Dinosaur Whitewater Guide School

Adventure Overview

Taught by professional river rafting guides, our Dinosaur Whitewater Guide School, is designed for those hoping to become a professional river guide, as well as for people who would like to safely guide their own paddle raft and those simply wanting to learn more about whitewater rafting and the nuances a river journey entails.

This Colorado rafting guide school is ideal for:

• Individuals interested in working as a professional river rafting guide (ask us about tuition assistance for prospective guides who submit an employment application)
• Parties interested in guiding a paddle raft on their own private river trip(s)
• Anyone interested in learning the basics of whitewater rafting, reading whitewater and river safety
• 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 Dinosaur 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 guides are personable, approachable and the best in the business
• We set the gold standard in safety
• We are committed to treading lightly on the environment
• You need not have outdoor experience, we’ll show you the ropes
• Our trips involve small groups: we have the best guide-to-guest ratio in the business (1:4) ensuring personal attention

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

• Class III whitewater rafting
• Guide training
• 6 nights camping + 2-person shared tent
• Rafts and related river equipment, including paddles, helmet, PFD/lifejacket
• All transfers

An example of our whitewater guide training course content:

• Reading whitewater
• Maneuvering paddle rafts
• Various stroke techniques
• Knot tying
• Raft rigging
• River signals
• How to communicate with your crew
• The basic logistics of a rafting trip
• Camp – setting up, 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
• Swiftwater Rescue Techniques
• Equipment 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 Dinosaur 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 you to get your foot in the door with a well-established organization with itineraries spread throughout North America and abroad.