Guided Rafting & Wilderness Adventures for Scouts & Venturers
Exploring the backcountry—whether wild rivers, remote trails or coastal waters—affects people in profound ways. Like John Wesley Powell or Lewis and Clark, the journey through these amazing places shapes those who venture forth. Sounds a lot like Scouting, doesn’t it?
If you’re looking for a rafting or wilderness adventure that will build character, skills and lifelong memories among your troop and easily integrate with the ideals and goals of your Scouting program, we’ve got a number of trips that will suit your group. Not only that, an adventure with OARS challenges Scouts and Venturers to turn off all the distractions around them and become immersed in the now—to explore outside, but also what’s inside. And most importantly, it’s the opportunity to instill a lifelong love of the outdoors in kids.
Scouts, youth groups and other non-profit organizations with 10 or more participants are eligible for 10-30% off selected adventures. Call 800-346-6277 for details. Some exclusions apply.
But we know that heading into the backcountry with a group can be challenging, so we’ve taken care of all the logistics necessary to get your crew ready for this trek of a lifetime. From shuttles and gear, to meals and skill-building activities, our guides have you covered. Organizing a Scout trip has never been easier.
Scout trips with OARS include:
- Professional guide service & instruction
- Comfortable catered camping
- Meals from lunch on day 1 through lunch on the last day
- All expedition equipment is provided or available to rent, including 2-person shared tent, sleeping bag with liner, sleeping pad, pillow with pillow case, ground cloth and waterproof bags to hold your gear
- High-quality inflatable rafts and kayaks and related river equipment including paddle, helmet and personal flotation device (PFD)
- Wetsuits and splash jackets for paddlers – weather dependent
- Transfers from the meeting place to the river and back
Many OARS guides credit Scouting with first introducing them to what became their passion for the outdoors. Late company founder, George Wendt, was an Eagle Scout himself.
“When I first joined the Boy Scouts, I was actually scared of water over my head. To earn the rank of First Class, however, I had to learn how to swim and I started overcoming my apprehension of deep water. Then, my Scoutmaster encouraged me to go after the Swimming Merit Badge, and later on my path to earning the rank of Eagle, the Life Saving Merit Badge. I give my Scoutmaster tremendous credit. His support and the camping trips we did fueled my love of the outdoors. It still seems somewhat unreal to me, but the skills I learned in Scouting enabled me to go out and start a rafting company, which is now the world’s largest.”
—George Wendt
Adventuring with OARS isn’t just a trip, it’s an experience you’ll always remember. And the best part? Scouts and Scoutmasters alike will build character, skills and memories that last a lifetime.
Request your Scouting the Rapids Packet to start planning your next adventure today…
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