This Spring, thanks to the generosity of our donors, Military Outdoors will provide scholarships for veterans, as well as those in the Guard and Reserve, who are interested in pursuing possible seasonal employment as a raft guide. These fast-paced programs will provide you with the skills necessary to work as a professional river rafting guide for commercial outfitters, summer camps, whitewater clubs, outdoor schools, and more. These courses also have the potential to create employment opportunities for graduates elsewhere in the Outdoor Industry and leadership positions within the Sierra Club.
Lodging, meals, and rafting equipment included. No prior skills or outdoor experience necessary.
Learn more about each of the courses and apply below. All trips are free to attend, although participants are responsible for travel costs. If you have any questions about any of the following courses, please contact Robert Vessels, Program Coordinator, at military.outdoors@sierraclub.org.
Military Outdoors will now be requiring a $50 refundable-deposit* upon registration in order to hold a participant's spot on the roster. This new policy is to ensure the maximum number of service members and veterans have an opportunity to participate in one of our outings. No-shows and late cancellations lead to empty roster slots; a problem we hope the deposit will mitigate. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
*Cancellation Policy: Deposits will be refunded if you cancel by contacting military.outdoors@sierraclub.org two weeks prior to the outing departure date. Cancellations within two weeks of the trip start date and no-shows will forfeit their deposit.
March 19-20 [optional]: Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certification Course
March 20-26: Military & Veteran Raft Guide School: Bryson City, NC
(Photo credit: Nantahala Outdoor Center)
Nantahala Outdoor Center pioneered river guide school as a place to get training from top raft guides in the nation. In this whitewater guide class, you can learn to become a professional river guide at NOC's Nantahala River headquarters in western North Carolina.
The March 20-26 course will have an optional Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification component on March 19-20. This 16-hour course provides entry-level training for outdoor enthusiasts and those working in the outdoor industry who want to be better prepared for trips in the backcountry. The WFA course covers topics ranging from preparation and prevention to assessment and treatment. WFA certification is good for two years and a requirement for Military Outdoors Leaders. American Safety Health Institute CPR and AED certification lasts also two years.
Click here for more information and our online application.
April 3-8: Military & Veteran Raft Guide School: Bryson City, NC
(Photo credit: Nantahala Outdoor Center)
During Guide School most of our river time is spent on the Nantahala River due to proximity and the wonderful nature of the Nantahala as a teaching river. We do schedule one travel day, allowing participants to experience a different river and build on their newly acquired skills.
This Nantahala Outdoor Center course is the same programming as the March 20-26 course, but will not have a Wilderness First Aid component.
Click here for more information and our online application.
May 8-15: Military & Veteran Whitewater Guide School: Dinosaur National Monument, CO and UT
Dinosaur Whitewater Guide School is taught by O.A.R.S.' professional river rafting guides on the Green River.
The Green is home to one of Military Outdoors' all-time favorite outings. Rippling red and brown sandstone contrasts with the deep green trees and grasses that grow along the river and up the canyon walls, creating the ultimate classroom. And of course, there is the river itself, first navigated by Major John Wesley Powell on his famous descent that led him through the Grand Canyon, the Green has been a legendary whitewater run. Big-wave rapids are exciting for experienced boaters, but not so formidable as to discourage first-time rafters. This guide school provides the setting for participants to be able to competently maneuver rafts in intermediate Class III whitewater.
If you do well in Dinosaur Whitewater Rafting Guide School, O.A.R.S. just might consider asking you to stay on as a guide. (They do give preferential consideration to their guide school graduates.)
Click here for more information and our online application.
