Dear Web Applicant:

We would first like to thank you for your interest in Whitewater Excitement. We pride ourselves in running some of the most popular and certainly best river trips in the state. We consider ourselves a leader in California Whitewater rafting and have the leadership and commitment remain the premier river outfitter certainly for years to come.

We invite all applicants to explore our web site in order to learn more about us at WWE. Our facilities are simply UN-matched, warehouses and equipment are the best in the industry, and we pride ourselves on continually improving our working conditions. This all combines to make working with us the ideal spring and summer experience.

We only hire self – starting, motivated, team players who prove themselves dedicated to the overall picture of providing the best customer service possible. You need to be prepared to live, play and work with our team.

WWE’s rafting season begins early in April and finishes up in the end of September. Our peak season, however, tends to begin in the first week of June and lasts through to Labor day weekend. Our North Fork of the American Class 4 trips, as well as the Merced River trips begin in early April. Qualified applicants are required to be here no later than the beginning of May.

For applicants with no prior commercial rafting experience, we offer 3 whitewater guide schools (see below):

Spring Break 5 – Day Guide School–Spring Break 2009.

Summer Guide Schools– Last week of May, and 3rd week of June.

Our guide schools will teach you more than just whitewater guiding, but we also gear these students towards hopefully working for us specifically.

Our staff is paid on a per trip basis that also works on seniority. First year guides will hope to earn approximately $50 for each half day trip and upwards of $80 for every full day trip. Experienced Class 4 guides will hope to earn anywhere from $80 to $100 a day, commensurate with both experience and qualifications in addition to certifications ( EMT or Paramedic, commercial class B drivers license, Swift Water Rescue, Interpretive teaching skills).

We offer our guides a place to live for the duration of the season at our South Fork American Base camp. This is tent living, however we do have bathrooms equipped with flush toilets and hot showers. Meals are included as follows: lunch if provided on all one day trips, breakfast, lunch and dinner in included in multi – day trips, all prepared by you.

If you already are an experienced commercial guide and interested in working with us, please fill out the Guide Application form and we will contact you about possible openings for the upcoming season.

Those of you who do not have any commercial guiding experience, but are still interested in working with us, check out our two-whitewater guide schools (below). We hire our new guides right out of our schools.

The gear that our guides will need to have include dry or wet suit with pile or poly – pro under garments, paddle jacket, life jacket, wet suit booties, straps, carabineers, mini throw bag, and stuff or duffel bag. In addition to this, Class 4 guides are expected to have a helmet, personal rescue kit, river knife, and first aid kit.

If you would like more information or have any questions at all, please give me a call at (916) 888- 6515 or leave a e-mail message for me.

Thank you once again and I look forward to hearing from you!

Norm Schoenhoff,
President

Guide Schools

Welcome

Whitewater Excitement each year offers two whitewater guide schools, which is where we seek prospective employees. These schools are only for individuals with a desire to work for us during the spring and summer season, and years to come! We have the tradition of hiring all of our employees from our schools. For more information on working with us, call our office at 800-750-2386.

If you have no guiding experience, but would much like to work with us, then our school is the ideal place for you. These schools are designed for us by us and geared specifically for guides that will work for WWE.

During our guide schools you will learn all there is to know about guiding a raft with commercial passengers through some of the best whitewater in California, and proper use of all our equipment. We will also teach you about the river; its history, flora and fauna, and the wildlife that inhabits the area. Wilderness cooking and camping is covered as well as swiftwater rescue techniques.

All throughout our schools we will teach our students the Whitewater Excitement method of doing things. This includes preparing meals and equipment to making sure that our guests are happy. We have a detailed workshop on customer service workshop during our spring course that really gets how we see our guests needs. If you are interested in attending one of our Guide Schools and becoming an elite Whitewater Excitement Rafting Guide, please fill out our Guide Application and we will contact you about possible openings for the upcoming season.

Spring Break Guide School

The Spring Break school lasts 5 Days. Most days will see that the meals are included; however certain meals will be left to the participant. The majority of the school we will stay on the South Fork of the American River, this is the river that the majority of our first year guides work on. We do try to spice things up a bit when we spend a day or two on the Middle or North Forks of the American, depending on the weather and water levels.

Summer Guide School

Our 2009 Summer Guide School will begin Sunday, June 14 at 6PM and run through Saturday, June 20. This 6 day school is great for UC students, teachers, and others looking to gain summer employment as one of our whitewater river guides. The Summer Guide School will concentrate on the South Fork of the American river as this is where most first year guides will work. We will try however, to raft the class 3/4 Middle Fork of the American river one of the days. Please call us if you need more information or have some questions. Selective meals are provided. Camping will be at our South Fork American Basecamp.

Guide Qualifications

In order to qualify for our guide schools you must be; minimum 18 years old, seeking employment with us this spring and summer, must bring with you a professional and open attitude. In addition to this, keep in mind that you will be required to often work long hours without being particularly prone to moodiness or burnout. You must also be able to live, work, and play with others as a team player, as well as being able to accept directions on the Whitewater Excitement way of doing things. We are always looking for folks who love to share their experiences and the river with others, and who are fully able to place guests needs above their own.

Equipment

Students will need the following equipment for the schools, river equipment, which includes a dry or wet or dry suit considering that the school is not weather dependents. Pile, wool or poly – pro undergarments, wet suit booties, swim suit or, sunglasses with retaining strap ,hat, lip balm and sunscreen, water bottle, rain pants and jacket. You will also need camping equipment including warm clothes (shirts, pants, socks, shoes,jacket) sleeping bag and ground pad, tent, toiletries, flashlight, alarm clock, drinks and snacks while on your own time.

Tuition

Tuition for the guide schools is $400.00 ($300 for students*). We accept payments through the following methods, $200.00 deposit in order to secure your place, and the remaining $200.00 prior to the first day of the school.

*College or High School students will receive a $100 discount off the $400 tuition. If you are interested, give us a call at (530) 888-6515 to reserve your space or to get more information. We do limit the number of participants. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you out the complete guide school manual and information packet.