ZEN MASTERS™

BOATMEN/BOATWOMEN INTRO TO RAFTING

Here on our beautiful Idaho rivers, river-rafting doesn’t have to be left only to the professionals! Rowing your own raft down pristine wilderness rivers for the day or embarking on overnight multi-day river camping trips with family and friends can become your new passion. ZEN MASTERS founder Gerry Moffatt is one of the world’s most experienced river professionals, with over 40 years of river expeditions under his belt including decades operating a groundbreaking rafting company in the Himalayas and training raft guides worldwide.

Join Gerry on this unique ZEN MASTERS Intro to Rafting program and experience how the right instruction, experience, equipment, and choice of water levels can open up an exciting new world of river-based adventure!

The Program

The ZEN MASTERS BOATMEN/BOATWOMEN Intro to Rafting program is a unique, world-class education experience designed to provide enthusiastic beginners with a solid and safe foundation in recreational, self-support rafting skills. Over the course of 6 weeks, students learn about selecting equipment/gear, properly rigging their own rafts, efficient oaring techniques, navigating rivers safely (including through rapids), and training for swift water safety and rescue.

By immersing students in on-river instruction, including a mixture of day excursions and river-based camping overnights, ZEN MASTERS ensures that students quickly grow in proficiency, confidence and having fun.

As with all ZEN MASTERS adventure education programs, students also have the opportunity to participate in introductory guided meditations and benefit from Zen readings, growth mindset talks and presentations.

PROGRAM LOGISTICS:

Ten (10) full days of on-river instruction over six (6) weeks:

Three (3) full day trips (out in the AM, back by evening – Stanley basin/Sawtooths)
Two (3) 2-day/1 night river camping trips (Stanley basin/Sawtooths)
One (1) 3-day/2 night final weekend (house rental in Garden Valley)

2022 On-River Dates will be:

Sat May 22 / Sat & Sun May 28-29 / Sat June 4 / Sat & Sun June 11-12 / Sat June 18 / Fri, Sat & Sun June 24-26

CURRICULUM COVERS:

• Pre-program strength training
• Gear & equipment
• Raft rigging
• Oaring techniques
• Navigating rivers and scouting rapids
• Swiftwater safety & rescue training
• Introduction to local rivers
• Practice running Class I – III whitewater
• Intro to Guided Meditation & Beginner’s Mind
• ZEN MASTERS reading/viewing list

2022 PROGRAM DATES

May 22 - June 25, 2022

Tuition: $4900.00 per student

3 Students Maximum

Equipment: Students can either use their own raft/gear, purchase their own raft/gear, or rent their rafting gear. Zen Masters can consult on raft purchases to ensure proper selection or can arrange for a discounted raft rental package for instruction through our outfitter.

(Tuition covers instruction and US Forest Service fees only – does not include personal raft equipment, camping or accommodations, or food)

Fill Out Spring/Summer Application

Applications are considered on a rolling admissions basis from March 1, 2022 until maximum enrollment is reached. Space is extremely limited, early applications are strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment.

*Thunder Dragon is proud to partner with Idaho-licensed outfitters Wilderness River Outfitters and White Otter Adventures for this program.

“To watch you open yourself to “beginner’s mind” and grow through your fears & frustrations to ultimately become kayakers was incredible. Because that is what you now truly are – kayakers. In only a few short months, you went from flat water paddling in circles on Petit lake to lining up and charging into powerful rapids like Big Mallard, Elkhorn and Vinegar Creek on one of the most iconic big water Idaho wilderness river trips of all time – The River of No Return.”

– ZEN MASTERS Founder, Gerry Moffatt