Our 5-week program is the ultimate “full package” world-class dive into learning whitewater kayaking skills and opening Beginner’s Mind. Students enjoy 4 weeks of intensive instruction learning the basics of stroke technique, rolling, and river running in addition to participating in Zen Masters’ guided meditation sessions, a personal resilience workshop, and discussing a curated list of Zen readings, growth mindset talks and presentations.
This program finishes with an extraordinary 5th week “graduation experience” that brings together 4 weeks of physical and spiritual study into 6 days/5 nights of applied learning: Thunder Dragon’s July 16-21 private departure/invitation-only Main Salmon River Experience – one of the most iconic wilderness river trips in North America. ZEN MASTERS students will be proficient enough by the end of the 4-week course to tackle kayaking most of the Main Salmon’s 90 miles of Class I, II, and III whitewater in their own boats. ZEN MASTER founder Gerry Moffatt, along with assistant instructors and safety boaters, will lead and instruct every day. This is an unforgettable opportunity to experience kayaking a multi-day river adventure – camping on big natural sandy beaches every night, floating through remote canyons, soaking in hot springs, exploring homesteads, and seeing Idaho’s great Frank Church Wilderness – the largest stretch of wilderness in the lower 48. Students may bring a partner/spouse or family to share this experience on guided rafts, for an additional cost and if space allows.
For this special week, ZEN MASTERS works with a fully-licensed partner, Wilderness River Outfitters, to provide full guide/outfitter support for the Main Salmon trip. WRO’s experienced team of river raft guides provide and manage all camping gear, transport personal gear downriver between camps, crew oar boats, set river safety, and prepare delicious meals every day – allowing ZEN MASTERS to focus exclusively on their kayaking and fun.