LGBTQ+ Swiftwater Rescue - 3 Day - July 18-20
LGBTQ+ Swiftwater Rescue - 3 Day - July 18-20
LGBTQ+ Swiftwater Safety & Rescue Clinic
Join us for a three-day LGBTQ+ focused swiftwater safety and rescue clinic on the Arkansas River near Salida. This course provides a supportive and inclusive environment for learning the fundamentals of swiftwater rescue—no prior experience required. Whether you're a commercial guide or a private boater, this clinic is designed to build confidence and essential skills for staying safe on the river.
What You’ll Learn:
Participants will develop a strong foundation in river safety through hands-on practice and expert instruction. Topics include:
River rescue techniques for real-world scenarios
Whitewater swimming and self-rescue skills
Effective throw bag use
Planning and decision-making for swiftwater situations
Extractions and syncs for complex rescues
Mechanical advantage systems for efficient operations
Certification:
Upon successful completion, participants will receive an ACA Swiftwater Rescue (SWR) Certificate of Completion, a credential recognized by raft guides, river professionals, and outdoor educators.
Who Should Attend?
This course is perfect for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community looking to learn or refresh their river safety skills in a welcoming and empowering space.
Join us for three days of skill-building, teamwork, and adventure while developing the confidence to navigate swiftwater environments safely.
Offered in 2025:
July 18 - 20
We offer both two-day and three-day Swiftwater Rescue training courses. Both options include the same core curriculum and cover the ACA Level 4 material. The three-day course provides additional time to explore mechanical advantage in greater depth, including the 3:1 (Z-Drag) system. It also features more hands-on scenarios to practice these skills and allows for a more paced progression through the material.
Course Overview: The Swiftwater Rescue workshop teaches recognition and avoidance of common river hazards, execution of self-rescue techniques, and rescue techniques for paddlers in distress. Emphasis is placed both on personal safety and on simple, commonly used skills. Fundamental and more advanced techniques for dealing with hazards that carry greater risks for both victim and rescuer, such as strainers, rescue vest applications, entrapments, and pins, also are practiced. Scenarios will provide an opportunity for participants to practice their skills both individually and within a team/group context.
Course Objectives:
Promote proactive prevention of river accidents and injuries.
Develop and practice key self-rescue skills.
Identify and avoid river hazards by understanding hydrology, hazards, and river features.
Focus on fast, low-risk strategies for early management of river accidents
Develop and practice methods for recovering swimmers, and loose boats and equipment
Develop and practice more advanced rope-based and in-water skills
Gain experience using the rescue PFD, and understand its strengths and weaknesses
Utilize rescue scene management principles needed within a paddling group
Please review the Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) and a basic gear list here.
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The core of the material is very much the same. Both the 2 day and 3 day classes meet the 16 hours as defined for a “L4” ACA swiftwater rescue course, and participants will receive a Proof of Completion Certificate.
The difference is that the 3 day allows us to spend more time on various aspects of practice including taking a much deeper dive into more complex mechanical advantage systems including the “Z-Drag.” Along with additional skills practice, the 3 day will also include more in-water scenarios to facilitate working a rescue as a team and to experience those skills in action.
Please call us at 719-398-1180 with any additional questions you might have.