American River Guide School

2008 Whitewater Raft Guide School

Dear Prospective American Whitewater Staff,

Each year we receive many inquiries from college students and others seeking summer employment in the rafting industry. We always need river guides and we invite those with previous rafting experience to send a resume to us. If you do not have rafting experience, then it is necessary to go through a guide's school to obtain the proper training.

American Whitewater offers a school for prospective guides that will teach you the necessary river skills (see course outline), as well as instruct you in our format and put you in sync with our current staff. Our 6-day intensive guide training course, including a 1-day graduation trip, totals 7 days and qualifies you to be an A.B., Assistant Boatperson. This means that at the end of your guide's school you will be accompanying a qualified guide who will assess your skills and further your training as you guide a commercial raft trip. With a minimum of two and a maximum of five training trips (in most cases), depending upon your abilities, you will be ready to guide your first solo commercial raft trip.

Starting guide's wages are $53.00 for an upper half-day trip, $68.00 for a lower one-day trip, and go up from there depending on the river guided. (A.B.'s do not draw a salary until fully qualified.)  In addition to guiding there is a lot of prep work, carpentry, raft and auto repair, shuttles, and miscellaneous errands to be done at an hourly wage of $8.00/hour. If you are a singer or musician it will be of benefit also. Work is available from other rafting companies in the area when you're not working with American Whitewater.

Arrangements can be made if you want to live at camp during the summer. Meals are only provided during a trip on which you are working. Cost per month is $85.00 and includes use of showers and indoor restroom facilities. The staff has use of a 'guide refrigerator' and the staff cooking facilities.

Along with your guiding abilities, a very important aspect of being a river guide is being a 'people person'. You have to enjoy being with people and be sensitive to their needs as rafters. We can teach you all the rafting skills you'll need, but it's the quality of our staff and their ability to relate to customers that keeps our rafters coming back.

It's also important to be a team player. No one enjoys working with someone who doesn't do their share of the work. Raft trips are a group effort and you will be assessed on your ability to lend a helping hand.

Our guide's school is May 25 - 30, Sunday - Friday, followed by an optional 1-day graduation trip on a different river. Your A.B. training will begin following the end of the school. If your work or school schedule won't allow you to begin guiding until later in June, then just let us know when you'll be available. Please note that completion of our guide's school does not guarantee employment. Each individual is assessed on their own abilities.

Prior to employment with American Whitewater you will need First Aid and CPR certificates that are good for the entire rafting season.

We provide pretty much everything you'll need for the guide's school. We provide all meals Sunday through Friday evening plus breakfast and lunch on the optional graduation trip and all wetsuit, booties, and paddle jackets. Have a dry suit? Bring it! We'll also provide you with a 4-person tent, sleeping bag, and foam sleeping pad if needed. You can bring your own if you wish. Most of our competitors guide's schools require you to rent these items from them or purchase them, which can be a substantial expense.

Guide's school cost for students with current proof of attendance is $630.00. The regular price for non-students is $680.00. Our guide's school is designed to introduce interested people to rafting skills at an affordable price. (If you check around you'll find these prices to be very reasonable. You will soon earn this money back while working for A.W.) The school also serves to provide American Whitewater with quality guides. A $100.00 deposit is due when you sign up, with the balance due 30 days before the start of the school. We accept all major credit cards. The class size is limited to 12 students and is filled on a first-paid, first-admitted basis.

Along with your deposit please include a photo (optional), your typed resume, and tell me why you think you would make a good river guide.

Please call or write if you need further information or would like to reserve your space.

Sincerely,
Jon Osgood
1-800-825-3205

American Whitewater is also looking for staff
to fill the following positions:

• Greeters
• Shuttle drivers (Class A or B license required as well as mandatory Public Utilities Commission drug testing)
• Souvenir store salesperson
• Office/reservation assistants (must have good phone and computer skills)
• Experienced cook

A Note From Jon Osgood

A word with respect to the selection of a guide's school...

The content of virtually all guide's schools is much the same regardless of the outfitter you select. You'll learn the basic skills necessary to be a competent rafting guide. I believe American Whitewater's school is one of the best due to the experience and knowledge of our instructors and the quality of their teaching skills. We accept only 12 applicants for the school so we can give personalized attention to each trainee.

What is not mentioned in our competitor's information and brochures is the probability of employment for the 2008 rafting season. Many guide's schools are run strictly to make money and your chances of being hired are slim. If an outfitter offers 3 or 4 guide's schools then it is obvious your chances of being hired are very slim. There are a few colleges and organizations that offer guide's schools but cannot offer employment to you as a guide because they are not commercial outfitters.

You will find it difficult to get work with an outfitter if you did not go through their guide's school. Realistically, I received 60 to 70 phone calls in 2007 from guides asking for work who had been trained by universities, for-profit-only guide's schools, and outfitters who do not hire from their schools. Out of those 70 calls, one person was hired.

What is our hiring practice? The novice guides we hire have gone through our training. We base employment on the potential, enthusiasm, and competence demonstrated by each individual during the school. At the end of the school you will be informed if you will be hired for the 2008 season.

So select your guide's school carefully! Ask hard questions. Don't be fooled by low prices or slick copy. If you have any questions please call.

Jon Osgood
1-800-825-3205

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