Spend two weeks traveling down Idaho’s legendary Salmon River in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states! Alongside other 14- and 15-year-olds, you’ll navigate Class I-III whitewater in kayaks, paddle rafts, and oar rigs. Whether you’re learning your first paddle stroke, fishing for cutthroat trout, or soaking in natural hot springs at the river’s edge, this course maximizes hands-on learning on the water.

You’ll start with the essentials—camping, cooking, and Leave No Trace principles. From there, you’ll learn to scout rapids, refine paddling technique, evaluate river hazards, rig boats, and practice rescue. Leadership skills are woven into everyday. Your instructors teach through hands-on activities, but it’s up to you to apply what you’ve learned.

You’ll camp on sandy beaches and travel through territory home to gray wolves, black bears, bighorn sheep, osprey, and golden eagles. Weather ranges from intense sunshine to afternoon thunderstorms, with cool river temperatures year-round. Your course may include a service project with the U.S. Forest Service, giving back to the wilderness you’ll explore.

You’ll return home with new friendships, river skills, and the confidence to lead—whether you’re navigating rapids, making decisions under pressure, or working with a team toward a common goal.

The NOLS Difference

At 14-15, your teen’s brain is in a critical rewiring phase—where experiences now become traits later. While camps keep teens comfortable, a NOLS course gives them tools to navigate an uncertain world. Spending two weeks learning to read whitewater, scout rapids, and work as a team teaches them that the world is big, beautiful, and not revolving around them. We teach through natural consequences: if the raft line isn’t chosen well, they get soaked. If the boat isn’t rigged properly, they learn why it matters. No nagging, just feedback that builds responsibility and judgment. You’re investing in the adult you want to send into the world.