<p>S is scheduled to go to a camp in the next few weeks. One of the activity is white water rafting. Being south asian, we have never done that sort of thing. Too scary.</p>
<p>What kind of stuff we need to buy? Is it dangerous? how do people with glasses manage that? what about clothes? They all will be wet and the water will be very cold (I am sure the feed is melted mountain snow).</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>i have done it and it is really fun (american river near san francisco). bring a h20 proof camera because there are really nice scenes along the river. does ur son have a wetsuit? if he does then he should bring it becuase he will always be wet and at the same time it keeps u warm. also bring waterproof shoes and WEAR a life jacket because if u fall in the water it could/will save u.</p>
<p>If the camp hasn’t already sent a list of things needed, I’d give them a call. I’m sure that the camp provides life jackets and helmuts. Thousands of people do white water rafting on a one-time basis. I’m sure that they don’t all spend a lot of money on special equipment. If you outfit your son with “professional” gear, he’ll probably stand out as a “dweeb”. If he’s fine with that, then that’s OK as well.</p>
<p>the camp should have equipment and trained guides
depending on the river it is dangerous to not dangerous
if they don’t have equipment for the kids I would wonder how experienced they are. While my daughter goes to a campfire camp for riding for example and she brings her own boots and helmet, they also have those things there.
I would expect the camp to have wet suit booties, life jackets at minimum, and trained staff.
It is like a roller coaster ride, I have never fallen in by accident.
Contacts would be better, but if he has a neoprene strap to keep glasses on he should be ok, but how blind is he? If the glasses did come off, would he be able to see? If not, I would suggest getting contacts, ( better peripheral vision anyway) for other activties.</p>
<p>suggest you call the camp, and ask them what he will need and what will be provided. A shirt that wicks away water is good - he should not wear cotton (no jeans, t-shirts) as they are a drag when wet. For shoes, either water booties or teva-like sandals that strap on. Plenty of sun-screen. A hat. Do not wear/bring anything you would be upset about losing.</p>
<p>Which river is he going on? It is really fun!</p>
<p>Second the hat and sunscreen. Make sure he uses sunscreen on his thighs and the tops of his feet. (If he’s wearing sandals. I like sneakers better in a raft, I feel a little more sure footed if I end up in the water.)</p>
<p>Call the camp to be sure, but from my daughter’s experience, the type of whitewater rafting they will be doing is quite safe, and lots of fun. They should wear helmets and life vests and get some basic safety instruction before getting in the boat. They probably be issued paddles, although no paddling knowledge is necessary. Daughter wears glasses, but I believe she took them off for the ride - the neoprene strap sounds like a good idea. He will need shoes that can get wet and a waterproof camera. It is lots of fun.</p>
<p>When my senior class went white water rafting the suggestion for under wetsuits was either wool or synthetic. I went for the synthetic option and I was just fine. It’s fun and not really dangerous as long as, like others have said, life jackets and helmets are worn. The water was freezing when we went, but as long as you’re moving it’s not bad at all. I think the people who wore glasses took them off for the beginning of the trip where most of the rapids were and then wore them the rest of the trip without a problem.</p>
<p>forget the hat - he will/should be wearing a helmet. I’m guessing this is a guided tour if it is through the camp, and the rafting outfitters will most likely provide helmets and life jackets. wetsuit isn’t all that necessary - bathing suit and t-shirt will do…chances are this is only a 4-5 hour trip - he will be in and out of the water alot and if it’s a warm day, he will be fine. Can he see well enough without the glasses? Probably less of a bother for him to go without. If he must wear them, how about some rec specs from your eye doc (kind of pricey if he doesn’t intend to use them often), or you can get an adjustable elastic band that fits the glasses and goes around the back of his head at any sporting good store. Water shoes or Teva-type sandals…or his oldest pair of tennis shoes that he doesn’t care about getting wet and possibly muddy are a must…rocks underwater are very slippery if he gets into an aera where he can stand. Don’t forget sunscreen and underwater camera…not that he will be taking pix underwater, but everything will get drenched! Chances are the outfitter or the camp has a website - you might get more details there.</p>
<p>You haven’t told us what category rapids he’ll be rafting. That really makes all the difference. The official categories for raftingg are from 1-6. Category “one” involves simple paddling along relatively calm waters…with some bubbles mixed in for fun. Most tours are between 1 and 3. I bet yours is either 1 or 2. </p>
<p>Bring a waterproof bag to hold items you are taking along on the raft and don’t want to get wet. They may provide wetsuits, booties to cover your shoes, etc, etc… Yous S will also NOT exit the river where he started, so he’ll want talk take the bag to bring along his items with him in the raft so he’ll have them when he exits. </p>
<p>It’s very safe unless you’re rafting at category 5 and 6.</p>
<p>Gee. Get any sort of neoprene strap from your local sporting goods store for your glasses. I like the hotpink/bright purple combo. $2.00. I assume he will be taking spare glasses to camp with him in the event of loss or breakage? Wear some ratty tennis shoes, cut-offs and a “Harvard-The Duke of the Northeast” T-shirt. Buy a cheap disposable “waterproof camera” from Walmart-$8.00. Buy a “dry bag” if you just have to have some “pro” equipment-$20.00. Not having your mother dress you like you’re going on a spacewalk-priceless.</p>
<p>the biggest river I have gone on was a level lV, really fun, but even with lower numbers very exciting.
