Scouting America Whitewater Merit Badge Trips

Since 1980 American Whitewater Expeditions has been providing Scout Troops with First Class affordable rafting trips at special discounted prices. Our program is designed to help Scouts complete both the Whitewater Merit Badge and the Kayaking Merit Badge requirements.

If your troop does not need the Merit Badge you can always join us for a one or two-day fun-filled paddle rafting adventure that is educational and fun for all! Scouts have the option of a South Fork rafting adventure where the minimum age is 6 or the wilderness Middle Fork rafting adventure for those 12 and older.

We include the following on each trip at no additional cost:

• FREE camping the night prior to your trip.
• FREE use of 4-person rental tents, set up before you arrive.
• FREE use of foam sleeping pads.

Only American Whitewater Expeditions can provide you with the following amenities at our privately owned campsite:

• Campsites with fire pits, picnic tables, split rail fencing and parking close by. No long walks! No dust bowl campsites!
• A 1-minute walk from your campsite to an in-ground swimming pool.
• A fishing pond stocked with bass and trout. No fishing license needed.
• Super clean indoor restroom & shower facilities close to all campsites. Impulse heaters insure plenty of hot water while showering!

American Whitewater Expeditions, due to our campsite location, can provide your Scouts with access to the following:

Trouble Maker Rapid, a solid Class III rapid that YOU will paddle through if you do the South Fork Upper or South Fork Whole River, is just a few minutes walk from camp. It’s a great place to observe rafts and kayaks coming through if you are there mid-day. There is plenty of trout in the river too. A fishing license is required.

James Marshall Gold Discovery State Park where gold was discovered in 1848 is only a 5-minute walk from the campground. It’s well worth a visit and fun for the Scouts to tour before or after their raft trip. There is a hiking trail through the park, a swimming area (adult supervision required), gold panning and big open areas ideal for Frisbee.

Longer hikes are possible at Cronan Ranch, a 10-minute drive from the AWE campsite. Many short hikes are available or you can hike all the way to Salmon Falls, your rafting takeout for South Fork Lower and South Fork Whole River trips.

All of our river guides on Scout trips are carefully selected by Arnie, AWE’s Operations Manager and Owner. All of the staff are CPR and First Aid certified and many are Wilderness First Responders, Paramedics or EMT’s. All are versed in the Whitewater Merit Badge requirements and are good instructors and fun to be with on and off the river.

We are the only outfitter with a professional cook who prepares exceptional meals for which we are renowned. Even freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for you to enjoy at lunch along the river!
Special dietary needs are no problem. We cater to vegetarian, kosher, and those with food allergies.

Our AWE River Store is stocked with everything from last-minute items such as sunscreen, caps, visors, eye glass retainers, sun glasses, water, snacks, souvenir t-shirts, waterproof cameras, wood, s’mores fixings and much more.

For a custom tailored trip that fits your needs, budget, and time requirements please call us and we will take very good care of you! All prices are discounted for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  We can customize your trip from a one-day to a three-day trip with or without camping and meals. Lunch is included for all one-day trips.
Get ready to have a fun-filled paddle rafting adventure you will long remember!

Call Us Now 800-825-3205

AWE Rafting Brochure
AWE Waiver
How-to-Organize-Raft-Trip
Group Raft Trip Signup Sheet
Directions & Equipment List

Scouting America Whitewater and Kayaking Merit Badge Program

American Whitewater Expeditions is proud to host Scouts for the Scouting America Whitewater and Kayaking Merit Badge Program. This course is led by a council-approved Merit Badge Counselor who is authorized to review requirements and sign off on completed badges. The program combines hands-on rafting experience, inflatable kayak training, and structured safety instruction.

Program Overview

The program takes place over two days. On the first day, Scouts join a full-day rafting trip where they practice paddling skills, river safety, and fundamental techniques. On the second day, they complete the merit badge course through an inflatable kayak session focused on safety skills and trip planning.

