2026 Sessions Open for Registration Now
River Runners guides are the happiest guides in the Coloma Valley
...and when guides are happy, kids have their best days on the river.
When it comes to whitewater education, we lead with experience.
River Runners has taught educational whitewater rafting programs since 2018 to hundreds of kids aged 6-17 from all over the West Coast.
Instructors with decades of experience in whitewater rafting and youth outdoor education developed our program, and it shows.
River Runners RIVER KIDS leverages the joy of river exploration to help kids build confidence in their skills – no matter their starting point. Whether it’s their first time on the river or they grew up shooting the rapids, RIVER KIDS has something new to teach every child joining the program.
We don’t just have the certifications – we have the track record to back it up.
Check out our instructor bios below!
Wiatt P
Wiatt has professionally guided whitewater rafting trips throughout California since 2013, logging hundreds of river miles on the Forks of the American River, the Merced, Tuolumne, and Kaweah and many more. His experience spans a wide range of river environments, giving him a deep understanding of how to teach river skills safely and effectively across different ages and ability levels.
With nearly a decade of experience in river education, Wiatt has trained kids, teens, and young adults through multiple local outdoor programs. He brings a unique educational focus to River Kids by weaving California Gold Rush history into river learning, helping students understand how these waterways shaped the state we live in today. A father of two, Wiatt is known for his calm, gentle teaching style and special ability to support timid kids - helping them build confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging on the river.
John K
John’s life has been shaped by rivers since before he could walk. Raised along the American River and its tributaries, he developed an early, lifelong connection to moving water that deepened through years spent exploring California’s foothill rivers and beyond. That connection became a calling in 2000, when he began training as a river guide after a formative trip on the Chili Bar section of the South Fork. What started as a single trip quickly became home.
For more than two decades, John has guided rivers across the country and around the world without missing a summer. He is deeply committed to the craft of river running - teaching new and experienced guides how to inspire others, read water, and move safely through powerful, ever-changing environments. Whether guiding families, mentoring young guides, or sharing quiet moments on the river with curious kids, John brings patience, perspective, and a profound respect for the river. His goal is simple: to help others challenge themselves, feel inspired, and fall in love with the journey that rivers offer.
Scotty S
I grew up in the forested hills of the Georgetown Divide, and didn’t mix much with wacky river folk until I got my first job down in the Coloma valley at a local pizza joint. My boss took us on a staff rafting trip near the end of summer, which was a big mistake because I quickly realized rafting was way more fun, and so I signed up for a guide school. It’s been 20 years and thousands of river trips since then, but I’m still just as excited and wonderstruck by the process of exploring river canyons as ever.
Emily P
Emily was born and raised in El Dorado County and fell in love with the South Fork of the American River as a child. Her long history in the Coloma Valley gives her a unique perspective on how kids grow, learn, and build confidence in outdoor environments. After spending her childhood playing in the river, she began working as a professional guide in 2015 and has spent nearly a decade introducing kids of all ages and abilities to the joy of rafting. Emily joined River Runners in 2022 as a guide and kitchen manager, and has expanded her role into logistics and management over the years.
As a registered nurse and mother of two young girls, Emily brings a strong foundation in child development, safety, and experiential learning to River Kids. She is passionate about showing kids how the river can be both a classroom and a playground—building skills, confidence, and respect for nature through hands-on learning and adventure.
Remy C
Remy has been guiding on the South Fork of the American River since 2015 and brings a deep love of balance, movement, and flow to everything he does on the water. When he’s not running rapids, you’ll find him riding motorcycles, surfing, snowboarding, or strumming a guitar.
Having lived and traveled in more than 25 countries, Remy can guide trips in Chinese or Italian and loves connecting with guests from all over the world (especially those looking for a wilder river experience). A composer and performer of original music, Remy brings creativity, humor, and steady confidence to every trip - and while music is a passion, the river is where he feels most at home.
Elena S
Elena grew up rafting in Central Oregon, primarily on the Deschutes River, and it quickly became her favorite way to spend time outdoors. She made a point to get on the river at least once every summer, even after moving to California for college. While in college, a friend shared her experience guiding on the South Fork of the American River, inspiring Elena and a few friends to sign up for guide school.
She enrolled in River Runners guide school on her friend’s recommendation, expecting little more than a fun week of rafting. Instead, Elena fell in love with the South Fork and with River Runners. The focus on enjoying the entire river—including cliff jumps, natural whirlpools, and the rapids—is what made River Runners special to her. Every day on the river since has been a blast, and she continues to bring that enthusiasm and love for the river to each trip.
Kyle M
Kyle is an outdoor educator and facilitator based in San Francisco, with a deep passion for experiential storytelling and learning through shared adventure. He began his path in the outdoors studying Wilderness Education at Lake Tahoe Community College, where he focused on rock climbing and earned his first Associate’s degree. He later completed an undergraduate degree in Communication, with a specialization in small-group dynamics and conflict resolution.
Kyle cut his teeth as a river guide on the South and Middle Forks of the American River and have been guiding whitewater for over a decade. Kyle has extensive experience teaching outdoor education for middle and high school students and lead extended backpacking expeditions lasting up to 21 days. His love of the wilderness derives from a deep desire to live every day by those values that infuse love, excitement, wisdom, and knowledge into his life and the world.
Eden M
Eden has been guiding Class III–IV whitewater on the American Rivers since 2006 and brings nearly two decades of experience working with youth and family adventure programs. Her career began after attending a kids’ adventure camp on the South Fork of the American River—an experience that sparked a lifelong passion for outdoor education. Since then, she has guided rafting, climbing, canyoneering, and backpacking trips, trained new guides, and led youth-focused programs designed to build confidence, teamwork, and river safety through hands-on learning.
She holds certifications in Swiftwater Rescue (Sierra Rescue International) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR), has served as a Head Guide and Swiftwater Instructor since 2019, and has held leadership roles including River Manager, Operations Manager, and Adventure Program Coordinator for a youth-centered rafting outfit. Eden earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine and is currently pursuing an MBA in Leadership, combining deep river expertise with strong foundations in instruction, risk management, and program development. At her core, she is passionate about helping kids and families grow through adventure and believes time on the river can be truly life-changing.
Daniel J
Daniel has been guiding on the American River for more than 15 years, but his relationship with the river began long before that - learning to swim in its currents and exploring its side creeks as a child. Those early experiences grew into a lifelong calling that has taken him to rivers across the country and around the world. No matter where he travels, Daniel always returns to the South Fork of the American River, a river he knows inside and out, from its granite headwaters to the reaches beneath Folsom Lake.
An extremely seasoned river educator, Daniel has taught countless river education courses, from beginning guide training courses to advanced class IV and V river training. Daniel blends deep river knowledge with a playful, engaging teaching style that makes learning feel fun and approachable.
While his humor and colorful presence put kids at ease, safety and awareness are always at the forefront of his instruction. Coming from a family deeply rooted in River Runners and river culture, Daniel sees the river as both classroom and home - and loves sharing it with the next generation of river runners.
Check out more about River Runners here!
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