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Whitewater Rafting Guide Courses

River Guiding is one of the greatest jobs on earth with worldwide opportunity. It is a way of combining international employment with enjoyment and excitement in the outdoors. River Guiding presents challenges, requiring considerable skill and knowledge. It is an occupation that develops personal confidence, positive people skills and leadership ability.

Each year Chinook Rafting trains several new guides as a way of introducing them into the industry and lifestyle. Many of our valued staff members are prior graduates of this program and have gone on to work on rivers around the world.

Students also join the Guide’s course with no interest in becoming commercial guides, but do so for the fun, adventure and learning. Some go on to enjoy whitewater rafting as a personal hobby.

 

 

Our training course includes such topics as:

 

  • General knowledge of rafts & equipment (including construction and repair);
  • Guiding skills such as steering a paddle & oar raft, paddling commands, raft leadership, ethics, leadership skills and interpersonal skills, duty of care, signals, & conducting a safety talk;
  • Rescue techniques and Incident Management such as survival swimming, self-rescue, capsize scenarios, flip drills, rope systems, first aid and dealing with emergency situations;
  • General understanding of the whitewater industry (including a Q & A session about a career in the whitewater industry)


Our goal is to graduate skilled, knowledgeable and marketable river guides, with the confidence to run rivers safely. Our course therefore involves 10 days of intensive training, combining evening indoor lectures and theory with action-packed, full days of on and in the water training. As the course progresses, so do the challenges. Begin on the introductory rapids of the Kananaskis and progress on to the harder rapids of the Horseshoe Canyon, Bow river (water dependant).

Candidates who excel during the 10 days may be offered a seasonal position with Chinook Rafting during which time further training will precede employment during the summer.

A comprehensive Training Outline is provided to you after fees have been submitted.

 

Instructors

Be trained by the best. Our Instructors bring with them a wealth of knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and a fun-loving attitude.

Chris Burnham is our Head Instructor and Operations Manager.  Originally from the UK but now a resident in Canada, he has been kayaking for over 25 years and a professional raft guide for over 17 years. He is a rafting examiner for both the British Columbia Rafting Outfitters Association & Professional River Outfitters Association Of Alberta. Chris is a certified Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, Emergency Medical Responder and has managed rafting companies & trained raft guides in Canada, USA, France, & Africa to name but a few. He has spent much of his life on the river kayaking & rafting.

All of our Guest Instructors also have many years of rafting experience under their belts and are holders of valid First-aid or Wilderness First-aid certificates and are qualified Swift Water Rescue Technicians as a minimum standard.

We ensure a guide-to-client ratio that guarantees you will be able to maximize your learning experience.

 

What is included in the course fee?

 

  • 10 full days of training and instruction
  • All the necessary rafting & safety equipment during the course, such as rafts, paddles, throwbags, ropes & 1st Aid Kits  – Chinook Rafting's state of the art fleet consists of 100% self-bailing rafts and uses only top of the line equipment for your safety and enjoyment. All of our equipment was brand new during the past 3 years.
  • Brand new Whistle for you to keep on course completion.
  • All training manuals and literature to keep on course completion.
  • “The Complete Whitewater Rafter Book” by Jeff Bennett – the essential white water rafting manual for professional guides, instructors, and recreational river runners everywhere. This book compiles information on oar and paddle techniques; equipment and accessories; hydrology and river reading; safety and rescue; camping and cookery; maintenance and repair; guidebooks and resources; where the jobs are; history; whitewater photography; and much, much more.
  • Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Technician Level 1 Certification & Training Manual (assuming you pass)
  • Professional River Outfitters Association of Alberta (PROAOA) Guiding Certification (assuming you pass) and Guides Logbook

 

What is not included in the course fee?

 

  • Wetsuit, Booties, Fleece, Splash Jacket, Lifejacket & Helmet - Participants who already own their own equipment are encouraged to bring it along to use. If you do not have any of your own equipment then you may rent our package for the 10 days for only an additional $100 + gst.
  • Thermal protection to wear under or over your wetsuit
  • Drysuits
  • Personal River Knife
  • Accommodation during the course
  • Personal transportation to and from the course
  • Food during the course must also be supplied by the course participant (remember there is no food available to purchase at any of our locations during the 10 days, there are evening sessions too, plus more food & drink than normal may need to be consumed in order to keep you warm, hydrated  and full of energy)

 

What certifications will I receive on completion of the course?

 

  • Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Technician Level 1 Certification & Training Manual – the legal standard of care in Canada and recognized in over 20 countries worldwide (allowing you the opportunity to travel, guide and experience / work on rivers around the world). Once certified through Rescue 3 International you can recertify in the future, anywhere around the world that offers a Rescue 3 International course.
  • Professional River Outfitters Association of Alberta (PROAOA) Guiding Certification & PROAOA Guide log book (if on course completion you are not ready to sit the PROAOA exam a certificate of course completion stating the topics covered will be given instead).

Please note that all participants must already hold a valid first aid (minimum 16hr course) and CPR ‘C’ qualification to qualify for Swiftwater Rescue & PROAOA Certification.  

 

Prerequisites

Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age, be a competent swimmer and in good physical condition.

Applicants wishing to be considered for employment with Chinook Rafting after the course must have an interest in long term employment in the river rafting industry. Applicants must be available to continue training and working for the 2013 season.

A valid drivers license with a good drivers abstract is required prior to accepting employment with Chinook Rafting.

 

Price

The price for the 2013 Chinook Rafting Guides Course is just $1099 + 5% gst.

Successful completion of this course will allow you to qualify as a river guide applicant for employment with Chinook Rafting.   We usually hire 2-3 trainee guides (out of approximately 10) from our course.  If you are one of those who gain employment with Chinook Rafting as a trainee guide and then commit to us for the whole of the forthcoming season we will reimburse you half of the course costs on completion of that season (usually in mid September).

If you would like to be considered for a position as a trainee guide with Chinook Rafting after the Raft Guides Course is completed then please send your resume and cover letter stating that you have applied for the Raft Guides Course to chris [at] chinookraft [dot] com on or prior to April 15th 2013. Only those qualifying for an interview will be contacted.

Applications for the forthcoming Raft Guides Course should be received prior to April 15th 2013 to secure your spot.

 

How to Book

To confirm your spot, please complete the Raft Guides Course Application Form and submit it with your $150 CDN deposit by visa, mastercard or cheque.  Cheques to be made payable to Chinook River Sports Ltd.

Applications & cheques to be posted to:  Chris Burnham. Chinook Rafting, Box 308, Banff, AB. T1L 1E3. Canada

Balance of fee is due by visa, mastercard or cheque by April 15th 2013.

Although we take every precaution to ensure that you have an enjoyable and fun course, white water rafting does have inherent risks.  A release/waiver must therefore be signed prior to the course and is a condition of participation.

 

Cancellation Policy

Deposits are fully refundable if cancelled in writing up to 45 days prior to the commencement of the Raft Guides Course.

NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED FOR ANY REASON FOR CANCELLATIONS REQUESTED AFTER THE 45-DAY DEADLINE.

Note:  Chinook Rafting reserves the right to cancel any excursions due to; Un-safe water conditions, poor weather, and other circumstances beyond our control or if minimum numbers for the course are not met. If the Guides Course is cancelled, you may choose to reschedule or we will promptly refund your deposit/payment in full.

 

Course Dates                             Fri 26th April - Sun 5th May 2013

You must attend all 10 days in order to sit the PROAOA guiding exams and to be eligible for employment with Chinook Rafting. Our commercial rafting season, like most out there, begins shortly following the course.

See you on the river!

 

Raft Guide Course Application Form

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