Boating, Guide School & River Rescue Courses

Professional whitewater training for future guides, private boaters, and rescue-minded river runners looking to build stronger skills, judgment, and confidence on the water.

High Country Expeditions offers a range of whitewater training programs, from full guide school and private river instruction to rescue-focused courses designed to improve boat handling, hydrology, rope work, and real-world river decision making. Whether you are pursuing guide work, building private boating skills, or sharpening rescue fundamentals, our courses are built to help you progress safely and confidently.

Choose the training path that fits your goals

• Professional guide training for future guides, private boaters, and agency professionals

• Private boating instruction with rescue education

• Boating and rowing workshops

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Lead instructor teaching rowing during guide training on the Upper Klamath River
Whitewater Boating & Guide SchoolAll CoursesWhitewater Boating & Guide School

Whitewater Boating & Guide School

Our river guide school and whitewater guide training programs cover the full range of river guide & rafting guide experiences: whitewater river training, river rescue training, and rafting guide training.
Private raft rowing instruction on the Upper McKenzie River
Private River Guide TrainingAll CoursesPrivate River Guide Training

Private River Guide Training

Your needs, your personalized course. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to row & navigate a Raft / Cataraft or Drift-boat down a river. We can customize training specific to your needs. Whether you’re new to the world of boating or wanting to hone in on existing skills. We can create a course and schedule that fits your needs.
Technical rope work practice during High Country Expeditions Guide School river rescue training
River Rescue AdvancedAll CoursesRiver Rescue

River Rescue Advanced

This course is for individuals that have white water experience and/or have taken a beginning course in the past. One should know knots, basic theory, and already have some boating skills.
learning ropes
River Rescue Level 1All CoursesRiver Rescue

River Rescue Level 1

The course starts with an introduction into the world of whitewater rescue. We will advance into rescue theory and history, gear and equipment, techniques and skill-sets, very hands-on and active throughout.

Why train with High Country Expeditions

High Country Expeditions brings decades of on-river experience to every course, with instruction built around practical skill development, sound judgment, and real-world application. Students benefit from a supportive training environment, experienced instructors, and programs designed to help future guides, private boaters, and rescue-focused students build confidence where it matters most, on the water.

  • Experienced commercial guides and instructors
  • Real-world training in whitewater environments
  • Courses for future guides, private boaters, and rescue students
  • Hands-on learning with a strong safety culture

FAQ

Who are these courses for?

These programs are designed for aspiring river guides, private boaters, outdoor professionals, and students who want to improve whitewater skills, rescue awareness, and on-river judgment.

What types of courses do you offer?

High Country Expeditions offers guide school, private river guide training, and river rescue courses. Each option is built around hands-on learning and practical whitewater skill development.

Do I need prior experience?

Some courses are beginner-friendly, while others are better suited for students with previous boating or river experience. Reach out to us and we can help match you with the right training option.

Can these courses help me prepare for guide work?

Yes. Our guide school and advanced training options are designed to help students build the skills, confidence, and professionalism needed to move toward commercial guiding opportunities.

Do you offer private instruction?

Yes. Private River Guide Training is available for students who want one-on-one or small-group coaching focused on their specific goals and skill level.

What skills are covered?

Depending on the course, training may include rowing, paddle guiding, hydrology, river reading, rope work, rescue fundamentals, swimmer recovery, line selection, and overall river judgment

Our Hands-on Approach

High Country Expeditions boating and rescue schools are a truly hands-on outdoor adventure experience. We focus our energy on having our students experience as much as possible hands-on rather than just being shown and told. This makes for a much more effective learning experience and really helps our students retain what they have learned.

 

An Overview of our Boating, Guide Schools & River Rescue Courses

High Country river guide training will give you the solid educational foundation that is critical in the unforgiving river environment. This is a hands-on learning opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts wanting to get involved in commercial or private river guiding as well as for guides with previous experience wanting to enhance their skills. Having a variety of schools available allows you to pick the one that fits your needs and schedule. We offer several different types and lengths of schools to choose from according to what your individual goals are. We offer one week classes as well as weekend workshops for those who cannot commit to a one week course. We also offer a Spring Break Guide School for students and teachers in the school system wanting to learn river skills.

Who It’s For

Interested in guide training, wanting to learn how to navigate a river or improve and enhance your current skill set…? Our whitewater guide training and boating schools cover the full range of river guide & rafting guide experiences: whitewater river training, river rescue training, and rafting guide training. When you complete your river guide training you’ll have the foundation needed in preparing you to become a commercial river guide or to lead your own whitewater river expedition!

High Country Expeditions whitewater guide & river rescue schools provide our students with the most comprehensive hands-on exposure to the world of river guiding.

Our Guides & Instructors

Our guides and instructors are a wonderful eclectic compilation of highly educated and skilled boaters with an amazing array of skills, from Class V river guides to nature photographers, EMT’s, river rescue instructors, ski-patrollers and storywriters.

High Country river guide schools are a truly hands on outdoor adventure experience. People retain 20% of what they hear, 50% of what they write & 80% of what they do! We focus our energy on having our students experience as much as possible hands-on rather than just being shown & told. This makes for a much more effective learning experience and really helps our students retain what they have learned. These guide schools encompass not only the fundamental skills of reading whitewater and maneuvering boats, they also cover knot tying, raft rigging, signals, safety put-in talks, dealing with clients, class V safety techniques, equipment maintenance and repair, river conservation, local history, being in the wilderness and the finer points of creating safe, enjoyable river trips.

To get more information and a copy of our enrollment form please contact us.

We look forward to sharing an exciting and educational river adventure with you!