Whitewater Academy
*The event has already taken place on this date: Mon, 08/05/2019
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Whitewater Academy, is an intensive four-day training for teens entering 10th – 12th grades wanting to learn whitewater skills. We are looking for exceptional teens who are ready to challenge themselves by stepping out of their comfort zones. Living on the river provides a unique experience to face our fears daily, accepting the vulnerability of figuring out how to captain a 3,000-pound boat. The community on the river functions through teamwork. Participants develop leadership skills when they support each other, manage their personal protective equipment, or cook a delicious meal for their team. The skills learned on the river are transferable and will lead to success with family, school, and work.
CFI instructors, all certified whitewater guides, will coach students to row or paddle a raft, practice river reading skills, and navigate whitewater. The river curriculum includes leadership, basic river rescue, risk management, and decision making. The course also focuses on minimum impact techniques, ethics for river travel, and ecology of the desert region.
We launch from Loma Boat Launch on the Colorado River. Each day, participants learn and participate in rigging the boats, paddling downstream, setting up camps, and preparing meals on the river. Our expedition begins on the calm waters of Ruby and Horsethief Canyons, offering participants a chance to hone their skills on a forgiving stretch of river. Towering red rock walls and numerous side canyons offer opportunities for exploration. Day three, our team tackles the challenge of Westwater Canyon, with rapids up to class IV. After our last night in the field, we paddle out to Cisco as the red walls subside.
CFI Staff and Safety
Canyonlands Field Institute is permitted and licensed to operate by federal and state agencies. CFI staff have been trained in natural and cultural history of the Colorado Plateau, and have earned Utah guide licenses. Additionally, instructors are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.
Drop Off and Pick Up
First Day
Whitewater Academy will begin for your child at one of three locations depending on your travel plans. Arrival locations are; CFI Headquarters, Moab Airport, or Loma Boat Ramp.
8:00 A.M. – CFI Headquarters
9:19 A.M. – Arrival at CNY Airport from Denver
11:00 A.M. – Loma Boat Ramp
Orientation, training, safety talk, rigging boats, skills practice on the river. Meals provided by CFI starting at lunch.
River Days: Meals provided by CFI; explore the river corridor; practice river running, risk management, and leadership skills.
August 8: Pick up at Loma Boat Ramp, Moab Airport, or CFI Headquarters.
4:00 P.M.
– Parents pick up participants at Loma Boat Ramp
4:30 P.M. – CFI staff drop off youth at CNY Airport for 6:10 P.M. flight landing in Denver at 7:18 P.M.
5:00 P.M. – Parent pick up at CFI Headquarters
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.