Four days of river fun for young kayakers! Get started or continue your youngster’s love of the river with the best kayak school in New Mexico. Engaging and encouraging instructors will teach kayaking skills and river safety in the best of outdoor classrooms, The Rio Grande Gorge. This camp is appropriate for children ages 8 to 12; no previous kayaking experience required.

We’ll also work hard to challenge the students’ creativity, both on and off the water, with cool projects throughout the camp. It is our goal in this program to encourage each child to play in the outdoors and practice their paddling skills long after our camp has ended. As some of the world’s best paddlers – who live right here in the Gorge – will tell you: continuity, repetition and persistence are the best way to develop solid skills and good paddling habits. Although we may focus on paddling, there will still be plenty of time for everyone to develop good friendships. This connection is what rivers do for all of us and we look forward to introducing your kids this important connection with rivers!

This 4 day program, taught by specially selected and certified guide instructors, is for our youngest whitewater enthusiasts – typically ages 8-12. Each session has just 12 spaces available. Kids learn about the dynamics of moving water, play games, learn about the environment and conservation, and sing songs while practicing teamwork to get their raft downstream. The emphasis is FUN!

We will spend our days in a variety of locations including Abiquiu Lake, and the Rio Grande.  There will be introductions to swimming in moving current, fun games in and out of the water and of course great practice paddling, guiding, and working as a team. ​ We will also spend time talking about river safety and things to look out for while on the river, such as wearing helmets in whitewater, techniques for staying in the boat, basics of swimming in whitewater and last but not least, environmental concerns like identifying toxic plants and animals and how to be safe while having fun and playing games on shore and in camp. They’ll certainly come home with Huck Finn-like stories of their own!

Each person will receive a detailed confirmation email after reservation with all the necessary information including what to bring, what to wear and where to meet.  Each day we will meet at our Rio Grande headquarters at 8:30am and kids will be ready for pick up between 4:30pm and 5pm. Included in each day are morning and afternoon snacks as well as a hearty buffet lunch.  Feel free to send your child with his or her favorite snacks if you like.