Orientation will be a classroom session held before Guide Training Weekend and the Pool Session to inform trainees of the expectations as well as answer any questions in depth. It will also cover club history, rivers we run, opportunities within the club, as well as what gear trainees should have/will need.

Note: After orientation, you may request to change to Guide Training or Informed Passenger based on the information presented.

The pool session will offer a controlled environment for learning some of the "basics" that most guides take for granted on the river. First will be the classroom session, going over the topics that will be covered over the course of the day. Once in the water, trainees must demonstrate the ability to swim a lap in full rafting attire and some of the swimming techniques and positions. This will follow with boat positioning and proper bracing techniques. The pool session concludes with boat flipping and throw bag practice.

Training Weekend takes place on the Wenatchee River, where we provide your lodging in scenic Leavenworth. Trainees are free to arrive Friday night or early (typically 7am) Saturday morning, when orientation will begin. Saturday morning will be a classroom session on reading whitewater and a runthrough of equipment, commands, and professionalism. The afternoon will be on the river, giving you hands on experience with navigating a rafting through Class III whitewater with a BEWET guide as part of your crew. Guide Trainees should expect to be on the "stick," as you will be the ones running the raft and giving the commands. Informed Passengers will be working on how to properly execute commands and work as a team in communication with the Guide to navigate the rapids. Sunday morning will be another brief classroom session, and then back out on the water in the early afternoon.

This is where the real training takes place. Every trip that BEWET runs is available for you to continue your training on. For Guide Trainees, every trip is free, it's considered included in your trip fee. For Informed Passengers, only 3 trips are included in your fee, but the entire BEWET schedule of trips is available to you; this includes the Class IV Skykomish, Chilliwack, and Green! Keep in mind that most of our Class IV rivers will only be run if water levels fall within the club's limits, so they cannot be guaranteed every year.