What鈥檚 not to love? You get paid to float a river, and vacation days offer climbing, hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking. Guides typically live in unsupervised, bacchanalian tent colonies, so there鈥檚 a strong sense of community鈥攁nd few expenses.
Prereqs: A positive, out-going attitude, especially when the river鈥檚 low. 鈥淭he water isn鈥檛 always going to do the talking for you,鈥 says Duke Bradford, director of Colorado鈥檚 Arkansas Valley 国产吃瓜黑料s. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e working for tips.鈥 You also need to be able to cook for campers and clean up the kitchen. And that鈥檚 about it. 鈥淲e believe we can teach a monkey how to raft,鈥 says Bradford.
How to Break In: Some companies require you to complete a $300 to $600 guide school. Others, like West Virginia鈥檚 国产吃瓜黑料s on the Gorge, will train college kids for free. Most states mandate a minimum age of 18, and first-year guides are often confined to Class II鈥揑II runs.
Pay: Between $2,000 and $5,000 for a season.
Romance Potential: High. Raft trips usually have awesome campfire parties, and clients are often drawn to guides who heroically deliver them through dangerous whitewater.
R茅sum茅 Skills: Public speaking, lifesaving.