River Education For Everyone!
River Runners is proud to present youth whitewater rafting programs for all levels of experience!
At River Runners, we believe in learning through fun and exploration rather than a checklist. Our guides are chosen and trained specifically to provide top-quality river education for young learners without the classroom feel.
Whether your students have never set foot in a raft or grew up paddling the rapids, we've got something that will expand their knowledge, comfort zone, and love of whitewater.
Our youth whitewater rafting programs are grounded in the following core values: Fun, safety, education, and teamwork. It's a balance, and that's what we want to share with your children:
Fun
Whitewater rafting on the South Fork of the American River is incredibly fun, especially when your kids are rafting with us. River Runners guides are like whitewater lifeguards. Your kids get the chance to explore the river environment together while we keep an eye on them. We guide them safely down the river, we serve them lunch, and we offer them challenge by choice. They will have the opportunity to guide rapids, play games, swim in the river, jump off rocks, and to some degree define their own adventure.
Safety
Whitewater rafting is fun when everyone feels safe and taken care of. At River Runners, we provide industrial-strength river gear, incredibly talented guides, and a lot of personalized care. River Runners is committed to having a low guide-to-guest ratio, meaning our expertise isn't spread too thin.
Education
The river is a classroom, and River Runners guides are outdoor educators. We want to teach people how to thrive in the river environment. We want to teach your kids how to guide a raft, wear a life jacket, and even how to make a deli sandwich. And we want to teach them about river conservation because we want the river to thrive while we enjoy it.
Teamwork
Good chemistry is the key to any good river trip. River rafting is a team-building activity by nature. Every day a team is assembled that needs to rely on each other have fun and be safe. Leadership is crucial. And if everything goes well, camaraderie is cultivated. River Runners guides want to teach your kids to work as a team as they navigate the un-engineered river environment.
From day camps to Boy Scout Merit Badge programs to overnight camps, we have youth whitewater rafting program for your kids. Check out our offerings below or contact us directly for more details.
BSA Merit Badge
- Location: South Fork American River
- Class: II-III
- Schedule: April - September
- Duration: 2 Days
- Cost: $240-$375 per person
- Minimum age: 11-years-old. 6-years-old for non-badge participants.
- Best for: Scouts planning to obtain the whitewater and kayaking merit badges.
- Experience required? No
River Kids Day Camp
- Location: South Fork American River
- Class: II-III
- Schedule: Various dates Summer 2025
- Duration: 2 Days
- Cost: $250 per youth
- Minimum age: 7-years-old
- Best for: Kids aged 7-15 wanting to have a blast while learning about whitewater rafting!
- Experience required? No
River Kids Overnight Camp
- Location: South Fork American River
- Class: II-III
- Schedule: Various dates Summer 2025
- Duration: 2 Days, 2 nights
- Cost: $375 per person
- Minimum age: 6-years-old
- Best for: Youth signing up for River Kids and friends and family who want to camp and eat with them, and go rafting separately.
- Experience required? No