Ospreys: Advanced Junior Guides Program Now in its sixth year, our Ospreys program is the most advanced offering in the Junior Guides lineup. Designed for experienced young paddlers, this immersive course challenges participants on multiple Class III and IV rivers while building technical skill, leadership, and confidence. Enrollment is intentionally small--16 campers or fewer—to allow for deep instruction and strong group cohesion.
Application and a letter of recommendation from a teacher are required.
Participants must demonstrate accountability, integrity, athleticism, independence, teamwork, courage, and maturity. Unlike our Otters and Ducks programs, parents are not allowed to accompany campers. A small number of carefully vetted parent chaperones join the trip to support logistics and safety.
Program Length: 6 days total
Expect at least five full days of rafting, plus some travel time. Ospreys is significantly deeper and more adventurous than our Otters program, and campers make meaningful skill gains during this fun-filled, intensive week. Past participants consistently say their favorite part is the strong bonding that happens while swimming, practicing flip drills, learning knots, and sharing campfire time together.
Rivers We’ve Run
We regret that Ospreys has more applicants than we can accommodate, so we encourage youth to apply to the Camp Counselor and/or the intern program as well.
Application will be available through a link, here, starting February 1.
Application and a letter of recommendation from a teacher are required.
Participants must demonstrate accountability, integrity, athleticism, independence, teamwork, courage, and maturity. Unlike our Otters and Ducks programs, parents are not allowed to accompany campers. A small number of carefully vetted parent chaperones join the trip to support logistics and safety.
Program Length: 6 days total
Expect at least five full days of rafting, plus some travel time. Ospreys is significantly deeper and more adventurous than our Otters program, and campers make meaningful skill gains during this fun-filled, intensive week. Past participants consistently say their favorite part is the strong bonding that happens while swimming, practicing flip drills, learning knots, and sharing campfire time together.
Rivers We’ve Run
- 2023: South Fork American; Class IV runs on the North Stanislaus and Merced
- 2025: Four days on the Kern River; two days on the Tuolumne
- 2026 (Planned): Day 1 shakedown on the South Fork American, Two-day overnight on the Middle Fork American, then travel to the Klamath River or a similar advanced river
We regret that Ospreys has more applicants than we can accommodate, so we encourage youth to apply to the Camp Counselor and/or the intern program as well.
Application will be available through a link, here, starting February 1.
