Review on becoming a raft guide at USNWC - Whitewater Raft Guide USNWC Employee Review

2.0
Feb 10, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You get to work outside and be physically active. Meeting people from every walk of life.

Cons

Becoming a raft guide is very difficult process. First, you are required to pay for guide school and equipment which will cost around $400. Then, you are required to pass a "Check out" test with a Senior Guide. This usually takes around 6 weeks before you successfully "check out" as a guide and begin working. If you calculate the amount of time, money and energy spent to become a guide. At their current hourly rate, it is very difficult to recoup your costs in one season, much less have any spending money left over. When the weather is bad, guides are sent home without pay. Also, if there are not enough guests to take rafting, guide shifts are cut early without pay. Tattoo are not allowed to be visible, so that keep that in mind if you have any tattoos. Because of the long lines in the summer, guests are often very impatient by the time they get into your raft. Or, they have already done a number of activities during the day, and have no strength left to help paddle - which leaves the guide to do all the heavy paddling for the trip.

Explore other reviews about USNWC

5.0
Nov 30, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to work. great coworkers. Flexible schedule. Strong mission.

Cons

they dont pay great but it is a non-profit,

2.0
Jul 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Pay is pretty decent given the workload -Access to Whitewater Activities -Staff Discount at the store on property -Happy Customers 9/10 times -Great team -Flexibility

Cons

-Upper Management: while direct management is caring and supportive, upper management watches for mistakes and only cares about the bottom dollar -12+hour shifts; breaks can be ignored -Extreme Heat -Uniform not included -Can be expected to come into work when the road is iced over in winter season (parkway not salted) -Dead seasons of the year (post-summer and pre-winter)

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