River Education For Everyone!
River Runners offers a variety of guide schools and training programs for all ages. We want to share our love of rafting and our rivers with as many people as possible! Whether you are looking to learn the basics of whitewater rafting or you want to become a professional guide, we’ve got a program for you.
We have a long tradition of teaching the public how to raft. Every year since 2006 (and many unrecorded years before that!) we have offered at least one guide school, and often up to four of them. And that's not counting all of the kids instructional camps we facilitate.
As a part of our employment scheme, we attract and hire a set of river guides who are impassioned by teaching in the whitewater environment. These professionals excel in the pedagogy of river training. They know how to teach in a chaotic environment, maintaining the safety of the students while keeping them calm and engaged. Many of our instructors have taught 20+ whitewater courses, and some of them have taught all over the world.
If you are looking for a private rafting lesson, or a rowing lesson, or even just whitewater swimming skills, we can help with that. Please contact us for all your whitewater educational needs.
Professional Guide School
- Location: South Fork American River
- Class: II-III
- Schedule: June 9-15, 2024
- Duration: 7 Days
- Cost: $800 per person
- Minimum age: 16-years-old
- Experience required?: No
- Best for: Anyone that wants to become a professional river guide.
Private Boaters Guide School
- Location: South Fork American River
- Class: II-III
- Schedule: June 2-6, 2025
- Duration: 5 Days
- Cost: $750 per person
- Minimum age: 18-years-old
- Best for: Anyone looking for an intro to whitewater rafting
- Experience required?: No
Advanced Guide School
- Location: Kaweah River
- Class: IV
- Schedule: TBD - April or May 2025
- Duration: 5 Days
- Minimum age: 18-years-old
- Cost: $500 per person
- Best for: Guides with at least one year of experience looking to level up.
- Experience required?: Yes
BSA Merit Badge
- Location: South Fork American River
- Class: II-III
- Schedule: April - September
- Duration: 2 Days
- Cost: $375 per person
- Minimum age: 11-years-old
- Best for: Scouts planning to obtain the whitewater and kayaking merit badges.
- Experience required?: No
JR Guides Overnight Camp
- Location: South Fork American River
- Class: II - III
- Schedule: Various dates Summer 2025
- Duration: 3 Days
- Cost: For booking details, visit juniorguides.com
- Minimum age: 6-years-old
- Best for: Kids aged 6-16 wanting to have a blast while learning about whitewater rafting!
- Experience required?: No
Are you ready to book your trip today?
View our calendar and check availability.