Raft Guide School Employment
Work and Paddle with Us!
We’ve trained and certified hundreds of paddle raft guides on the technical and challenging Chilliwack River in our 24 years of operation. The guiding and extensive whitewater experience gained in this constantly changing class II-IV+ river environment is highly transferable. Raft guides who have successfully completed our guide school work in B.C. and around the world!
We require prospective applicants to successfully complete our guide school, thus earning a British Columbia River Outfitters Association (B.C.R.O.A.) paddle raft guide certificate. This guarantees you on‐call employment for the season and the opportunity to apply for a full‐time position. To work here, you need to be comfortable guiding both aggressive and family-oriented whitewater trips using small-to-medium paddle rafts and inflatable kayaks on class III to IV+ whitewater. You also need to be a Canadian citizen or have a current work visa.
If you are an accomplished technical paddle raft guide, you may apply to have your training time reduced or be given the opportunity to challenge the process. If you are a class 4 or higher kayaker you may be considered for on-call safety kayak work.
14-Day Guide School
Instruction takes place in paddle rafts, pontoon rafts, whitewater canoes and inflatable kayaks. All personal equipment, including wetsuits, lifejackets, helmets are supplied for the course, but you are welcome to use your own gear if you have it. The raft guide course is based at the Raft Ranch. Campsites, hot showers, indoor study areas and a sauna are provided. Students are responsible for their own cooking equipment, meals, tents, sleeping bags and warm clothes.
Graduates of our school have found employment all through North America, Europe, Australia, South America, Japan, Tibet, and New Zealand. Instruction is focused on Chilliwack River Rafting's on-river protocols and procedures, and is taught by our trip leaders.
- Goals: to prepare each student for the British Columbia River Guide Exam. Students will need to pass verbal, written and dry-land skills components, but the bulk of the exam is on-river boat control.
- Requirements: Students must be able to swim and be a minimum of 17* years of age. No prior experience or boat handling skill is necessary but you may need additional training after the guide school. Further training options will be discussed based on your practical exam results.
- Full tuition: $1771+tax. Tuition grants may be available for applicants with existing first aid, boat handling or previous rafting/paddling experience.
- Availability: Course #1 starts the first Sunday in May and Course #2 starts the last Sunday in June
Apply by emailing Jodi Brown at chilliwackriverrafting@gmail.com or calling 1-800-410-7238
Note: Chilliwack River Rafting is a founding member of The British Columbia River Outfitters Association. We adhere to the Associations charter requirements and follow all river specific regulations. You may take the Guide School at 17 years of age, but Transport Canada Regulations require a minimum age of 18 to be employed as a Raft Guide. All Chilliwack River operations meet or exceed Transport Canada requirements.