If you are interested in working for Andy's Wild Water Adventures (or the many river outfitters around the West) as a guide this season, or improving your skills for running rivers on your own, then our Spring Guide & Whitewater School is a very good deal for you. We welcome all types and ages in our guide training program, from those in high school and college, to older folks looking for a change of pace -- all people who love the outdoors, and who want to learn about running rivers in a safe program with a solid company.

We offer this session at cost to introduce newcomers to the exciting sport of whitewater because it's our primary training and screening process for new staff. We will be hiring up to 20 staff members to work both full and part time this season. Our last season was our most successful ever. We hired most of the graduating class ourselves, and many of the others used our training as a springboard into jobs with outfitters all over the Northwest. (Because guides move to other states to work, get married, and so forth, we have an ongoing need for qualified people.) Andy's Wild Water Adventures is the only outfitter in our area to offer such a successful guide training program. We are very thorough with our training because nearly all of you will end up running trips for our valued guests! Early bookings are up over 50% from last season, and we expect this season will be very busy for everyone.

I'm always looking for people available to work large group 1 day or overnight trips on our Deschutes, North Santiam, McKenzie and Willamette river adventures from mid-June into August. These guide positions are often filled by first season people just like you. (If you already have canoe/kayak or private rafting experience, this is excellent and will jump start you towards guiding on more advanced rivers, but bear in mind that commercial rafting is VERY different from non-guided trips. Employers often must meet guide qualification requirements to get insurance and permits, for example, and commercial trips also require far more attention to safety and the comfort of the guests.) Summer might seem like a long time to wait, but if you are new to river guiding, there will be barely enough time to get ready. For this season, we also need people with experience on the Rogue and Owyhee Rivers (must know location of camps and hikes, major rapids, ALL commercial rafting regulations, etc.). More experienced guides also work rivers like the North Umpqua, upper McKenzie and upper Klamath. All of my guides MUST have run the section of river they are doing before being paid; that's what the clients demand, and why guide school training is so important. (Pro guides are welcome to submit a resume.)

For our school, we run March and April weekends shop sessions based in Creswell (15 minutes south of LCC/Eugene, and we do have LTD bus service now!), a 5-day camp-out adventure in the spectacular Owyhee River Canyon, in Oregon's drier High Desert, during spring break, or the famous Whitewater of the Rogue River. We begin with a short orientation and McKenzie float weekend where trainees learn the basics of safety (important, because outfitters are legally required to have guides who can deliver the proper safety talk!). This session provides an excellent and affordable opportunity to develop your guiding skills to the fullest, plus "qualify" on the major commercially-run rivers of the state. (We also run a lot of "fun" trips with guides only, which as a member of the training program, you are welcome to join in for shared expenses -- interesting rivers runs like the upper Rogue or big waters of Lake Creek if we get a rain storm! Additionally, promising beginners are invited to join the experienced guides on scheduled trips, so they can improve their skills. So even if you're a rank beginner, it's possible to spend your entire summer -- or a year -- rafting and improving your skills while still earning pay for day trips, driving shuttles, helping in the shop, and other work.)

Our school offers you the best opportunity to learn or improve skills such as rowing and paddling, and river "reading"-- we will teach you how to tell if that wave in the river that you are drifting toward is really a wave, or a rock with only a little water over it. We'll all pitch in to learn our famous guide style cooking for large groups -- the skill that's surprisingly easy to learn and brings in the tips from appreciative guests. We will also cover low impact river camping techniques, trip planning for large and small groups, river safety and rescue, plus raft selection, upkeep, and repair. In addition, our students will be offered the chance to purchase river equipment for their own use, if they wish, at wholesale cost. (This could save you more than the school cost.) The boats we'll be working with are 14-16' inflatable rafts (we do NOT use the small "rubber duckies" sold in discount stores). We have self-bailers so everyone can see how these craft operate. In addition, we have some sporty catarafts (two pontoons with no floor). Beginning oarpersons will be assigned to the "Baby cat," which is very easy to operate. Paddle captains will alternate so everyone gets a chance to be the boss. Those who feel tough can tackle the baggage barge, and those who feel lucky can try the inflatable kayak (very close to the hardshell kind, without Eskimo rolls). Also on the 5-day and weekend trips we will discuss the geology and history of the rivers. I want all my staff to be able to pass this information on to our guests during our commercial trips. Our program is designed to provide as much in the field hands-on training as possible in the time available. It is our wish that all of our students gain the basic skills necessary to go to work for any outfitter or guide service, and not just ours -- or that they're able to go out on their own and run rivers safely.

There are things that any outfitter or employer looks for when they hire someone, but there are some things that are especially important in a river guide. If you can demonstrate lots of individual initiative and the willingness to pitch in and help everyone as well as a strong "people oriented" personality, then your chances of being hired are very good. If you can also show good river skills then you will be a river guide if you want to be. The river skills we can teach you, the rest is up to you. Our program is also a good confidence builder for young people and offers an introduction to safely enjoying the outdoor environment (a great alternative to video games!). We focus on safety and ecology -- enjoying the rivers without harming them or ourselves.

