our guests and senior guides. We’re all about safety and having fun! We hire individuals who have a keen appreciation for our guest’s satisfaction, and who also have the physical capabilities needed to “do the job” of guiding whitewater trips. As a river guide, you’ll be interacting with people (fellow guides and guests) all the time! It’s your job to help ensure that every guest has a great experience, on and off the river!
Do I need any prior experience to be a River Guide candidate?
Not really! You’ll need to be a reliable swimmer and comfortable around water in general, but whitewater skills are a big part of what we teach in our Guide Training Program. If you approach this job in a natural, outgoing, people-friendly manner, you’re already more than halfway there. The rest you can learn from our trainers, and by shadowing real trips down the river. The minimum age to start training is 16 years old.
When is training available?
You can begin training as early as mid-April (with subsequent training classes also scheduled to take place in May and June). Each time you train, you’ll learn an additional set of skills, until you’ve completed the requirements to be hired as a guide!
Will I be training in a raft or in a kayak?
All trainees begin their training in a raft. On the second day of on-river training, you’ll be introduced to whitewater kayaking, at which point you will transition into paddling an inflatable kayak (or “Ducky”). During subsequent weekends, you will begin to work on advanced rafting skills, and you will also be introduced to a “Sit-On-Top” kayak, which is the type of craft most new guides work out of. Once the core components of your training are completed, you may choose between a Ducky or a Sit-On-Top for additional training and work trips. During the late Spring and Summer, there will be opportunities to train in a regular whitewater kayak, which is what a lot of our experienced guides use when they are facilitating trips along the river.
What do I do when I train?
Weekend training begins with a Friday night meeting at the Whitewater Challengers “Guide House.” Free weekend lodging accommodation at the Guide House will be available for trainees who are 18 years old or over. On Saturday and Sunday, you’ll be on the river with your trainers. You’ll learn things like the names of the rapids, how to run a trip through each rapid, how to paddle a raft and a kayak, rescue skills, emergency procedures, company policies and procedures, and ways to help provide an exceptional guest experience on every trip!
How long will I train before I start working?
Most people need to train on the river for at least three weekends. Others may take a little longer. In addition to on-river training, you’ll also spend some time each day in the classroom. These classroom sessions will cover your “Guide Orientation.” We also require that all guide candidates become certified in Standard First Aid by the end of their first season. As such, several Standard First Aid cases are available each year. If you are already First Aid certified, and your certification has not lapsed or will not lapse during the current year, you’re all set! Once you’ve completed and demonstrated the basic river skills outlined on our trainee checklist, and you are recommended by a trainer, you’re ready to begin working as a river guide!
When do I work when I become a river guide?
Our busiest season is May through September. Weekends are always busy, and during the summer months, there is some weekday work as well. You don’t have to be available every weekend, but it is important to be available on a regular basis.
How much money can I make?
Once you’ve completed our training program you will be considered a Class I Guide. The guide pay scale is outlined below. Other benefits include complimentary rafting spaces for your friends, a free place to bunk at the Guide House (if you are 18 or over), a free guide lunch each trip that you work, occasional free dinners, a free Guide Shirt, discounts at our store and snack bar, an employee trip to another river, free kayak training, Pro Discounts at whitewater equipment vendors, and more!
- Class I Guide: $80/trip
- Class II Guide: $85/trip
- Class III Guide: $95/trip
- Plus, an additional $10/trip for Advanced First Aid Certification
- Plus, an additional $10/trip for using your personal kayak
- Plus, an additional $16/trip for being a trip leader
- Plus, an additional $25/trip for being a kayak instructor or guide trainer
- Plus, a one-time-per-season bonus of $100 once a river guide has worked seven weekend days.
There are also opportunities for additional (hourly) work at the Rafting Center, or before and after your rafting trip. Please let us know if you’re interested in learning more about this.
How do I apply to be a Whitewater Challengers River Guide?
Email us at training@whitewaterchallengers.com and tell us a little bit about yourself and your background! Feel free to attach a resume if you like (although resumes are not required). You can also call us at the Whitewater Challengers Guide Hotline at 570-443-9728 if you have any questions about the program.
What do I need to bring?
If you choose to stay at the Whitewater Challengers Guide House, all you’ll really need is a sleeping bag, a bathing suit, and a great attitude. We’ll supply all the gear you need. If you already have personal river gear, you are welcome to bring that along. Lodging is free, and food is easily purchased locally. If you are training in colder weather in early Spring, it’s a good idea to bring a wool cap, wool socks, and polypro (polypropylene) long underwear (not cotton). All of these can be purchased in our outdoor store here at the Rafting Center.