Professional Guide Workshop

   Gone are the days when Grand Canyon boating was a wild and crazy summer job we did for just a season or two. Over the years, we’ve learned that leading folks safely and enjoyably through the Grand Canyon requires us to wear many hats. To do it well, we have to be boatmen, trail guides, first aiders, counselors, entertainers, mechanics, teachers, good leaders, good followers....just to name a few. Our expertise comes from a wide variety of on-the-job experiences, most of them gained in the school of hard knocks. So far, we’ve learned things in a somewhat haphazard way; from books, from others, and from the canyon and river. Collectively, there’s one helluva lot of knowledge, savvy, and wisdom in the guide community. But... what exactly does it take to be an excellent guide? We ran a workshop at the spring GCRG meeting to begin defining what that ought to be. We talked of establishing a professional guide credential of some sort. Why? Some reasons are to:

   * encourage further professional growth.
   * provide better service to our guests.
   * gain better recognition and compensation for our expertise.
   * establish an ongoing forum to communicate these ideas.

   Following, are a few of the thoughts and concerns expressed during a lively and intense brainstorm session with about 30 boatmen and a few manager/outfitter types.

- “this credential should be created by boatmen for boatmen: collectively, we know what the important skills are.”
- “a higher wage isn’t the main factor here, professionalism is, we want to do it for ourselves.”
- “mentorship to newer guides should be worked into this program.”
- “suggestions: three different ways to gain this certification:
- intensive workshops held at convenient times (e.g., GTS meetings).
- “basic college courses that can be taken most places. -workbooks/videos available by mail.”
- “keep it focused on skills pertinent to Grand Canyon boating, don’t become too general.”
- “let’s make it tough, a real achievement, something to take pride in and be an incentive for excellence.”
- “it should be voluntary.”

   The various skills suggested by guides fell into four general categories.

   1) interpretation: natural and human history -geology, hydrology, animals and plants, ecology, astronomy, landforms, archeology, ethnology, geography.
   -human and river history
   -water politics and conservation issues
   -interpretation skills
   -storytelling

   2) appropriate conduct
   -river and backcountry ethics, taking care of the place
   -congestion and other difficult situations
   -garbology (recycling)
   -courtesy with other river groups
   -knowledge of Commercial Operating Requirements

3) people skills: crew and clients
   -training new boatmen
   -leadership skills
   -group dynamics, dealing with oddball guests or crew

4) crises and emergencies: how to avoid, behave and proceed
   -boat wrecks
   -medical crises
   -food crises (faking a meal)
   -equipment repair

   This is a great start, but we need your input. Where should we go with this? What should be included? Richard Clark and Grant Simonds of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association have been spearheading a similar idea with their Professional Guides Institute for the past couple of years. They are interested in opening a dialogue with us for our mutual benefit. We will have another workshop at the fall GCRG meeting in Moab. Bring your constructive feedback to the workshop or write us at:

Professional Guide Workshop
c/o Grand Canyon River Guides

Andre Potochnik and John Toner