Ilike neoprene booties much better than tennies but the company should have those. fleece and synthetic is recommended that will dry fast.
They also usually have dry bag for your lunch etc.
Just paddle when they say paddle. and hard.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. Momsdream I have no idea which category - I had no idea there are categories. They did send us a list and one of the item was polyproplyne underwear. We tried to get them here in Houston, but had no luck. But after reading these posts it seemed that they are necessary. Just ordered them from internet. We are fine in the glass dept. - he is not as blind as me. The dry waist bag and waterproof camera are great idea and will be purchased.</p>
<p>emeraldkity4-- have you ever been on the Rogue? Incredibly beautiful.</p>
<p>Simba,
Rapid categories will change depending on the recent weather/rainfall. The same route that took 6 hours one day took 2.5 hours another day. The 6 hour day was a lazy trip where we could all relax and talk to eacher. The 2.5 hour day was one where we all got a rush just trying to keep our raft upright and avoid big rocks. It is tons of fun!</p>
<p>Essential gear: helmet(!), life jacket(!), shoes that won’t get sucked off of your feet and sun protection (lotion, glasses, etc). Also, wear shorts and lightweight clothing or a wetsuit that won’t be heavy when wet. I assume that the outfitters will supply you with a water bailing device; they probably will also supply life jackets and helmets.</p>
<p>Also, now that I am thinking about it, the slow days were 6 man rafts and the fast days were 12 man rafts. The 12 man rafts had straps in the center to hook your foot into to prevent you from being thrown out. Safety first! Another thing I learned is to put your strongest people in the back to supply the most efficient rudder and thus steer the raft best.</p>
<p>I have rafted with a couple different outfitters (long ago) and they usually sent a guide in each raft if the water was fast, and a few guides in kayaks if the water was slow. In any case, you son will likely have an experienced guide to instruct them how to maneuver the rapids.</p>
<p>Oftentimes, camps expect the camper to bring their own life jacket. Be sure to check. Be sure to go to outfitters to make sure he buys one that fits properly. If he’s grown, might be wrotht he investment?</p>
<p>It can be fun but it can also be scary. I took one guided trip in Honduras and got out at the lunch spot and hopped a bus to the end point. Brave H stayed on. Woo doggie is all I’lll say about that trip.</p>
<p>never river fated but yrs ago we bought son a pair of RX goggles. He has used these for years and hates to swim without them. He wore them on the little rubber boat in Cabo that took us snorkling. We also bought a snorkle mask but the goggles have had so much use. His vision hasn’t changed much over the years so they really we were a great investment. If he takes glasses and has a spare, might want to bring the spare-just in case.</p>
<p>Edit: After some happy reminiscing, I realized that we used 4 man rafts in slow water and 8 man rafts in fast water. Yikes, 12 would be really a big raft! LOL!</p>
<p>I was young and stupid then…didn’t even wear a helmet. I might suggest that you find out what to do if thrown out of the raft. Like go feet first downstream to protect your head. I was bounced out once. I was actually underneath the raft, but I was very disoriented. I couldn’t tell which way was up and I was frantic. It is also harder than I expected to climb back into a slippery raft. Maybe the outfitters have some safety tips to review before the adventure. With some basic cautions, I think it is pretty safe. It is certainly exhilarating and will be a great memory.</p>
<p>I was thrown out once, got a little scratched up, but no big deal. Another time, we took our two D, 7 and 9 and the time, they LOVED it!!! Would do it again!!!</p>
<p>Simba </p>
<p>Try REI in Houston for anything you will need. They have stores at 7538 Westheimer and 17717 Tomball Parkway. They have multiple brands of wicking underwear as well as wicking shirts and pants. A good choice for pants are the zip-off variety that convert from pants to shorts by zipping off the pant legs. They have these from many different manufacturers.</p>
<p>I white water rafted a lot in college and it is quite a bit of fun. Today, things are much more organized and with the litigious society we now live in, there will be little left to chance especially in a camp setting. They will have a river orientation before they ever set foot in the raft and guides probably in each raft.</p>