Meet The
People
Behind WhiteWater 101
The river may be our classroom, but people are the heart of WhiteWater 101.
The people you see here teach classes, provide safety on the water, organize events, mentor new paddlers, and keep the program running. Many started as students themselves.
Together they represent decades of experience, thousands of volunteer hours, and a shared commitment to helping others discover the confidence and community that come from learning to paddle.
Meet the people who make WhiteWater 101 possible.
Group photo Checklist
☐ Schedule everyone
☐ Find a day without rain
☐ Convince instructors to stop paddling long enough for a photo
☐ Take drone shot
Justin
Class of
2005
Howard
Class of
2013
Heath
Class of
2005
Alex
Class of
2017
Adam
Class of
2020
Jessica
Class of
2010
Aaron
Class of
2023
Nick
Class of
2018
Bryan
Class of
2012
Chrissy
Class of
2021
Josh
Class of
2023
Caroline
Class of
2023
Kendra
Class of
2020
Elise
Class of
2016
Ryan
Class of
2024
Built By Community
WhiteWater 101 is more than a paddling course. It is a community of volunteers, instructors, safety boaters, and supporters who invest their time and experience to help others discover whitewater kayaking. The numbers below reflect the people, commitment, and collective effort that keep the program thriving.
15
ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS
100%
VOLUNTEER LED
8
ACA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS
20+
YEARS OF ALUMNI LEADERSHIP
500+
FORMER STUDENTS
1,000+
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Many of the people teaching today once stood exactly where new students stand now. What begins as a paddling class often grows into something more—a community of volunteers, mentors, and friends who continue giving back to the next generation of paddlers.
The next person in the story could be you.
401
Swiftwater Rescue Course
Build the knowledge and hands-on skills to prevent accidents and perform effective rescues in moving water through the American Canoe Association’s nationally recognized swiftwater rescue curriculum.
$300
3 Days
101
Beginner Course
Learn the foundations of whitewater kayaking through structured instruction, real river time, and a supportive challenge-by-choice learning environment on the Lower Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina.
$360-$480
6 weeks
201
Build your skills and confidence.
Take your paddling to the next level through more dynamic water, refined technique, repetition, recovery skills, and increased confidence in challenging river environments.
$360
4 weeks
301
Move downriver with purpose.
Develop advanced river reading, rescue awareness, technical paddling skills, and intentional decision-making for more demanding whitewater environments.
$400
4 weeks