Whitewater Guide School

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Raft Guide Training Programs

If you’ve fallen in love with rafting and want to take that passion to the next level, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you want to become a professional river guide, or would like to be able to guide your own private paddle raft trips down the river with confidence, OARS whitewater guide schools are for you.

As one of the largest whitewater rafting companies in the world, with more than 50 years of experience under our belts, you could say we know a thing or two about rivers and river safety. All of OARS whitewater rafting guide school programs are taught by our professional river guides who have formal swiftwater rescue training and extensive backgrounds in leading whitewater rafting trips. When you set out to learn how to guide a river trip professionally or privately, you’ll be learning from the best.

A group of river guides and trainees smile for a photo by the river

The Full Package

While our main objective is to teach you the techniques to safely guide a paddle or oar raft downstream and through rapids, there is so much more to raft guide training. We’ll also dive into river etiquette, whitewater rescue techniques, how to rig a boat and safely secure it, water hydraulics, rope techniques, and of course, how to prepare the best river meals. Oh, and did we mention you’ll be learning on some of the most exciting whitewater rivers in the U.S.?

Choose from one of our whitewater rafting guide training programs based out of California, Oregon or Utah in the spring and early summer:

9-Day California Whitewater Guide School on the American River, which includes two days of formal swiftwater training.
7-Day Dinosaur Whitewater Guide School on the Split Mountain stretch of the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah.
7-Day Oregon Rowing Guide School on the Lower Klamath River and Rogue River in Northern California and Oregon

A raft with OARS guide school participants splashes through a rapid on the South Fork of the American River

Take the next step

If you’re an aspiring river guide, whitewater rafting guide school is a critical first step and may provide an opportunity for you to get your foot in the door with a well-established company like OARS. In fact, it’s not uncommon for us to hire directly from our guide school programs. If you’re considering a guiding career with OARS, be sure to check out our Hiring and Guide School FAQs.

Class is in Session

Do you Have what it takes?

For a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become a river guide, don’t miss our 5-episode “Guide School” series. Follow along as a new class of raft guide trainees learns the ins and outs of whitewater rafting on California’s American River with some of our top guides leading the way.

Find Your Perfect Trip