Rafting Information :
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 This course will present each student with the opportunity to become a class IV kayaker.The qualification and experience gained on the course will prepare you to work and play internationally on rivers around the world. The course lasts for one month with experience instructor and the second month joining our commercial trip for building up more confidence.
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Kayaking Course:
Two months of being constantly on the water with experts, mean even those of you who have never kayaked before should be able to reach a high standard of kayaking. The first seven weeks will be aimed at your personal skills. If you are already a kayaker then we will push your personal level to its limits.
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Safety Kayaking Course:
If your goal is to be a safety kayaker you need to be happy to "play" in class iv rapids not just survive them. You need to be able to kayak at a personal level, one grade above the river grade you are safety kayaking on. You will be responsible for rescuing people in awkward situations and they may be panicking , so you need to have complete control of the kayak as a tool to help you, not just a vehicle to carry you. A good safety kayaker needs to know how to rescue people, rafts and equipment. You will work together with the raft guides to learn how to be a team and handle any situation that could arise on a river expedition. Our goal is to get you to be a class iv safety kayaker (this means you will be a class v kayaker at a personal level).
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Kayaking Instructor Course:
Along with becoming a safety kayaker we will bring up to date with the latest techniques for teaching. The goal is for you to be able to teach complete novices to kayak on up to class iii river expeditions. This adds to your potential in this industry as an all round asset to any adventure company.
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Personal Skills Kayaking Course:
If your goal is to become a good kayaker and river leader, you can join this course as a complete novice, intermediate or advanced kayaker. You will be given the attention you need and time on the rivers to improve your skills to their optimum. All the instructors are solid class v kayakers and they will encourage and support you to reach your potential. You will learn all the river reading and rescue techniques that will enable you to tackle rivers and lead a group in the safe knowledge you will be able to deal with any situation that may arise. You will learn all the same skills of camp management and expedition preparation as the guides and safety kayaker students and will be assessed on these aspects. We are training you to be a river leader as well as just a kayaker. This means you need to be able to do almost everything the guides and safety kayakers do but on a less formal basis.
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River Leadership:
Leadership, expedition planning, group skills, team work and camp craft also play a large role in the course curriculum. How and when to lead and when to be one of the group is one of the most important skills you can acquire in this rapidly growing adventure industry. Whether you are on the course for fun or with the intention of getting into the river running industry, this type of experience will serve you well for whatever lifestyle you choose. The majority of the course will be taught while on multi-day expeditions on Nepal's many rivers. The river and its environment will be your classroom.
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The Course:
The course will finish after 4 weeks with an assessment prior to the issue of certificates. The assessment will consist of a written and oral portion as well as a practical assessment Students will be examined by outside independent assessors as well as the course director. Certificates will be awarded according to the level of ability reached by the student.
Students are given the opportunity to run commercial expeditions with our guides. This is an essential aspect for any prospects of future employment. You learn so much by hands on experience, dealing with real clients and real situations that arise on commercial expeditions. We will be advising and reviewing your performance after each expedition to improve weak areas both on and off the river. You will work with a variety of styles of leaders and guides by running different rivers with different teams and it all adds to your store of experience which is an essential ingredient of safety kayaking.
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Pre-Requisites For The Safety Kayak Course:
These courses are designed for the complete novice to white water, therefore no prior experience is required, however any that you do have will be a great asset. We do ask that students meet the following pre-requisites before arriving in Nepal.
Age is an attitude and not a problem but we do require that all students be at least 18 years old.
Rafting and kayaking are physical jobs and students should have a reasonable level of fitness.
Students should be strong swimmers and comfortable in the water.
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) in the USA or the Mountain First Aid Certificate in Britain is a necessary pre-requisite. If you do not have this, we will not issue your certificate until you have , but it will not prevent you from doing the course or taking the assessment. We can arrange for a first aid course for the Bhutanese students in Nepal but at an extra cost.
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Pre-Requisites For The Safety Kayaker Course:
As above but you must be a solid class iii kayaker. If you are not at this grade, you will spend most of the course concentrating on getting to the basic level. If you already kayak class iv, we will refine and improve your skills.
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Safety Kayakers:
Kayaking skills as an effective rescuer and river runner at a commercial level
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Personal Skills Kayaker:
Kayaking skills and river leadership scouting rapids and river reading safety and rescue skills
safety talk to your crew expediition preparation leadership and people managment wilderness camping skills for multi- day trips
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Food Preparation:
Hygene / cooking in the outdoors care/ maintenance and repair of equipment application of enviromental awareness guides and safety kayakes only delivary of pe-departure meeting
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customer care:
Communication and entertainment
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