Junior Guides is a three-day "day camp" for kids ages 6-16 run on the South Fork, American River in Coloma, California.
Junior Guides is a California 501c3 non-profit in operation since 2010. This is our tenth year! (More about Junior Guides)
Our 3-day, class II or class III river rafting programs include highly qualified guides, kid-sized boats and gear, shuttles to and from put-in and take-out, two substantial daily snacks, a lunch buffet, evening activities, a private link to photos of camp, and a camp gift. Programs typically run from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day. This may vary depending on the camper's age and group.
Parents and families often participate together in evening activities. Most families stay overnight together.
Parents and kids typically rendezvous to formally start camp on a Monday morning in July. Though the formal, on-river program is about 8 hours, many families also choose to stay with their kids on the river at our idyllic base camp, Earthtrek. Overnight camping is optional (See links for Camping & Food). This makes the whole experience more a family camp than something solely for the kids. While kids spend days on the river learning and playing, mentored by professional river guides, the rest of the family can get involved in mornings and evenings, too!
(During the day, parents - who are often ex-professional whitewater guides themselves - arrange special outings of their own. It's all part of the river family experience.)
Junior Guides is a California 501c3 non-profit in operation since 2010. This is our tenth year! (More about Junior Guides)
Our 3-day, class II or class III river rafting programs include highly qualified guides, kid-sized boats and gear, shuttles to and from put-in and take-out, two substantial daily snacks, a lunch buffet, evening activities, a private link to photos of camp, and a camp gift. Programs typically run from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day. This may vary depending on the camper's age and group.
Parents and families often participate together in evening activities. Most families stay overnight together.
Parents and kids typically rendezvous to formally start camp on a Monday morning in July. Though the formal, on-river program is about 8 hours, many families also choose to stay with their kids on the river at our idyllic base camp, Earthtrek. Overnight camping is optional (See links for Camping & Food). This makes the whole experience more a family camp than something solely for the kids. While kids spend days on the river learning and playing, mentored by professional river guides, the rest of the family can get involved in mornings and evenings, too!
(During the day, parents - who are often ex-professional whitewater guides themselves - arrange special outings of their own. It's all part of the river family experience.)
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Entering grades 1-4 Fall 2022; typically ages 6-9
This program, taught by specially selected and certified guides, is for our youngest campers - typically ages 6-9. Each camp session has just 12 spaces in this group. Campers learn about the dynamics of moving water, play games, learn about the environment and conservation, and sing songs while practicing teamwork to get their raft downstream. Campers in this group drift and navigate the "class II" mellow stretches of the South Fork American, commonly known as the "Tom Sawyer Float". They'll certainly come home with Huck Finn-like stories of their own!
2022 Pricing: $450 first child, $400 additional siblings |
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Entering Grades 5-11 Fall 2022; typically ages 9-16
Older and more experienced campers step up in the level of challenge. These kids, typically ages 9-16, learn to negotiate class III rapids as they steer the raft, verbally direct their peers, and navigate the upper and lower South Fork American River. It's a perfect beginner's run offering just the right challenge!
Campers each take turns guiding the boat, learning a variety of strokes and paddle commands. Coaching and feedback - both giving and receiving - is a big part of Junior Guides. Our theme has been "Use Your Voice!" It's important as a river guide, and as a leader all through life. Our philosophy is 'challenge by choice' when encountering river features; campers may choose to swim rapids or surf holes, or to take a more conservative approach if that suits them. We encourage healthy respect for nature, but enjoying all it has to offer. 2022 Pricing: $450 first child, $400 additional siblings |
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To extend the Junior Guides program and by popular demand, we are offering an advanced course in 2022 for more experienced paddling kids. This camp will be limited to just 15 attendees. The camp will be five days in length total; four days on multiple rivers. The program will be far deeper than our standard Otters program, and kids will gain significant skill during this fun-filled, intensive week. (This is not a qualifier for commercial guides, but prepares young folks for an adult guide school in the future.) Here is the tentative schedule:
Sunday, July 10 evening: Arrive at rendezvous camp in Coloma, CA for a briefing. Monday, July 11: South Fork American guiding instruction and coaching with River Runners Tuesday, July 12: South Fork or Middle Fork American guiding instruction and coaching with River Runners Wednesday, July 13: Travel day from Coloma to Groveland, CA - very near Yosemite. Lessons on trip planning and logistics: Shopping, packing, rigging at ARTA, Groveland, CA. Camping at Meral's Pool put-in. Camp cooking for dinner and the following morning's breakfast. Thursday, July 14: Tuolumne put-in with ARTA River Trips. Kids guide all the rapids they're capable of with coaching and instruction from experienced ARTA and Junior Guides instructors. Camp at The Clavey River or similar. Friday, July 15: Tuolumne day 2, take-out, travel home 2022 Expected pricing to be confirmed: $900-1,100 with a discount for additional siblings A partial scholarship may be available based on need. To register or discuss this camp, call or email us. |
It's the little things.
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