The season runs from mid-March through October. Because the course is scheduled to avoid crowded river days, weekday trips are preferred and Saturdays are not available. Group size begins at six Scouts, and there is no maximum because large groups are divided into manageable sessions.

What Is Included

Scouts who participate complete requirements for both the Whitewater and Kayaking Merit Badges. Each troop receives complimentary camping the night before rafting with check-in at 5:00 pm. Four-person dome tents and sleeping pads are provided, while hot showers and flush toilets are available for comfort. Every Scout is supplied with rafting gear including helmet, PFD, paddle, boat, and safety equipment, along with guidance from professional river guides.

Optional add-ons include extra camping nights, additional tent rentals, and meals that can be reserved in advance.

What to Bring

Scouts should pack river and camping clothes along with shoes that stay securely on their feet. A reusable water bottle is required, and each participant should bring a sleeping bag and personal camping items to remain comfortable during the overnight stay.

Program Costs

The first day fee depends on the rafting trip selected. The second day course fee is $60 per Scout. An additional 8% government land and river use fee is added to all program costs.

Day One Rafting Options

Rates shown below are our special discounted Scout Troop rates.

In order to help you select, find out more about our full-day trips here.

Day Two Merit Badge Course

The second day includes an inflatable kayak session on the South Fork Class I and II section. The course is open to Scouts ages ten and older and typically lasts between two and a half and three hours. Each Scout must also complete a written trip plan using a worksheet provided in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Scouts handle Blue Cards
Each Scout should bring a Blue Card with their name and present it to Reception during check-in.

How do we schedule a group
Contact our team with preferred dates and we will confirm your troop on the calendar.

What if river flows are too high or too low
Our location on a dam-controlled river provides regular water releases and trips run rain or shine.

Are meals provided
Troops may plan their own meals or reserve meals through us in advance.

Are campfires allowed
During summer, fire bans are common. Propane fire is allowed. Wood and charcoal fires are not permitted.

Is a deposit required
A deposit of twenty five percent is required at booking. Full payment is due thirty days prior to the trip.

What if troop numbers change
Numbers can be adjusted up to thirty days before the trip. A ten dollar per person cancellation fee applies before thirty days. There are no cancellations or refunds within thirty days. Additional guests may be added up to the day of the trip if seats are available.

Can parents and leaders join
Parents and leaders are welcome on the first day rafting trip. The second day merit badge course is reserved for Scouts.

Prefer to talk now? Call 800 825 3205.

BSA Whitewater Merit Badge Requirements

Our instructors combine rafting adventure with the Whitewater Merit Badge program, ensuring Scouts learn every skill in a safe and memorable way.

1. Do the following:
   1. Explain the hazards you may encounter on moving water (trees, rocks, ledges, hydraulics, storms, cold water) and how to prepare for and respond to them.
   2. Review prevention, symptoms, and first-aid treatment for injuries such as hypothermia, heat illness, sunburn, dehydration, sprains, dislocations, cuts, and submersion injuries.
   3. Discuss BSA Safety Afloat and American Whitewater safety guidelines, including the use of helmets and life jackets.
2. Understand river features:
   1. Identify upstream and downstream V’s, riffles, eddies, ledges, drops, horizon lines, and hydraulics.
   2. Describe how waves form, including standing waves and wave trains.
   3. Explain how to tilt or edge a boat properly when entering or exiting eddies and when ferrying upstream or downstream.
   4. Discuss when to scout a river, when to portage, and why both are important.
3. Demonstrate paddling skills from your Canoeing or Kayaking Merit Badge to your counselor’s satisfaction.
4. Flatwater practice (choose one):
   1. Tandem Canoe: Show bow and stern strokes, pries, draws, sculling draw, and braces.
   2. Solo Canoe: Show cross forward, pries, draws, sculling, and braces.
   3. Solo Kayak: Show bow draw, rudder, sculling draw, and braces.
5. Apply the International Scale of River Difficulty:
   1. Explain the scale and apply it to a specific river section.
   2. Identify the features that determine the classification.
   3. Explain how flow levels affect river class and hazards.
6. Communication: Demonstrate river signals (stop, “Are you OK?”, help, run right, run left, all clear).
7. Types of craft: Describe the design, purpose, and materials of different canoes or kayaks used in whitewater.
8. Gear: Review personal and group equipment needed for a safe trip and explain why each is important.
9. Class II practice: Read a section of Class II river, identify best lines, alternatives, and hazards.
10. Moving water skills: Launch, land, paddle forward and backward, ferry, eddy turn, and peel out — from both sides.
11. Rescue skills:
    1. Show self-rescue after capsizing and wet exit if needed.
    2. Demonstrate use of a throw rope to rescue a swimmer, and how to receive one.
    3. Explain and demonstrate portaging.
    4. Show the whitewater buddy system with three paddlers and three craft.
12. River trips: Participate in at least six hours of whitewater paddling on Class I or II rivers. Plan and execute trips, including route, safety, emergency procedures, permissions, equipment protection, and evaluation with your counselor.

