California Whitewater Guide School

Adventure Overview

Learn to guide paddle rafts down exciting whitewater rivers with 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.

This California guide school is ideal for:

• Those interested in working as a professional whitewater rafting guide (ask us about tuition assistance for prospective guides who submit an employment application)
• Parties interested in guiding their own paddle raft on private river trips
• Anyone interested in learning the basics of whitewater paddle rafting, reading whitewater and river safety
• Anyone who appreciates experiential learning
• Folks looking for unusual graduation, anniversary, birthday, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day or 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, Sunset, Good Morning America, Condé Nast Traveler and Men’s Journal have all recognized OARS as offering 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

The California Guide School includes:

• California whitewater rafting on the South Fork American River located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills
• Guide training
• Meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 9
• Rafts and related river equipment, including paddles, helmet, wetsuit, personal flotation device
• 8 nights riverside camping at the OARS American River Outpost and a 2-person tent (You may bring your own sleeping bag/pad or rent them from OARS)
• Whitewater navigation, including paddle raft techniques, route selection, maneuvering rafts, boat spacing and river etiquette
• Two-day River Rescue Certification
• Swiftwater rescue techniques, include swimming in whitewater, hand signals, ropes, knots, anchors, flipped raft scenarios, throw bag technique, shallow water crossings, rescuing and extricating an accident victim from the water, swiftwater rescue team organization

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

• Basic hydrology
• Maneuvering rafts as a paddle guide
• 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
• Basic river rescue
• Equipment care and maintenance
• Emergency river procedures
• 7 Principles of Leave No Trace

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 at our American River Outpost. (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.