ADULT GUIDE SCHOOL
When: Mid May each year (usually the week after the local colleges finish finals)
What: We will teach you all the basics on being a professional commercial whitewater raft guide.
This class will include outdoor classroom and lots of hands-on practice on the river, as well some ropes instruction on land.
At the end you will have to basic knowledge to apply for a job as a whitewater raft guide, and or take your friends and family out safely on the river.
Training will include but isn’t limited to how to:
- Preparing and Rigging a Raft for a day on the water
- Steering a raft with a paddle, also known affectionately as ‘stick guiding’
- Using your crew to maneuver through rapids
- Learning about obstacles in the river, and how to avoid them
- What are ‘Holes’ in the river, and how to expertly maneuve through them
- ‘Reading the river’ – How to understand Flow, Currents, CFS, Eddies, and more!
- ‘Lines’ for rapids, and instruction on the many ways to run a rapid
- Understanding, Catching and Using ‘Eddies’
- How to get off rocks if you become stuck in a rapid- Oh so important!
- Swimming rapids, and the most effective and safe ways to do so.
- Flipping over an Overturned Raft
- Hand Signals for effective communication on the river
- Making lunches…. river style!
- How to use a Rescue Bag, also known as a ‘Throw Bag’
- Safety and Paddle Talks for customers.
And more!
This noncompetitive 5-day class will be done mostly on the class III+ Pigeon Point section of the Trinity River and will include a day on some harder, class IV whitewater. Free camping and parking onsite at Six Rivers Rafting in Junction City is included as is lunch each day. All rafting gear is provided at no extra charge. Minimum of 1 instructor per every 5 students.
Guide School – May 19th-23rd, 2025
Ages: 16 and up
Costs: $600/person
Swiftwater Rescue Classes to Follow Guide School: TBD
If you are not sure which class to sign up for, please feel free to reach out for any and all questions!
JUNIOR GUIDE CAMP/RIVER SAFETY TRAINING
Mid June each year (usually a weekend or two after local schools let out.)
This is for tweens and teenagers (ages 11-17) looking to have fun and learn the basics of guiding a raft and river rescue/safety techniques. It will include an outdoor “classroom” component, but most of our time will be spent on the river with hands on learning about and practicing whitewater river skills, and having as much fun as possible! Training will include, but isn’t limited to: steering a raft with a paddle, using your crew maneuver a raft, reading the river, lines for rapids, eddies, getting unstuck, flipping a raft, hand signals, rescue rope bags, and more. Each day will include a new on-river game and on-land river guide game. This non competitive 4 day class will be done mostly on class II sections of the upper Trinity River (between Big Flat and Cedar Flat), but will include a day (or 2) on the class III+ pigeon point section. We’ll rent a USFS group campsite and the kids can camp there with a parent or other responsible adult. We’ll feed the kids lunch each day, but you’ll be responsible to providing dinners and breakfasts. Instructors will come pick up the kids each morning at 10am and return them to camp between around 4pm. Parents are welcome to book day rafting trips with 6 Rivers Rafting during the days, go hiking in the Trinity Alps, or just relax by the river. All necessary rafting gear is provided at no charge. There will be a minimum of 1 instructor per every 5 students. Students are welcome to join for less than the full time at a rate of $135/day.
Junior Guide School – June 27th-June 30th, 2025 Begins at 10am and finishes around 4pm.
Skunk Point Campground in Big Bar Campground has been reserved June 26th-June 30th, 2025 for all participants.
Ages: 11-17
Costs: $500/student
INTERMEDIATE GUIDE TRAINING
Mid April each year
This is your chance to take your guiding skills to the next level. We will spend our days running class IV sections of river, focusing on advanced paddle guiding and rowing skills. We will expect that you have basic class II-III guiding skills and will focus our time on being on the river, talking about and practicing skills in rapids each day. Potential sections of rivers include: Cal Salmon (Nordheimer and Butler runs), North Fork Smith, Middle Fork Smith (Patrick’s Creek), South Fork Trinity (3 Bears), Upper Sacramento, Upper Trinity (above the reservoir), and more. Which rivers we run will depend on flows that week. 6 Rivers Rafting will rent campsites for students and instructors to share. We’ll provide lunch each day, but you’ll be on your own for dinners and breakfasts. If you need any gear (wetsuits, splash jackets, booties), we’ll provide it at no charge. There will be a minimum of 1 instructor for every 5 students.
Intermediate Guide Training – 2025 TBD
Costs: $TBD/person
Call 707 599 4221 to reserve a spot!