Completing these steps gives Scouts a solid foundation in whitewater paddling, safety, and teamwork, skills they’ll carry into every future adventure.

BSA Kayaking Merit Badge Requirements

Our instructors guide Scouts through each step of the Kayaking Merit Badge, teaching skills on the river in a safe and practical way. Below are the requirements, rephrased for clarity while keeping the same structure.

1. Do the following:
   1. Explain common kayaking hazards such as weather or water conditions, and describe how to anticipate, prevent, and respond to them.
   2. Review prevention, symptoms, and first aid for injuries that can occur while kayaking, including blisters, hypothermia, heat illness, dehydration, sunburn, sprains, and strains.
   3. Discuss the Scouting America Safety Afloat policy and explain how it applies to kayaking activities.
2. Before starting requirements 3 through 8, complete the Scouting America swimmer test: jump into deep water, swim 75 yards with strong strokes, then swim 25 yards on the back. Finish with a sharp turn and rest by floating.
3. Do the following:
   1. Review the types of life jackets best for kayaking and show how to select and properly fit one.
   2. Review the use of safety gear such as a whistle, spare paddle, sponge, bilge pump, flotation bags, and throw bag.
4. Do the following:
   1. Name and point out the main parts of a kayak.
   2. Explain differences between recreational, whitewater, and touring kayaks, including how design features like length, width, stability, and rocker affect performance.
   3. Explain how to properly care for, maintain, and store a kayak.
5. Discuss the following:
   1. Correct methods for using a kayak paddle.
   2. The parts of a paddle.
   3. How to care for and maintain a paddle.
6. Using a properly equipped kayak, do the following:
   1. Capsize safely and perform a wet exit.
   2. Reenter the kayak with help from a buddy boat.
   3. Demonstrate a kayak-over-kayak rescue.
   4. Show the HELP position.
   5. Capsize, swim the kayak and paddle to shore, and empty water from the kayak with assistance if needed.
7. As a solo paddler, demonstrate the following strokes:
   1. Forward stroke
   2. Backstroke
   3. Forward sweep
   4. Reverse sweep
   5. Draw stroke
   6. Stern draw
8. As a solo paddler, demonstrate the following on the water:
   1. Paddle a straight line for 15–20 boat lengths while keeping balance.
   2. Spin or pivot 180 degrees to the right and left within two boat lengths.
   3. Move sideways 10 feet to the right and 10 feet to the left.
   4. Stop the kayak within one boat length.
   5. While moving forward, turn the kayak 90 degrees to the right and left.
   6. Paddle backward three to four boat lengths.
   7. Navigate a buoyed figure-8 course around markers placed three to four boat lengths apart.

By completing these requirements, Scouts learn the essential safety, skills, and techniques to kayak with confidence.