New Guide Training Information

I.  Before doing a paid people trip you will receive training in :

 

A.  Gear maintenance

B.  Food room care and food handling, packaging and portioning

C.  Packing a trip

D. Cleaning up after a trip

E. Shuttle driver duties and training on shuttle driving, vehicle maintainence and cleaning, backing up with trailers, obtaining permits for trips and report procedures for reporting needed work on trailers, equipment or vans

 

 

II.  River training with a senior guide in the boat  (This is set up through the office and all new guides are expected to go as scheduled).

 

A.  Learning rowing techniques

B.  Reading the current

C.  Lunch and Snack stops and serving procedures

D.  Seeing where the put-ins and take-outs are for each trip

E. Learning the interpretive aspects of each trip

 

III.  Throwing your own boat and rowing with a trip (need approval from the office so that there will be room for you on the shuttle).  The number of times required will be decided by management after discussion with senior guide on the trips.

 

A.  Help guide pack and load trip

B.  Help guide serve snacks or lunch

C.  Go on hikes and learn from senior guide what interpretive aspects to share with guests

D.  Keep up with trip( learning the pace of the trip)

E.  Help clean up after trip

 

IV.  To become qualified to be a Santa Elena guide takes specific qualifications from BBNP.  As well as having appropriate First Aid training, you will need to make 3 successful empty boat runs and approval from the Senior Guides on the trip.  Management will make the final decision about when you are ready.  With major increases in the water level you may need some additional practice runs

(empty boat) to be able to do SE trips.

 

V.  Learn on your own as much as you can about the Big Bend Area.  Most of our guides will be glad to answer questions for you, but you need to do a lot of reading and learning on your own. Go out and explore the region to increase your knowledge. Your tips will reflect what you have learned and what you are able to share with our guests.

 

SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO LEARN

 

A.  Go to some of the interpretive walks & hikes in the National Park (free)

B. Visit the Barton Warnock Environmental Center (free)

C.  Take advantage of reading materials (free)

 

1.  Company Brochure (so you'll know what we sell)

2.  Company itineraries (so you'll know what the clients expect)

3.  Whitewater Rafting  - McGinnis

4.  Interpretive books are available at the Barton Warnock Environmental Center, Terlingua Trading Company, and BBNP Headquarters that cover many facets of the knowledge you will need to be a river guide.

5.  Interpretive materials from our company library.

 

To see some suggested gear you will need, please look at our new guide gear list page.