Whitewater Guide Training in Washington State

2012 Spring Guide Training Course

Love the outdoors and adventure? Ever thought of learning to be a white water raft guide? Is having fun with your friends on the river while making money sound like a job for you? 

Blue Sky Outfitters offers the top Guide Training course in Washington: a highly intensive, hands-on series of classes taught by some of the top white water river rafting guides in the state. Our goal is to produce a graduating class that will meet our high standards for our own guides, as we hire many of our new guides from our guide training class.

No previous experience is needed. This course is open to anyone who has good swimming ability. This course will teach you all that you need to know to begin guiding white water rafting trips and exceeds Washington State requirements for white water guide training.

Please read on... At the bottom of this page you'll find links to get more information or to register.

NOTE: This class fills up fast. If you want to make sure you'll be part of Guide Training 2012, get your deposit in early to hold your space!

Costs

Tuition is $575.00 and includes river gear rental (wetsuit, neoprene booties, life jacket, helmet), all necessary instructional materials and books, CPR / First Aid certification, and free rental of supplemental training and rescue videos. A minimum of 50% of tuition is due upon signing up to hold your place. All fees are non-refundable.

Employment

Our company is the largest in Washington and GROWING! If you’re interested in a job as a whitewater guide, our first round of hiring each year is from the graduates of this class. We’ll have part-time, full-time, and weekends-only positions available.

In addition to graduating from our guide training course and demonstrating the ability to safely guide on your own, we look for individuals with a strong work ethic, great attitude, good people skills, and the ability to always be on time and ready to go. You must have a current drivers license, and your own vehicle. If you meet these requirements, get good marks in the course, and have a passion for the river, we might extend an offer to join our company!

Although we hire guides from all over Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, we’re especially looking for guides local to the following areas:

• Greater Seattle, WA area
• Bellingham, WA / Mt Vernon, WA / Vancouver, BC / Skagit River area
• Wenatchee, WA / Leavenworth, WA / Wenatchee River area
• Winthrop, WA / Lake Chelan / Methow River area
• Portland, Oregon / Hood River, Oregon / White Salmon River area
• Yakima, WA / Mount Rainier National Park / Tieton River Area

A Note about working as a Whitewater Rafting Guide

Becoming a professional river rafting guide is not for everyone. It takes commitment, dedication, and a willingness to constantly learn and improve throughout one’s career. The personal rewards are outstanding. The confidence level of most guides excels within a very short period of time. You will become comfortable taking charge in front of people you have never met. Fellow guides become close friends with a common bond of love of the outdoors, and the constant adventures of challenging whitewater.

Schedule for 2012 Training

How a weekend is typically structured...

Most people arrive Friday night and set up camp for the weekend. We will be rafting from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. We will be eating lunch on the river so be sure to pack one. In the past, Trainees have arranged potlucks or a group outing for Saturday night. Guide Training is one of the most fun things you will ever do and you are sure to make friends to last a lifetime!

Gear you will need...

Next Steps...

I'd like to get on your mailing list to receive more information about Guide Training 2012 as it comes available.

I'd like to register for the 2012 class. Once you're registered and your 50% deposit is paid, you'll be granted access to the internal Guide Training forum where you can chat with other members of the class and ask questions of our guides and staff.

If you have previously completed a Whitewater Certification Course with another Outfitter and have at least 2 years of experience as a whitewater rafting guide, you may not need to complete our Training Course in order to be considered for employment.  If you meet the above criteria, please send you resume and riverlog to rafting@blueskyoutfitters.com