Practical Safety & Rescue Skills Workshop

Things don’t always go as planned on the river. Swimmers happen, lines get misread, water levels change — and the paddlers who handle those moments best are the ones who’ve practiced before they needed to.

This one-day practical safety and rescue skills workshop is designed for recreational whitewater kayakers and packrafters of all skill levels on the South Fork American River in Lotus, California. Whether you’ve been paddling for one season or ten, dedicated time practicing these skills in a controlled setting with professional coaching makes you a safer, more confident paddler — and a better person to have on the river when things don’t go to plan.

This is not a swiftwater rescue certification course. It’s a hands-on, on-water workshop focused on the practical skills that recreational paddlers actually use — taught by CWC instructors who have spent years coaching on the South Fork and rivers around the world.

Who this workshop is for:
Recreational whitewater kayakers and packrafters at Class II through Class IV skill levels. If you go out on rivers with other people — friends, family, a paddling club — this workshop is for you.

Prerequisite: Swiftwater Rescue Certification / River Rescue Course

What you’ll practice:
We cover swimming effectively in whitewater, wet exits from kayaks and packrafts in difficult spots, throw bag deployment and accuracy, tow tethers, towing a swimmer, swimming with a boat, scouting rapids, and on-water decision making under pressure. The focus throughout is on building real reflex — not just knowing what to do, but having practiced it enough that your body does it automatically.

Private workshops available:
Want to bring a group? We offer private safety and rescue workshops for your paddling group, clubs, guided trip leaders, outdoor education programs, and corporate groups. Contact us at info@cwwcollective.com to discuss scheduling and pricing.

Workshop Itinerary

Please note: This is NOT a swiftwater rescue course. This is a practical skills workshop for recreational paddlers of all skill and experience levels.

If you are unsure of which clinic you should sign up for, please read through our Paddling Skill Level Self-Assessment.

All Prices are per person and subject to an 8% fee (Government use and booking fees.) Students under 18 years of age please contact us BEFORE REGISTERING for prior approval. Tent and camping gear rental available. Please review our cancellation policy PRIOR to booking. We understand things happen, so we highly recommend purchasing trip insurance. Contact us at info@cwwcollective.com for policy details and options