We will be using three textbooks for the spring school. All will be provided to everyone on the spring session: THE GUIDES' GUIDE Reflections on Guiding Professional River Trips, by William McGinnis (a detailed look at how professional river trips are run). The introduction to river rafting and an entertaining read complete Whitewater Rafter by Jeff Bennett about becoming a river guide. We will also provide a notebook with your river mileage guides, menus and other important information.

The cost of the school is per person for the intensive session (includes the one day shop sessions, the 5-day training trip with instruction by senior staff, instructional time for the weekend trips, all river equipment needed, ALL food except for shop sessions, the use of our wetsuits and paddle jackets, van transportation and shuttle for the river trips, all river permits and fees, plus the first aid certification class and our own guide certification for everyone who completes the session). Students will need to provide their own tent, sleeping bag, clothing, and personal items, as well as a few on-the-road snacks (this keeps the cost of the school down). I'll send you a suggested clothing and gear list when you make your reservation. Please refer to the enclosed class schedule for details. (On a cost-analysis, to do all this yourself by renting equipment, buying gas and food, and so forth, would cost $2507.49 - - without instruction.) A note about the costs of our schools -- These programs are designed to run as close to actual cost as possible. Once the class has started, your share of the class costs are expended whether you are there or not. If you miss a class session we can fit you onto on another trip, but we can not refund any class payments. Please see our regular schedule for class costs and dates.

Our school will give you a very good look at the way a professional river organization operates. Andy's Wild Water Adventures has been in business since 1981, and over 20 years. We are licensed with the state of Oregon (Marine Board), fully insured, members of Oregon Guides & Packers, an official outfitter for Lane Community College and the University of Oregon environmental awareness and river programs, and authorized permit holders with the Willamette/Wallowa-Whitman/Umpqua/Klamath National Forests, plus the Medford/Vale/Prineville/Klamath Falls Bureau of Land Managements. These special-use permits authorize us to operate on the Deschutes, Rougue, Owyhee, John Day, McKenzie, North Umpqua, Grande Ronde, upper and lower Klamath, and other rivers -- YOU will be working these rivers under my company permits!

We will show everyone how we do things and answer all the questions we can about how the business end of river running works. For our part the school will give us the opportunity to evaluate potential employees to an extent not possible any other way. We will be able to see how you interact with other people, handle equipment and situations, and get an idea of how willing you are to work long hours outdoors in all kinds of weather. Also, we conduct the school on the rivers that we expect our guides to be familiar with, so when a client asks you the name of the next rapid, you'll be able to answer intelligently. Expect to eat well, because we will be cooking our deluxe guest meals such as top sirloin steak, chicken breast, stir-fry, lasagna and fresh-baked desserts. For vegetarians, we always have fruits, veggies, cheeses, etc. but let us know about special diets. For students who want to master whitewater skills, our schools provide a solid introduction to this exciting sport, plus the auxiliary benefits of learning low impact camping techniques, river history (natural and human), geology, outdoor cooking, permit requirements (such as Deschutes River boater passes) and so forth.

If you're interested in chucking civilization and becoming a full-time guide, here's the bottom line. The pay scale for our organization is based on seniority and river experience. Our guides earn $65-120 per river day, depending on which river (based on river difficulty and distance from shop, this can be anything from a 2-hour Willamette float to an 8-day John Day adventure) PLUS tips from customers ($5-50 per group/family for a day trip up to $200 per group on longer trips!). Returning guides or those with experience on more difficult rivers obviously make more. A bonus: We provide all meals for staff on the river, and usually transportation to the river and back as well. This is a typical pay scale for many Oregon outfits. Beginners who drive shuttle and set out lunch work a half day (and help with rigging) and are paid $40-75 per day depending on the trip.

There are over 200 outfitters in our area, many in Portland, plus some in Bend/Ashland/Grants Pass/La Grande, so there is a strong demand for folks with good river and people skills (this last is very important because many guests are repeat customers who enjoyed the service and fun their guides provided on the last trip with the company). Experienced guides and trip leaders can earn over $100 per day working in places like Alaska, Montana, or Idaho, plus the Colorado through Grand Canyon, or even in exotic locales like Africa and New Zealand (for winter employment). Even guides who can row cargo for fishing outfits in Oregon can pull down some good dollars, but you gotta know where the camps are, in addition to knowing how to get a heavy gear boat down the rapids safely. Clients hate wet sleeping bags!

