Welcome to the WildRivers, Inc. Web Site...WildRivers, Inc. is an outdoor education program for schools...

Instructor-student ratio

Wildrivers is a unique outdoor education program for schools, with an accident-free record of water safety over its 17-year history. All programs include canoeing or rafting on Class I-III Rivers. Additional activities-- like hiking to learn about animal and plant habitats, and snorkeling to experience lake ecology—encourage exploration of the natural environment. In addition to significant teaching experience, all Wildrivers instructors share multiple certifications in canoeing, first aid, and outdoor leadership. Some have even achieved membership on the U. S. Wildwater Team. To take full advantage of this remarkable staff, our instructor-student ratio is always high (a 1-4 ratio for canoeing). Consultants in other program areas have included: John Serrao, naturalist, widely published photographer, and author of numerous books and articles; Project Adventure staff; Papa Joe, nationally known interactive storyteller; Julie Collier and Bill Streeter of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center; ecologist Dennis Kalma, whose Everglades Guide is distributed by the National Park Service; and astronomer Bob Berman, nationally recognized for his numerous articles, books, radio & TV appearances, and his work with the National Park Service.

Programs for Grades 6 through 12 are developed on an individual basis to meet the specific needs of each school. However, all programs encourage participation by all students, support teamwork, achieve a high level of energy and excitement, and help develop a stronger sense of community. The collaboration needed to negotiate rapids or for group initiatives often helps dispel campus cliques. Teachers frequently speak of gaining new insight into their students by observing them in our program environment. This new insight—both from the faculty perspective and from the student’s new view of themselves and each other—has led many schools to use Wildrivers as a “kickoff” experience to begin the school year.

Most* programs take place 2 hours from New York City, on the Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, and on one of its tributaries in Pennsylvania, the Lackawaxen River (an Indian name for “swift waters”). Sightings of great blue heron, hawks, falcon, and bald eagle are common on both rivers. Students and teachers staying overnight have a choice of two camp facilities. For groups of 40-150, a unique camp near the Delaware River offers a 600-acre campus, 12 acre glacial lake, a choice of platform tents or group cabins in the woods, and a large dining/meeting facility. (Camps are never shared with other groups.) For smaller groups, Wildrivers maintains a campground on the Lackawaxen River (reached by paddling across the river), next to 10,000 acres of wilderness. At both campsites appetites are always big and the quality of meals is always high. (* Additional program locations have included the LeHigh, Upper Hudson, Sacandaga, and Salmon Rivers, the Smoky Mountain Rivers of North Carolina & Tennessee, and The Everglades.)

Upper Hudson Silhouette

Wildrivers has conducted one-day rafting trips for schools, but most class trips range from 2-5 days. (See examples on website: www.wildriversinc.com.) Programs usually combine activities for the whole class with smaller group workshops and initiatives. (Wildrivers has also conducted peer leadership programs for Seniors and Freshmen, helping Seniors assume a role that nurtures the integration of Freshmen into the larger school community.) Group Initiatives, both land and water-based, follow the pioneering models of Project Adventure. (See examples on website.) The goal of these initiatives is to increase mutual support within the group while developing personal confidence. In addition to rafting and canoeing (including slalom racing), other activities and areas of instruction include: a wide choice of workshops led by naturalist John Serrao; day and night snorkeling to explore lake ecology; raptors and their role in nature; river hydrology and fish habitat through snorkeling, interactive storytelling, and exploration of the night sky with astronomer Bob Berman. Program outcomes for students include deepening their appreciation and understanding and increasing the role of group support for expanding individual self-awareness is to deepen their appreciation and understanding of the natural environment, with stewardship as a goal, and to increase the role of group support for expanding individual self-awareness.

Program costs, which include transportation, vary from $ 85-120 per student per day, depending on number of days, class size, program content, and location. Prices include all transportation costs. For more information, contact Gray Smith at 914 923-8157 or Gsmith@WILDRIVERSINC.com.