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.