Rafting & Adventures
Raft Guide School
Introduction
Kumsheen's Raft Guide Training School is known and respected the world over.
We're proud to say that graduates of our 12 day Raft Guide School are working as commercial rafting guides in the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Indonesia and Japan to name just some of the countries.
Some students want to work for Kumsheen as an exciting summer job in the outdoors, while others come to the Guide School with no interest in becoming commercial guides, but do so for the fun, adventure and learning. Some go on to enjoy whitewater rafting as a personal hobby. Even others have come with rafting work for another company already lined up, pending completion of Kumsheen’s Guide School.
Click here to view our 2009 Guide Training School Package.
Raft Guide Licenses
British Columbia has been recognized as a world leader in the whitewater rafting industry since implementation of Provincial Standards in 1989. Upon completion of Kumsheen's 12 day Raft Guide School, and a successful pass of the accompanying exams, Kumsheen issues the student a Certificate of Competency stating that the BC Provincial Standards (dated April 2002) have been met.
After meeting the 2002 Provincial Rafting Standards by passing the course and exams, the next stage towards getting your BC River Outfitters Association (BCROA) Guide Licence is by doing some familiarization trips with a BCROA Member Company (such as Kumsheen). Once those "Fam" trips have been completed and the company feels that you are ready to take clients down the river by yourself, the company issues your BCROA Commercial River Guide Licence.
About Our School
Our Primary Focus is to instruct participants:
- River Skills using both oar and paddle rafts
- General Principles of river dynamics
- General Principles of river safety and river rescue
- General Knowledge of rafts and equipment
- General Understanding of the whitewater industry
This is accomplished primarily through daily river practice. Additionally, dry land training, classroom lectures, briefing and debriefing sessions occur regularly. Our goal is to graduate skilled, knowledgeable and marketable whitewater guides with the confidence to run rivers safely.
The Program & Equipment
A comprehensive Training Outline is provided to you after fees have been submitted. Specific topics covered in the program are:
- * Paddle and Oar Equipment * Raft Construction*
- * Flat Water Practice * Flip Drills * Safety Talk *
- * Off. & Def. Swimming * Signals * Raft Repair *
- * Emergency Plans * Maneuvers * Mock Exams *
Training takes place on three rivers: the Thompson, Nicola, and Chilliwack. Raft sizes vary with location and the skill instructed. Kumsheen's state-of-the-art fleet consists of 100% self-bailing rafts.
The Course Fee Includes:
- Lunches Daily
- Shared accommodation in a cozy Cabin Tent (you provide your own sleeping bag etc ) or a private room in staff quarters while on-site
- Training manuals and literature
- Shuttle transportation during the course
- Use of the Kumsheen Rafting Resort amenities
Prerequisites
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You must be a competent swimmer
- You must be in good physical condition
We're Well Established
Kumsheen offered the First Guide Training Course in Canada back in 1975 when Bernie Fandrich, founder of Kumsheen Raft Adventures Ltd., taught Canada's first River Running Course through the Continuing Education Center at Langara College in Vancouver, B.C.
Recognizing the need for and importance of formal guide training, he began an in-house training program each and every spring at the Kumsheen Rafting headquarters in Lytton, B.C.
Instructors
Braden Fandrich is our Head Instructor. Braden grew up on the rivers of British Columbia. His first rafting trip was when he was three years old, and he is now a Swiftwater rescue instructor, a sponsored whitewater kayaker, and has guided, traveled and competed on rivers around the world. His photos and articles have appeared in Paddler magazine, Kayak Session Magazine, Kayak Magazine, and Rapid Magazine, and he is featured in numerous kayaking videos and on television as a kayaker and rafter. Braden is also recognized as a Raft Guide Examiner for both the BCROA and was a Raft Guide Examiner in accordance with the 2002 BC Provincial River Rafting Regulations while that legislation was in effect.
Ryan Gray is a New Zealander and has worked year-round in the rafting industry since 1995. Ryan is Kumsheen's River Safety Manager, a role he shares with Andrew Fandrich. Ryan recently moved to British Columbia and is getting used to Canadian Winter, a change from spending half of his time rafting in New Zealand, and the other half rafting in Canada. He is as at home rafting the 20 foot waterfalls of the Kaituna (NZ) as the 20 foot waves of the Fraser River (BC), and is in charge of Kumsheen's raft repair and design.
Chris Walker is a Kumsheen Trip Leader with vast international experience and credentials. He has British Canoe Union certification and recently was Head Instructor at the British Student Universities Canoe / Kayak White Water Safety Symposiums. He has more than a dozen certificates in various outdoor pursuits and brings an international flavour to the School.
Adam Forseth is our former Head Instructor and has developed and led our Raft Guide Training program for many years. In addition to still being a consultant to our guide training program, he was Kumsheen's River Safety Manager and Trip Leader and SRT instructor. In the off-season he is an ambulance attendant and ski patroller. Adam is also a graduate of Thompson Rivers University Outdoor Recreation Program, and is recognized as a BCROA Guide Examiner and formerly as a Provincial Raft Guide Examiner while that legislation was in effect.
Andrew Fandrich grew up rafting on the Thompson and Fraser rivers. He is one of Kumsheen's top-guides and shares the River Safety Manager position with Ryan Gray. On his days off during the summer Andrew can be found rafting privately on rivers around BC; in the winter season he travels South to the warm parts of the world.
Booking Information
Contact us rafting@kumsheen.com or 1 800 663 6667 and we will send you a complete Guide School Package with various course fee options.
GUIDE SCHOOL DATES
Our 12 day course begins May 4, 2009 and runs until May 17. Practical and written exams are on the 17th.
HOW TO BOOK
Call our office at 1(800)663-6667 to book your reservation. A $100 CDN deposit will confirm your booking. Balance of fee is due 30 days prior to the commencement of the Guide School.
CANCELLATIONS
Deposits are fully refundable if cancelled in writing up to 30 days prior to the commencement of the Guide School. NO REFUNDS WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY REASON FOR CANCELLATIONS REQUESTED AFTER THE 30 DAY DEADLINE.
COURSE FEE
$1750 plus gst
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