Triad River Tours

8. Guide Training Outline

& Study Materials

Notes: This is an older version of our guide training which now has an online training component, but this version has the core curriculum, and is offered to the public as an educational and safety tool.

Instructions:

1. Review the “Washington State and Federal Guide Training Requirements” video below (all guides).

2. To pass 50 hour guide training program if you are a rookie

   1. Study all materials in each module (listed below as well as on the OPS document).

   2. Request exam at the end of studying each module, and pass that exam with 80% or better.

      1. Note: Exams are multiple choice and short answer.

   3. After passing module 4 exam -or- if you have passed guide training elsewhere, you are able to participate in hands on skills training and guide skills checklists in module 5.

   4. After passing module 5 exam:

      1. Rookies: You are now qualified under Washington State Law to guide in Washington.

3. To pass -or- be exempt from guide training program if you are a veteran with previous guide training certification. Note: While all veteran guides are required to follow all policies and protocols in the company manual, they are not required to follow the structure of guide training.

   1. Send a river log showing 1500 guided river miles -or- a guide training certification from another employer -or-

   2. Follow these steps:

      1. Review the information in the modules, at your leisure. You are not required to take the exams, but you are responsible for knowing all Triad policies.

      2. Pass Evaluations and hands on Skills Tests in Module 5:

         1. Once passed; you are now qualified to guide for Triad and get checked off on any river in accordance with the protocols mentioned in section 6 of the employee manual.

   3. Get checked off on each individual river you wish to guide on.

 Module 1

Guest Policies

1. Employee Manual Section 1

2. Website: www.triadrivertours.com

3. Review sites

   • https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g58350-d3600220-Reviews-Triad_River_Tours-Bellingham_Washington.html

   • https://www.google.com/search?q=triad+river+tours&oq=triad+river+tours&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i59j69i60j69i61l2j69i65l3.2177j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x52d78a9246856491:0x39629e13d5b11b4f,1,,,

4. Safety Talk: https://triadrivertours.com/safetytalk

5. Waiver: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/533b3849af835/web

6. Cancellation policy: https://triadrivertours.com/cancellationsreschedule

7. Photography:

   • https://store.picthrive.com/triadrivertours/?utm_campaign=custom_link&utm_content=&utm_medium=button&utm_source=triadrivertours&utm_term=custom_text

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pe9S0ZD6g8

8. Pack List: https://triadrivertours.com/pack-list

9. Triad Staff (add your photo and bio): https://triadrivertours.com/meet-the-guides

10. Retail eCommerce Store: https://triadrivertours.com/new-products

Module 2

Guide Policies

1. Fill out a W-4 form: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf

2. Employee Policies: Employee Manual Section 2

3. Employee Responsibilities: Employee Manual Section 3

4. Payroll Policies: Employee Manual Section 4

5. NRS Guide Account: request via email

6. Sexual Harrassment: Sexual Harrassment Form

7. Equal Opportunity & Social Justice:

   • https://triadrivertours.com/equal-opportunity

   • https://triadrivertours.com/statement-on-racial-and-gender-equality

8. Permits:

   • USFS Permits and NPS Permits

9. Environmentalism: https://triadrivertours.com/environmentalism

10. Overview of Apps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0vXzVDF59M

Module 3

River Knowledge

1. Salmon & Steelhead:

   • Skagit Steelhead: https://vimeo.com/207842170

   • Billy Frank Jr video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15itTjuY-g&t=2s

   • Salmon Life Cycle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFswGt7o_08

   • Salmon Life Cycle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHKsXQrl41c

2. Glaciers of North Cascades:

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OktW0ddnWw&t=65s

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkEl257_1gw

3. North Cascades Geology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r3mdnW-u5E

4. Skagit Power vs. Upper Skagit Tribe:

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zftzwx3wfqc

   • https://vimeo.com/640747536

5. Native American History of Puget Sound: https://content.lib.washington.edu/aipnw/thrush.html

6. Upper Skagit Tribe:

   • https://vimeo.com/9924717

   • https://upperskagittribe-nsn.gov/

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMGvF0ClRKI&list=PLYAf-lRImmhb3XxnYOEGKPwQrS4lgk65Y

7. Sharing the Skagit (great overall reference material): https://classroom.google.com/c/MjQzNzU4MzUzMTcy/m/MjQ0MzcxNjcxMTI5/details

8. Sauk-Suiattle Tribe:

   • https://www.sauk-suiattle.com/

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBF-K4o2CWE&t=16s

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z1btjM-rQ4

Module 4

Operational Protocol

1. CDL Manual: https://driving-tests.org/washington/wa-cdl-handbook/

2. Standard Operating Procedures:

   • Employee Manual Section 5

3. Safety Protocols for River Sections (you only need to know the ones you intend to guide):

   • Employee Manual Section 6

4. Industry Standards:

   • Employee Manual Section 7

5. First Aid (refer to industry standards as taught by your WFA/WFR/EMT/etc. course) or, if you do not have this, defer to Remote Medical WFA manual.

