Junior Guides is a three-day "day camp" for kids ages 6-16 primarily run on the South Fork, American River in Coloma, California. This is our 16th year! (More about Junior Guides)
Our 3-day 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 on river photos, 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. We are excited to introduce our commercial rafting partners for 2026: WET on the South Fork, and Oregon Whitewater Adventures on the North Umpqua.
Parents and kids typically rendezvous to start camp formally on Sunday morning. Though the formal, on-river program is about 8 hours, most campers and their families choose to add-on lodging and meal package and will arrive Saturday night. Overnight camping is optional, yet this makes the whole experience a 'family camp' and not just something solely for the kids. While kids spend days on the river learning and playing, parents - who are often ex-professional whitewater guides themselves - arrange special outings of their own. It's all part of the river family experience.
Our fantastic program offerings for 2026:
Our 3-day 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 on river photos, 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. We are excited to introduce our commercial rafting partners for 2026: WET on the South Fork, and Oregon Whitewater Adventures on the North Umpqua.
Parents and kids typically rendezvous to start camp formally on Sunday morning. Though the formal, on-river program is about 8 hours, most campers and their families choose to add-on lodging and meal package and will arrive Saturday night. Overnight camping is optional, yet this makes the whole experience a 'family camp' and not just something solely for the kids. While kids spend days on the river learning and playing, parents - who are often ex-professional whitewater guides themselves - arrange special outings of their own. It's all part of the river family experience.
Our fantastic program offerings for 2026:
- Ducks for campers age 6-9
- Otters for campers age 10-16
- JuniorKayakers ages 10-18
- Ospreys ages 15-18
- Camp Counselors for ages 15-20
- Internships 'Assistant AB Boatman' for ages 17-20
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Ages 6-9
This program is for our youngest campers aged 6-9. Each camp session has limited spaces, to give individual attention to our youngest members of the flock. 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! Ducks are shepherded by specially selected Senior River Guides and several teen Camp Counselors.
2026 Tuition: $550 per child |
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Ages 10-16
Older and more experienced campers step up in the level of challenge. These kids, typically ages 10-16, 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 'choose your adventure' 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. 2026 Tuition: $550 per child |
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Our ultimate Junior Guides program is in its sixth year. This is an advanced course for more experienced young paddlers. We typically run multiple class III and IV rivers in this program, and the camp is limited to just 16 or fewer attendees.
In 2023, Ospreys ran the South Fork American, and the class IV runs on the North Stanislaus and Merced. In 2025, Osprey campers rafted 4 days on the Kern river, and 2 days on the Tuolumne. In 2026, Ospreys will have a shakedown raft trip day one on the South Fork, followed by a 2 day overnight on the Middle Fork American, and then travel to the Klamath or another similar river. Ospreys is not a qualifier for commercial guides, but prepares young folks for empowered adulting, and some choose to continue to an adult river guide school in the future. Here's a highlights video from our unforgettable 2023 adventure! Sample Itinerary from 2023: Saturday, July 8 evening: Arrive at rendezvous camp in Coloma, CA for a briefing. Sunday, July 9 - Monday, July 10: South Fork American guiding instruction Tuesday, July 11: North Fork of the Stanislaus -- Class IV whitewater at 4,500 feet in elevation. A spectacular river in an alpine setting. Wednesday, July 12 - Friday, July 14: Rafting on the fluffy Merced River just outside of Yosemite National Park Estimated pricing: $1,500 This includes all commercial rafting fees, overnight camping fees, all meals, and shared transportation costs. Need based scholarships are available, see Scholarship tab. For questions, or to discuss this special camp, email us. Find the the Osprey application here , due February 25. Successful applicants notified by March 1. More Ospreys Details, click here |
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Jr KayakersJunior Kayaker Camp, age 10-17, is designed for beginner to intermediate paddlers to master basic maneuvering, navigation and eskimo roll practice if appropriate. Set along the South Fork American River, instruction is tailored to each camper’s ability with an elite 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio. Read about lead instructor Logan Smith, 16 years of kayaking under his belt, has traveled to 10 countries to run hard rapids and waterfalls, check him out at Instagram @kayakerdude. Based out of Earthtrek camp, this 3 day program runs concurrently with our traditional raft camps, and includes all the apres-raft parties and evening activities we are loved for. JrKayaker Camp is offered during the following sessions: June 14–16 | June 28–30 | July 12–14 | July 19–21. Cost $550
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CampCounselor & InternOur program offerings are growing right along with your kids! Last year we launched a tremendously successful Camp Counselor program, more than 15 super kid friendly teens accompanied our youngest campers on the Coloma-to-Greenwood stretch. Several Camp Counselors loved it so much, they did multiple sessions! Camp Counselors earn 35 hours of community service per session, and help immensely adding fun and another pair of eyes on our littlest duck campers! Apply here for CC. Camp Counselor program costs $150; the remaining funds required to pay their commercial rafting fees come from our scholarship program.
Interns Some companies call these unpaid trainees 'AB''s, or 'Assistant Boatman'. These skilled JG graduates aged 17-20 who are not quite ready to guide commercially, will assist with pre-river boat prep, meal prep, on river logistics with the Otters. AB interns help the commercial outfitter, starting with packing of the trip the first morning, rigging and topping boats, and their day continues until the boats are tied to the trailer at the end of the day. They may also be invited to do group instruction (leading a toss bag drill) or assist with rowing a lunch boat, depending on skills. Experience required. This Intern program is unpaid, no fee, and may lead to tip-sharing or work in the industry. Camp Counselor Application Intern application Camp Counselors or Interns who are under age 18 and camping overnight need to have supervision; parents may be offsite with Director's permission only. |
It's the little things.
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