Guide School

Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours is proud to offer a state certified, professional, quality white water rafting instructional certification course for those interested in becoming professional raft guides, or those wanting to learn raft navigation and rigging. The course exceeds both the Colorado State requirements and the Arizona State requirements for guide certification.

2017 Instructional Guide Course

Who: Anyone who desires to learn river navigation of a raft for private or commercial trips. Learn both oar and paddle boat navigational skills.

Prerequisites: 15 years of age for a course, 18 years of age to guide in the state of Colorado

Where: Southwest Area Rivers (see course description below for details)

Why Mild to Wild’s Instructional Course:

  • The whitewater experts for 24 years, Mild to Wild has trained hundreds of guides.
  • Instructors are state certified to teach.
  • Learn to read river, not memorize the route (which changes as the water levels change).
  • Learn to operate paddle rafts and oar-rigged rafts.
  • Learn rescue techniques.
  • We teach you to be the complete guide from guest services, safety, to rigging, to rescue, how to provide the best guest experience.
    • Upon completion of either course you will exceed the requirements of a Class III river guide (subject to completion of separate first-aid and CPR training). These are intensive courses that emphasize skill training and personal development among the spectacular setting of deep rock canyons and river corridors. Tuition includes state certified instructors, transportation from our meeting point, PFD (life jacket), helmet and boating equipment.

    Skills training will include:

    Comprehensive Guide School

    When: May 10 – May 24, 2017

    Itinerary: Click Here for Details Click Here for Itinerary

    Cost: $725

    Our 14-day (15 days with 1 day off) comprehensive whitewater rafting guide training course will certify participants as Colorado Class III river guides. The course covers all aspects of guiding a river trip, and is perfect for the person who would like to become a fully certified guide. Skills training will include: leadership, group dynamics, meal preparation, crew orientation, river rescue, raft rigging and river navigation for multi-day and single day raft trips. Upon completion, all participants will exceed the requirements for a Colorado Class III river guide. This course includes a day and a half on the Colorado River, two days on the San Miguel and one day on the Piedra, with the remainder of the class days on Durango’s Lower Animas River.

    Tuition Includes:

    In addition to the the provisions listed above, this course also includes camping with Mild to Wild the nights of May 11-15 and food while camping. (Camping gear not included.)




    State Certified Basic Guide Course

    When: June 3 – June 12, 2017

    Details/Itinerary: Click Here for Details Click Here for Itinerary

    Cost: $425

    This 10 day course is perfect for anyone seeking employment as a raft guide or anyone interested in private boating. We will cover all aspects of guiding a river trip: boats, helmets, technical gear, leadership, group dynamics, crew orientation, river rescue, guest service, interpretation, raft rigging and river navigation. At the end of the course, participants will meet the requirements to be a Class III Colorado state raft guide, and can apply to work at Mild to Wild! We will be hiring!




    Spring Break Guide Course

    When: March 27 – 30, 2017

    Cost: $595

    Spend your spring break learning to guide a raft. The Salt River Canyon offers a fantastic setting. This remote canyon has no electricity, cell service, or running water. Day 2, 3, and 4 are in the wilderness section, not accessible by road. We include meals from lunch on Day 2 – lunch on Day 4. Bring your own food for the rest of the meals; you’re welcome to use our camp kitchen at our base camp. If seeking a summer job in Durango, you will train 5 days on the Animas River in Durango with the Basic Course up above.




    Important Considerations:

    • It is highly recommended that participants take advantage of our wetsuit package which includes a wetsuit, wetsuit boots and a splash jacket. This package costs $50 for the whole course.
    • Full payment is due at time of enrollment.
    • Cancellation Policy: Full refund less $100 with notice 14 days prior to class, within 14 days of the class there will be no refund for cancelling.
    • Completing guide school does not guarantee a job with Mild to Wild.
    • We recommend arriving with current first-aid and CPR certifications.