In 2024, the Dean’s Future Scholars Program was the first Reno ICO Group to go whitewater rafting and all who went loved it! Also in 2024, Reno ICO volunteers Krissy McGill and Humberto Hernandez trained as whitewater raft guides. Both Krissy and Humberto have fallen in love with river rafting – before they got trained, they had never been down rapids before. Now they are guiding old and young down the South Fork of the American River. Starting this year, ICO has a youth guide training summer camp!
Reno ICO whitewater rafting opportunities are truly remarkable! Read on...
Reno ICO Groups Are Invited On A Two-Day Whitewater Rafting Adventure! Group Applications for 2025 Trips Are Due March 1.
Through a collaboration with ICO Rafting, Reno ICO groups can bring up to 25 participants, group leaders, and ICO volunteers on two-day guided whitewater trips on the premier class III river in the Western US! These trips are completely free for all participants. Transportation and food costs can be shared by Reno ICO, and all camping gear is provided (tents, sleeping bags, warm clothing for nights, etc.) ICO Rafting provides certified guides, all of the equipment, as well as specialized gear for everyone, including life jackets, booties, and wet suits, if needed.
ICO Trip Leaders and ICO Partner Groups can learn more about these rafting trips here. Also, Reno ICO Chair, Rob Schamberg, who was a co-founder of ICO Rafting is always happy to talk through and help groups plan for their whitewater rafting adventure. This April, ICO Rafting will be putting together the May-October 2025 raft trip schedule. If your Reno ICO Group would like to go on a 2025 trip, please fill out and submit the ICO Rafting Group Application by March 1, 2025.
Reno ICO Volunteers Invited to Raft Guide Training! Applications Due February 1st for Reno ICO Volunteers and Youth
“Life Altering” and “The River Changed Me” are two typical quotes from those who have become ICO rafting guides. It’ll change your life forever!
Each Year, ICO Rafting takes on 12 guide trainees who are committed to learning how to read the river, guide a raft, and lead people safely through class III whitewater. Once you are trained, you will volunteer to guide participants on two-day trips down the river. The training has a minimal cost and scholarships are available.
The spring training is intensive: Five Zoom Classes, One 4-hour class in the Bay Area, plus four weekends on the South Fork of the American River. Or, alternatively, a nine-day river camp will take place on June 28 – July 6, if you want to take time off of work! As a trained ICO River Guide, you will learn how to safely take youth and adult participants down the river, all the while enjoying the nature, challenge, the beauty, and of course learning more about yourself!
To learn more about the training and the role of an ICO River Guide, click here.
The ICO River Guide Training Application due date is February 1st. If you have questions or want to hear more about it, contact Rob Schamberg, Reno ICO Chair and ICO River Guide.
NEW! ICO Youth River Rafting Camp, June 28 – July 6. Applications Due February 1st for Reno ICO Youth (14 and up.)
A recently obtained grant has enabled the offering of a nine-day river camp for Reno ICO youth and college students to get trained as whitewater river guides.
For over 40 years, ICO has provided guide training which has included youth over four spring weekends – Now, this nine day summer camp is a reality! Youth will stay at Camp Lotus on the South Fork of the American River with daily rafting instruction on the river. The summer camp is free, including food and instruction. Participants will need to find their own transportation to Camp Lotus and back. Perhaps there can be a carpool of youth from the Reno area…
Reno ICO volunteers and group leaders are encouraged to make this opportunity available to youth that have been on an ICO trip of any kind (snowshoeing, rafting, hiking, etc.) No rafting experience is necessary, but youth participants who are 14 and above should be able to swim, demonstrate responsible behavior, and show some promise as a leader.
This is a collaborative camp, so all youth will be expected to be working with everyone else on cooking, doing dishes, other camp chores and all rafting-related tasks (except driving!)
Most of Rob’s high school students who were trained as river guides in the 1980s still engage in whitewater rafting and kayaking. Simply, this is a great way to help young people create a rich, healthy, outdoor lifestyle!
The ICO Youth River Guide Training Application is due February 1st. If you have questions or want to strategize on getting the word out, contact Rob Schamberg, Reno ICO Chair and ICO River Guide.
