Youth Summer Adventure Camp Programs

Let us provide your youth group with a unique whitewater rafting experience.

How the “Learn-to-Row Adventure” is perfect for teen adventure programs:

• Adds to the uniqueness of your program
• Students learn to row, as well as life-skills like confidence, teamwork, and self-reliance
• Learn technical river reading skills
• Self-empowering experience knowing that they navigated “The River”
• Enhances the group bonding experience

We specialize in working with traveling teen adventure programs. This type of trip adds to the learning and growth of your participants. Our staff members have experience working with teenagers in a variety of capacities. The owners of Winding Waters have spent a combined 10 summers leading 4 to 6 week summer adventures for one of the largest adventure camp providers. We have facilitated the group bonding experience and have an intimate knowledge of what your groups are experiencing during the summer. We know how to continue that atmosphere on the river. On our trips, our knowledgeable and safety-conscience guides take the time to teach your participants the ways of the river above and beyond the typical river trip. We meet your group at the river put-in (launch point) and take care of every river logistic for the Whitewater portion of their summer adventure.

We will put your participants behind the oars of one of our new 12 foot Aire rafts, at the helm of an inflatable kayak ("ducky"), or as the captain of a paddle-raft team. Our trips begin with thorough on-shore instruction and then on-water practice and instruction from our professional and experienced guides. We offer daily instructional sessions discussing rowing techniques, water hydraulics, reading river currents, river safety, and communication. Additionally, our guides teach about the local natural and cultural history. As members of the Association of Experiential Education, we believe in the experience as the teacher; the best way to learn is by doing. As your participants learn to captain their raft down the river they will discover things about themselves that can only be learned when placed into a new and exhilarating environment.

The “Learn-to-Row” is an ideal way to begin or finish a summer of hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, or whatever your group has been doing all summer. As the last trip of the summer, your participants will have been growing and gaining self-confidence all summer long and now they have a chance to challenge themselves with a new skill. This challenge is a great way for your groups to bond and practice the teamwork and cooperation they have developed all summer. They will work together and look out for each other to insure a safe and fun trip down the river. We offer opportunities for those who pick up rowing quicker to help teach others what they have learned. It is hard to describe the look of thrill and excitement on a teenagers face after they have rowed through there first class III rapid. Our trips are always the highlight of the summer for the groups that have joined us on “The River”.

We understand that part of the experience for the participants is to plan, shop for, and prepare the meals. We encourage our camp groups to continue this on the river. Your group can bring their own food and use our River Kitchen to prepare all of the meals. Our guides will be there to share their in-depth knowledge of cooking in the outdoors. If it works better for your group, we can provide the food and work with your group in preparing the meals. We often create cook groups and have them rotate through all of the in-camp duties on the river. However, we are open to working with your groups to provide continuity between “The River” and the rest of your group’s adventure.

These river raft trips will be offered from July through August on the Salmon River of Idaho and June through August on the Grande Ronde River of Oregon. For pricing information, please contact us. This is the type of river experience that will give your adventure a unique and memorable twist.

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