RIVER KIDS Day Camp

Come Join River Runners Rafting Camp!

Two days of river fun for kids aged 7-15.

River Runners has specialized in family trips and kids' adventures for over 50 years. In 2025, we are offering children's whitewater rafting camps in our own unique way. Welcome to RIVER KIDS Day Camp!

River Runners RIVER KIDS program will offer two days of river exploration, fun, games, training, and lunch.

RIVER KIDS separates participants into two age groups:

  • Explorers: For children aged 7-10. They will typically enjoy the class II Bio Bio Run (also known as the C to G).
  • Voyagers: For children aged 10-15. They typically run the Gorge on the first day of camp, and Chili Bar on the second day.

Your RIVER KIDS will be placed in rafts with kids of a similar age and comfort level with the river along with an expert River Runners guide.

Our guides meet all students where they are, and all students will be encouraged to expand their skills and knowledge of the river, regardless of their starting point.

Topics and skills RIVER KIDS will have the opportunity to practice:

+ Reading water
+ Scouting rapids
+ Swimming in current
+ Paddle strokes
+ Guiding class I, II, and/or III rapids
+ Directing a paddle crew
+ Basics of self-rescue
+ Surfing

Junior Guides Chili Bar

Quick Facts

  • Location: South Fork American River
  • Schedule:
    • June 23 - 24, 2025
    • June 30 - July 1, 2025
    • July 7 - 8, 2025
    • July 14 - 15, 2025
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Minimum age: 7
  • Max age: 15
  • Cost: $250 per person

Includes

  • On and off-river activities
  • All safety gear
  • Lunch and snacks each day of instruction
  • Government taxes and fees
  • Day use fees at Camp Lotus
  • Children may attend without adult supervision

Day Camp Itinerary:

Bring your kids and drop them off! River Kids day camps last for 2 days. Each day includes fun, games, river training, and lunch. It does not include camping or evening activities.

Day 1:

  • Check-in:
    (All kids): 8:30 AM at River Runners in Camp Lotus
  • Check out:
    Explorers: 4:00 PM
    Voyagers: 6:00 PM

Day 2:

  • Check-in:
    (All kids): 8:30 AM at River Runners in Camp Lotus
  • Check out:
    (All kids) 4:00 PM at River Runners in Camp Lotus

Our RIVER KIDS philosophy:

At River Runners, it's all about river philosophy. Our team is dedicated to fun, safety, education, and teamwork. It's a balance, and that's what we want to share with your children.Here are some important elements of our camps that you can expect us to offer and to teach to 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. And we like to teach our guests to understand the river environment so they can learn to stay out of situations where they need to be rescued.

Education

The river is a classroom. Sometimes it's subtle, sometimes it's overwhelming, but it's always a place to learn about oneself and nature. 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.

We have 2 Options for those interested in adding on a camping experience!

  • 2-Day Overnight Camp - Bring the whole family for a two-day River Runners adventure that includes meals, camping, and rafting for parents and siblings while your students participate in RIVER KIDS day camp activities.
  • Book a campsite, cabin, or RV site separately with Camp Lotus.

Are you ready to book this camp today?

View our calendar and check availability.