6. Swiftwater Rescue Procedures (refer to Swiftwater Safety Institute Manual)

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM9dVRVt0V8&t=111s

7. Systems Inventories: https://classroom.google.com/c/MjQzNzU4MzUzMTcy/m/MjQ0MzYwODQ1Mjg5/details

8. Trailers and Hitches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tbGrgfwpZY

9. Triad’s Google Earth Map: https://earth.google.com/web/@48.19671724,-121.31019529,1429.65554103a,280411.93897829d,30y,0h,0t,0r/data=MicKJQojCiExNXNfZjE3cjBCc2lLSk1fZ2k1aThGMmtpU011SzZvYng6AwoBMw?authuser=3

10. Guides Guide Augmented (optional reading): https://www.amazon.com/Guides-Guide-Augmented-Reflections-Professional/dp/0977277402

11. Tensile Strengths: https://classroom.google.com/c/MjQzNzU4MzUzMTcy/m/MjQ0MzYwODQ1MTc2/details

12. Medical Kits: https://classroom.google.com/c/MjQzNzU4MzUzMTcy/m/MjQ0MzYwODQ1MTg2/details

13. Accident Reports: Employee Manual Section 5

14. Guide Evaluation Sheet (“Guide Skills Checklist”) located in OPS Document: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ovAQtoeHpgfrvpWrzeWBTIup59RZSqQ2Ojof0Ala4h8/edit?usp=sharing

15. Communication:

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4zNEl7XgXI

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQNbaKkYk_Q

16. Risk Rating Table:

    • https://paddlingmag.com/stories/the-risk-formula/

17. GAR (Green-Amber-Red) located in SSI manual.

    1. click here for summary

18. Pre-trip meeting

Module 5

Hard Skills and Qualifying

Module 5.1 - Government Agencies and Industry Standards

1. USFS: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs/

2. NPS: https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm

3. WA State Legislature: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=79A.60.430

4. American Outdoors Association: https://www.americaoutdoors.org/

5. American Whitewater: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

6. Swiftwater Safety Institute: https://swiftwatersafetyinstitute.com/

7. Wilderness Medical Society: https://wms.org/

Module 5.2- Minimum Skills and Knowledge Requirements

1. Knots

2. Prusik (3 wrap)

3. Water

4. Double Fishermans

5. Bowline

6. Girth Hitch

7. Figure 8 (on a bite)

8. Directional Figure 8

Module 5.3- Reading Water

1. Scouting

2. Preventative Rescues

3. Google Maps

4. USGS Hydrographs

5. Time vs. Hurrying

Module 5.4- Terminology

1. Hole

2. Wave

3. Eddy

4. River Right, River Left

5. Strainer

6. Sieve

7. Undercut

8. PFD

9. Hydraulic

10. Laterals and Diagonals

11. Keeper Holes and Recirculating Holes

12. Ferry Angles

Module 5.5- Running Rivers

1. Safety Talk (Styles: NRS, Bearpaw, TRT)

2. River Study (Maps, flow charts, protocols)

3. Paddle Guiding

4. Stern Mount and Paddle Assist

5. Center Mount

6. Kayaking

7. Hand Signals (OK, First Aid, Eddy Out, Whistle Blasts…)

8. Defensive Swimmer Position

9. Aggressive swimming in Whitewater and Self Rescue

10. Chain of command (Guides, Trip Leaders, River Managers)

11. Communication

12. Wading (single person, A-frame, “triangle” or “pivot”, wedge)

13. Drowning and Near Drowning

14. CPR

Module 5.6- Dangers

1. Wood

2. Flips

3. Pins or “wraps”

4. Flushing

5. Head Injuries

6. Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Cardiac Arrest

7. Foot Entrapments

8. Hypothermis

9. Inexperience

10. Negligence

11. Drugs and Alcohol

12. Improper or Improper Use of Equipment

13. Hubris and Arrogance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife_airport_disaster

Module 5.7- Boat and Victim Recovery

1. Throw Bag Skills

2. Strong Swimmer Rescues

3. 3-1 Z drag

4. Anchor Systems

5. Vector Pulls

6. Tension Diagonal

7. Self Rescue

8. Belay

9. CPR

Module 5.8- Personal Equipment

1. Helmet

2. PFD

3. Knife

4. Whistle

5. Clothing (wetsuit/drysuit etc.)

6. Footwear

7. Throw Bag

8. Carabiners

9. First Aid Kit

10. Cell Phone

Module 5.9- Company Equipment

1. Rafts:

   • https://www.nrs.com/nrs-e-136-self-bailing-raft/pnl5

   • https://maravia.com/product/maravia-williwaw-1-5-sb-raft/

2. First Aid Kit

3. Pumps

4. Vehicles

5. Trailers

6. Ropes

7. Pin Kits

8. Evacuation Phones

Modules 5.10- Guest Equipment

1. PFD: https://www.nrs.com/nrs-big-water-v-pfd/pzye

2. Wetsuits: https://www.nrs.com/nrs-3mm-farmer-bill-wetsuit/p4z1

3. Helmets: https://www.nrs.com/nrs-havoc-livery-helmet/p6zd

4. Booties (if applicable)

5. Liability Release Forms: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/533b3849af835/web

Modules 5.11- Business and Legal Knowledge

1. Liability and Insurance

2. Negligence

3. Standard of Care

4. Duty to Report: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue

5. Employee Handbook: https://classroom.google.com/c/MjQzNzU4MzUzMTcy/m/MjQzNzY3OTc4MzA1/details

6. Permits: https://classroom.google.com/c/MjQzNzU4MzUzMTcy/m/MjY5NTg3Njc5NjQ1/details

7. Professionalism