River guiding is no way to get rich (except for the guide who invented Teva sandals, he's a millionaire!) or pay off big debts (it's so seasonal it's NOT a family wage job, so don't quit school just yet!), but it IS an exciting lifestyle that offers plenty of adventure, challenge, and personal fulfillment. Guides work a lot of weekends and sometimes midweek, depending on the outfit(s) they work for, so you can work hard seven days straight in July and August if you are good, or you can be laid back and work just the days you want, or weekends only. River guiding is very flexible. There are lots of perks as well: lots of leftovers for off-river meals, goof-off trips like our annual "Surf n Turf" on the McKenzie, clients who think you are a river god/goddess, Xena the warrior princess, or a mountain man (depending on what you look like!), and so forth. This is a fun, healthy lifestyle for the young and the young at heart. Among our previous graduates: an Olympic-level kayaker, a river company owner, a government river ranger, and several Parks & Rec guides.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Remember that women are in demand as river guides these days, because many outfitters offer all-women trips for their clients, and because clients (both male and female) enjoy seeing women handle the work as well as the guys do. Women generally like to start out on the paddle boat, which requires less strength than the oar boat, then work their way up. Women who are reasonably athletic have no problems with guiding (except for an occasional broken fingernail) and they get great tips (not just from the male clients). Also remember that brute strength, while handy once in a while, doesn't count for as much as finesse, skill and common sense. Some of the best whitewater boaters are average sized. You must be in reasonable physical condition and be able to swim.

If you have any questions about any of our programs, rivers in general or in particular, or working as a river guide, feel free to call us (parents can, too). Minimum age for guide school/working is 16 (parental permission for under 18; parents may ask about training for younger teens). Spring session is limited to 16 students. Take advantage of Big Uncle Andy's 35+ years of river experience. I love to share my appreciation of wild rivers with you and your friends and family. Melinda is another of my instructors: 20 years of guiding, LCC outdoor trips instructor, professional outdoors writer. We boast far more years of professional instruction experience than other guide schools!

Once again, our major hiring is done from our intensive spring school, so don't miss out this year! We typically use nearly all the people we train in some capacity or other. We are located in "downtown" Creswell (yes, we have bus service now), and so do not have employee housing (sometimes people do crash overnight in our shop to avoid late night driving or calling home late). Guides can spend up to 3 weeks in the field camping out or staying at our cabin near Smith Rock State Park, if they wish, and there are rafting companies who do supply housing, once you're qualified for guide work.

One last note: we do not allow alcohol or drugs of any kind during our training sessions. Drug use on any commercial trip is grounds for dismissal. You will find running whitewater is a great natural high!

Thank you for your interest, and I hope I'll be seeing you on the river!

Al Law (Big Uncle Al, or "BUA"), founder/owner, Melinda Allan, Operations Manager, and the river crew...

*The Basic Essentials of Rafting, by Jib Ellison, published by ICS books. Our basic, no-frills rafting text
*The Guide's Guide, by William McGinnis, published by Whitewater Voyages/River Exploration Ltd. Tips, recommended procedures and rules by a large professional Western outfitter. Generally available only through river supply sources. (*We furnish these two books for each student and expect them to be read BEFORE the first session begins. The Guide's Guide is the only publication geared towards what is expected from professional whitewater boaters and is similar to our guide policy, a copy of which is also furnished.

*Whitewater Boatman, The Making of a River Guide, by Robert S. Wood, published by Ten Speed Press. Excellent and entertaining book about the adventures of a middle-aged man who stumbles into professional rafting.
What the River Says by Jeff Wallach, published by Blue Heron. Stories of river guiding, client coddling, wild rides through rapids and moments of wilderness revelations tell what it's like to be the person in charge of adventure!
The White-Water River Book, A Guide to Techniques, Equipment, Camping, and Safety, by Ron Watters. Published by Pacific Search Press. A good introduction to various whitewater craft and techniques. Highly recommended.
The Inflatable Kayak Handbook, by Melinda Allan, published by Johnson Books (out of print, but available at our shop library or Eugene Public Library). Our own in-company author's book also comes in handy for general whitewater know-how, trip planning, dealing with emergency situations, environmental concerns, as well as IKs.
Whitewater Rafting, by William McGinnis, published by Times Book. A classic primer on rafting, out-of-date, but still useful. Available at the library, and a fun read ("If you feel good, yell to let the world know...")
River Rescue, Slim Ray and Les Bechdel, published by Appalachian Mountain Club. Highly recommended for safety information and boat rescue techniques, which we will be practicing.
Oregon River Tours, John Garren, published by Binford and Mort. A good general overview of the rivers and what to expect. Garren does, however, tend to overrate some rivers, and he includes nothing on safety or the environment. Older versions are available at most libraries--worth a quick look.
The Complete Whitewater Rafter, by Jeff Bennett, published by Swiftwater Publishing. Newest on the market, with much-needed information about today's high tech boating, including self- bailers and catarafts. An entertaining read.
Note: There are many other good books--although very dated--available from the public libraries. Some newer/older books are available only through river supply stores such as Oregon River Sports in Eugene.
Eugene Public Library and most others have most of the older books for reference reading. Cascade Outfitters (1-800-223-7238) has good info in their free catalog.

*Wild Water Oregon River Guide's Guide