Some of the very best activities for youth groups—and this is far from a news flash for any teacher or other instructor—go down out-of-doors, amid fresh air and natural scenery and involving wholesome, healthful exercise spiced with a little (or a lot of) adventure. Well, running a river happens to hit every mark, and then some!
Here at Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we’re proud to welcome youth group rafting in Colorado on some of the very best whitewater in the American West. Established back in 1978, we’re an ultra-experienced outfitter offering group rafting at a variety of skill levels and other outdoor experiences for kids in the spectacular Royal Gorge Region. From scout troops to teen summer camps and wilderness-immersion experiences, our Royal Gorge youth rafting is just what the doctor ordered!
Key Royal Gorge Features
The epic Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River marks a chasm in the eastern flanks of the Southern Rocky Mountains which reaches some 1,200 feet deep and harbors surging whitewater of the highest caliber. Spanned by the famous Royal Gorge Bridge, this dramatic defile is only the anchor point for a landscape (and riverscape) abounding in world-class outdoor recreation and sightseeing.
With our Cañon City, Colorado headquarters, Echo Canyon River Expeditions sits right on the doorstep of the Royal Gorge, and we lead rafting odysseys not only through the Gorge itself, but also via a variety of other routes on the “Ark” and other Colorado rivers.
Royal Gorge Youth Rafting Options
At Echo Canyon, we pride ourselves on leading rafting trips that accommodate guests of all skill and experience levels—including complete and utter newbies. (In fact, there aren’t many greater pleasures for us than introducing somebody to the joys of whitewater for the first time.)
The Royal Gorge itself is not for newbies. Featuring rapids that typically roar at Class IV level but can attain Class V status in peak flow, this is a run for youths who’ve done some lower-grade rafting already. (The minimum age cutoff for our Royal Gorge rafting trip is 13 years old.)
For those with the requisite rafting experience, running the Royal Gorge can be the adventure (and bonding experience) of a lifetime for youth groups. But if a more beginner-friendly river odyssey is what you’re after, fear not: We have plenty of other options at Echo Canyon.
Just upstream of the Royal Gorge, for example, there’s the wonderful Bighorn Sheep Canyon: our most all-around popular rafting trip, and a fantastic choice for young folks.
Featuring Class I-III+ rapids and splendid cliff-and-crag vistas often (as the name suggests) enhanced by sightings of mountain sheep, this friendly section encompasses a perfectly balanced blend of thrills and R&R. It’s an awesome way to go for all sorts of different youth groups and outings.
We’ll also note that Bighorn Sheep Canyon’s home to our special Battle of the Bighorn team-rafting challenge: an absolute blast of a whitewater obstacle course, broken up with a bunch of super-fun contests. It’s another excellent possibility, especially for larger youth groups that can be split up into several teams.
Rafting Safety for Youth: What Should Parents/Guardians Know About Safety Protocols for Youth Rafting?
Needless to say, youth group rafting in Colorado requires working with only those reputable outfitters possessing the experience, high-quality gear, and unwavering commitment to safety that such trips demand. And that’s exactly what you get with Echo Canyon River Expeditions.
We put safety at the very top of our priority list each and every outing, adhering to the same standard regardless of whether we’re leading an easy, family-friendly float or a challenging technical whitewater run.
Besides equipping all of our participants with top-level safety gear such as helmets and Coast Guard-approved PFDs, we deliver thorough safety briefings to guests on every outing. Our best-in-the-business Echo Canyon river guides helm each boat, and are adept at managing any potential mishaps.
We’re also very conscientious when it comes to any paddlers with special needs, from wheelchair-bound to deaf or autistic guests. In such cases, we consult carefully with the group to learn all we can about the paddler in question’s needs and limitations and plan accordingly, including selecting guides comfortable and familiar with such situations.
How can youth groups prepare for a successful adventure on the river? Emphasizing the importance of listening to the rafting guide’s tutorial—and all in-the-moment paddling instructions—is an easy, common-sense action parents, teachers, counselors, and scout leaders can take to ready youths for their time on fabulous Colorado whitewater.
Educational Benefits of Youth Group Excursions on the River
Educational rafting trips? You bet! There are so many learning opportunities to be had on a river run with Echo Canyon. At a basic (but important) level, there are our safety briefings and the other information we deliver to ensure a safe, smooth, enjoyable on-the-flow experience for all. Learning how to sit in a raft, how to paddle together as a team, what to do in the event you fall in or the raft flips—and the importance of listening closely to your rafting guide—is its own opportunity for kids to expand skills and underscores the value of following directions.
Research also suggests that simply participating in activities in the great outdoors can boost the intellectual, emotional, and behavioral development of youths and bolster their resilience. Such wide-ranging and multi-faceted benefits suggest that rafting and other outdoor adventures might well pay off back in the classroom.
And certainly time spent in places such as Bighorn Sheep Canyon offers ample opportunity for firsthand experience with natural systems and their components, from wildflowers, ponderosa pines, and bighorn rams to the river’s own eddies, waves, and shoals (which happen to be marvelous illustrations of fluid dynamics and geomorphic processes). From ecology to geology, there are rich possibilities for linking river-running experiences with lessons in earth science and other nature activities.
Youth Group Bonding
On the subject of the many benefits whitewater rafting can deliver, let’s talk about another prime example: group bonding. Rafting is an inherently team-building activity: Youths (and any other guests of ours) coordinate to provide the paddling power, while the river guide functions as a steering wheel. Clear communication is vital to pulling off a successful rafting run, with paddlers listening carefully to and acting out the instructions of the guide.
This fundamental cooperation, plus the sheer awe and excitement of riding rapids through wild canyons, adds up to a shared experience that teens and other kids are likely to remember for years to come.
Other Activities in the Royal Gorge Area
What other activities can youth groups enjoy adjacent to rafting? Here in the Royal Gorge Region, loads! Some of the best hiking, mountain biking, and rock-climbing in Colorado is at your fingertips when basing your operations out of Cañon City. Jeep tours, fishing, rockhounding, wildlife-viewing: The list goes on and on.
At Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we also partner with other local organizations to provide unique combo adventures that match whitewater rafting with such activities as ziplining and exploring the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. Along with our numerous rafting deals, these combo packages are worth perusing while you plan your youth-group experience with us.
Premier Youth Group Experiences at Echo Canyon
Touch base with our staff here at Echo Canyon anytime regarding possible youth-group summer rafting adventures—we’d love to hear from you!
The Royal Gorge is packed with exciting activities that promise a one-of-a-kind adventure for your group. Our friendly and experienced guides are here to ensure everyone has a fantastic time. If you have any questions or want to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out to our rafting experts.
