Guide School Itinerary & Curriculum

Itinerary

For our Spring session we'll be rafting two or more of Oregon's best day-trip rivers. (Our primary focus will be the the Clackamas river, but we will supplement this with runs on the North Santiam and/or Deschutes rivers as well.)  Convenient access points, proximity to our guide house, and car-accessible riverside camps allow for considerable program flexibility. As a result we can choose our river and stretch of river in accordance with the needs of our students and in light of springtime's changeable weather and water levels.

Our Summer session begins with two days on the North Umpqua River, then moves to the Rogue River, where students learn how to conduct a multi-day wilderness river trip as they share an unforgettable journey through one of America's most beautiful river canyons. 
 

How do the spring and summer sessions differ?

-   Our spring session is highly focused on paddle rafting and on river running skills. Less time is devoted to rowing skills and camping skills.

-   Our summer session is focused on a wider range of skills, since it includes training in rowing as well as other skills necessary to conduct multiday wilderness river trips. However, as a necessary result this session includes somewhat less total time on the water.

-   Which session should you take? Both are designed to train you to become a professional river guide, so if that is your goal, either path will take you there. However, here are a few things to consider. Most new guides at O.R.E. (and elsewhere) are hired to work day trips, so our spring session may be the best way to get your foot in the door more quickly. However, our summer session provides more training in the skills necessary to conduct multiday wilderness river trips, so the summer session may be best for you if running long trips are your ultimate goal.
 

Curriculum

O.R.E.'s Guide School provides a hands-on experience. Dry land and on-river instruction cover a comprehensive array of skills and topics. Our Instructors begin by explaining the basics and teach by example. The emphasis throughout is on learning by doing, so students will be actively involved in every learning experience, from cooking with a Dutch oven to paddle captaining to river rescue to rowing a gear raft.

Our curriculum includes:

River Skills

• River dynamics: understanding the way rivers flow ("reading water")
   
• Raft setup and rigging
   
• Rowing skills
   
• Paddling skills 
   
• Paddle captaining techniques
   
• River safety 
   
• Swiftwater rescue techniques
   
• Knot tying

Off-river and Camp Skills

• River ecology and minimum impact camping techniques
   
• Menu planning and camp cooking
   
• Equipment selection, repair and maintenance

Professional Skills

• Trip leadership and group development
   
• Interpretive and instructional skills
   
• Permits, regulations, and guide responsibilities

And more!

For Additional Information

If you have any questions about our Guide School or about working as a river guide please feel free to contact us. We can be reached by phone, mail, e-mail or fax.

Recommended Reading

The O.R.E. Guide School Handbook, and  The Complete Whitewater Rafter, by Jeff Bennett will be provided to all students. We also recommend:

For a detailed introduction to river rescue and safety:

Whitewater Rescue Manual, by Charles Walbridge and Wayne Sundmacher. Ragged Mountain Press, (1995).

River Rescue, Slim Ray and Les Bechdel, Appalachian Mountain Club. (1997).

Also worth a look, if you can find a copy:

What the River Says by Jeff Wallach. Blue Heron Publishing. (1996). (Stories of life on the river from a guide’s perspective.)  (Out of print.)