Becoming a Whitewater Rafting Guide

Looking for a job that gives you a first-class adrenaline rush and a good soaking? Welcome to the wet, wild and wonderful world of whitewater rafting, where guides take tourists down some of the world's wildest rivers! Kidzworld takes a look at the life of a whitewater rafting guide.

Rafting Guide - Getting Started

The best way to get started is to volunteer with an outdoor adventure company that runs rafting trips. Many river guiding companies also run whitewater rafting guide schools, which teach guides how to read a set of rapids, how to avoid dangerous obstacles and what to do if a boat overturns or something else goes wrong.

Rafting Guide - Thrills and Spills

While guiding travelers through some of the world's wildest rapids, whitewater rafting guides can encounter several thrills and spills that can nearly make 'em crap their pants - anything from getting their boat turned upside down to being trapped underneath the boat.

Rafting Guide - Thumbs Up

One of the coolest things about being a whitewater rafting guide is the natural environment you work in. Just think about it - your office is a river canyon! River guiding is also a job that allows you to travel easily. It's a skill that can be taken all over North America and around the world. And it's a fantastic way to meet people!

Rafting Guide - Thumbs Down

One of the downsides of working as a rafting guide is that the business is often seasonal, meaning you may only be able to find work in the summer months. Some guides need to find a second job in order to pay the bills. But if you're willing to travel, you can find work year-round. Some guides will work in North America during the summer and South America during the winter.

Rafting Guide - How's the Bling?

Many rafting guides volunteer with a company for a year or more before being paid as a guide. You have to be passionate about the outdoors and be willing to pay your dues. Guides who have worked for two or three years will generally make around $140 to $175 a day plus tips, which varies depending on the company the guide is working for, the location and how well a guide is able to impress their passengers.

Related Stories:

Becoming a Lifeguard

Becoming a Marine Biologist

Working on a Cruise Ship

More Cool Job Profiles!

Read more: Work It