Swift Water Rescue
Price: See Below
Dates: See Below | Custom groups and dates available
Course is run over 2 evenings and 2 full days or 3 full days Custom dates may be available. Skills include: Hydrology, Rescue Equipment, Swimming, Wading, z-drags and rescues, sweepers, unpinning of canoes, cinches, knots, live bait rescues. This swift water rescue course is ideal for those wanting river rescue knowledge, perfect for canoeists, fisherman, boaters, kayakers or anyone who is around rivers, creeks or streams. This rescue course is very hands on with lots of in water time, simulations and in the river practice. We may use a rescue mannequin in simulations. Each rescue is unique so we teach you different options that you can use based on the situation.
Upon completion of the rescue course, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from American Canoe Association, the oldest Paddlesport Organization in the world.
New formats 2025 –please contact office if you have questions.
Industry– $449
Traditional Swift Water course – 3 days during the week for People working around Water. – Environmental Techs, Fishery’s, Educators, Fisherman, Game Guaradians and Paddlers.
2 dates: May 21-23; June 10-12
Paddler Focused–$449
Includes skills in Industry course and includes more boat based Rescue. Canoes will be the prime water craft used in course but Kayaks, inflatables & packrafts are welcome. Course taught over 2 evenings and 2 full days. May include camping at Takhini River. Moving Water paddling skills is a pre requisite for this course.
2 dates: May 17,18,19 (all day) or June 5,6(evenings) & 7,8 (all day)
Advanced Swift Water Rescue- 4 days at Lapie River $699
For people with prior Swift Water Rescue courses. Boat based (canoe, kayak, packraft) course on Lapie River. Participants will provide own boat and need to be a Grade 2+ paddler. More details coming soon
Dates: July 10-13
Swift Water Awareness- $325
New for 2025– 2 day course focused on: How Moving Water works, River Hazards, Wading, Swimming, Throw Bag use. This course gives you the fundamentals for being around or in Moving Water. It builds your confidence to be in the water. We do not do technical rope work such as Z-drags in this course.
Dates: May 24+25; June 10+11; June 14+15
Packraft Focused – Course for Packraft specific rescues/techniques details and dates coming very soon.
Hybrid for Educators– Combination of online self learning+ 2 fulls days on Takhini River. We will camp out on Takhini river. This is a new format for 2025 targeted for Educators. Course will be Canoe focused with Boat Based Rescues. Participants will need prior Moving Water Paddling Skills. Precourse on-line work completion is mandatory before on water days. Sign up Early so you have to time to complete assignment.
By Demand please email directly
Prepare for the Unexpected!
When you are hundreds of miles from the nearest road you need to make good choices and be ready when things don’t go as planned. No one is coming to help you out. Rivers are dynamic environments that are constantly changing, new channels being made, changing water levels new sweepers, boulders moving, and many other unexpected changes. Learn and practice these important skills in a controlled & safer environment with the support of our instructors. In this swift water rescue course, we will teach you about the power of moving water.
Skills include:
- Unpinning a canoe, kayak or packraft
- Swimming in rapids
- Using a throw bag
- Dealing with Sweepers and why they can be so dangerous
- Dealing with a foot or body entrapment
- Cutting yourself free from being entangled in a rope
- Drysuits Mandatory. We have drysuits available for rent.
