California Whitewater Guide School

Adventure Overview

Learn to guide rafts down California’s most exciting whitewater rivers from the company twice named the “The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure magazine.

You need no prior outdoor or river rafting experience to participate in OARS California Whitewater Rafting Guide Schools. You will learn rafting and camping techniques that will be useful throughout your lifetime.

These California guide schools are ideal for:

• Those interested in working as a professional river rafting guide
• Parties interested in guiding their own private river trip(s)
• Anyone interested in learning the basics of whitewater rafting, reading whitewater and river safety
• Anyone looking for an incredible bargain on multiple California rivers
• Anyone who appreciates experiential learning
• Folks looking for unusual graduation, anniversary, birthday, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, honeymoon gift ideas

Why sign up for a California Whitewater Guide School with OARS?

• As the largest and most geographically diverse whitewater rafting and adventure travel outfitter in North America, OARS knows a thing or two about rivers and river safety
• Outside magazine, National Geographic Traveler magazine, MSNBC, Good Morning America, Condé Nast Traveler and Men’s Journal have all recognized OARS as offering the some of the “Best Trips” on the planet
• OARS has been guiding people on rivers and coastlines worldwide since 1969, including relaxing Class I floats to adrenaline-pumping Class V rivers throughout North and South America to the Class 10 rapids found in the Grand Canyon
• More than 500,000 guests have entrusted OARS to escort them on some of the most spectacular wilderness destinations worldwide
• We use top-notch, well-maintained equipment
• Our experienced, well-rounded guide instructors are personable, approachable and the best in the business
• We are committed to treading lightly on the environment
• If you have no outdoor experience, we’ll show you the ropes
• We have the best guide-to-guest ratio in the business (1:4) ensuring personal attention

For the 7-Day California Guide School, one price includes:

• California whitewater rafting on multiple Class III & IV rivers located throughout the Sierra Nevada Foothills
• Guide training
• Jeff Bennett’s book, “The Complete Whitewater Rafter”
• 6 nights riverside camping and a 2-person shared tent (You may bring your own sleeping bag/pad or rent them from OARS)
• Meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 7
• Rafts and related river equipment, including paddles, helmet, wetsuit, PFD/lifejacket
• All transfers

An example of course content taught during the 7 days at the OARS California Guide School:

• Reading whitewater
• Maneuvering rafts
• Various whitewater paddling techniques
• Knot tying
• Raft rigging
• River signals
• How to communicate with a crew
• The basic logistics of a rafting trip
• Camp – setting up, food preparation, minimum impact strategies
• Tying up and anchoring boats so you know they’ll be there in the morning
• Wildlife – what to do about those pesky critters
• Basic River Rescue
• Equipment Maintenance
• Emergency River Procedures
• 7 Principles of Leave No Trace

In addition to the above, the 13-Day California Guide School Intensive & Swiftwater Rescue includes:

• Three-day Swiftwater Rescue Technician I training and certification
• California whitewater rafting on additional Class III & IV Sierra rivers, which may include the South Fork American River, the Merced River near Yosemite National Park, as well as possibly the Tuolumne River, the North Fork of the American River and/or the North Fork of the Stanislaus.

An example of course content taught in the 13 days at the OARS California Guide School:

• Everything taught in OARS’ 7-day whitewater guide school
• Advanced whitewater navigation, including paddle and oar raft techniques, route selection, maneuvering rafts, boat spacing and river etiquette
• Swiftwater rescue techniques, including swimming in whitewater, hand signals, ropes, knots, slings, anchors, flipped raft scenarios, throw bag technique, rescuing and extricating an accident victim from the water, swiftwater rescue team organization and the response of the victim and the responsibilities of law-enforcement and on-scene leadership

Raft Guides for Hire

Don’t want the fun to end? If you do well in our California Whitewater Rafting Guide School, we just might consider asking you to stay on as an OARS guide. (We do give preferential consideration to our guide school graduates.) Click here to complete our online guide application.

As the paddle sports industry evolves (smaller companies are disbanding, guide retention rate is shrinking due to fewer opportunities) working within the rafting industry has become increasingly competitive. OARS requires skilled guides and seeks a higher proficiency rate of its crew. This guide school is a critical first step to river guiding and may provide an opportunity for employment with a well-established organization with itineraries spread throughout the western U.S. and beyond our borders.