Inner City Outings, Bay Area Chapter

Prior to my first time going up with work this summer to the American River on our annual camping/​rafting trip, I heard a ton of stories of visits past… boats flipping over, getting stuck under the raft and nearly drowning in the rapids, one guy trying to save himself by clinging onto a kayaker and getting beaten off with an oar. So of course I was pretty excited. Not to mention scared shitless.
I ended up, however, having the time of my life. Seriously, you all need to go rafting once in your lifetime. I didn’t even fall in! Though now I kinda wish I did, it looked like fun. One of my boatmates did… haha… so we had just entered a Class III rapid called «Troublemaker» when a jolt sent him flying head first into that freezing ass whitewater. He was swept down the river alongside our boat in for a good couple minutes before we hauled him back on the raft. It sounds scary, and it was, but it was DEFINITELY classic!
For my awesome experience that I thought I might not live through, I have Inner City Outings, the guide team that takes my work group through the American River every year, to thank. ICO’s Bay Area chapter is a nonprofit program that takes groups on whitewater rafting trips that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it (like other nonprofits, such as the one I work at). It’s part of the Sierra Club and was the initial program of all ICO, which is now nationwide and offers lower-​income and disadvantaged groups a chance at participating in lots of fun outdoor activities. The kicker is that ICO is COMPLETELY volunteer-​run… I couldn’t believe it when all of our river guides (ranging from high school kids to people who had been with the agency for over 10 years) said they did all this for free. Now that’s love! It’s truly an amazing program.
If you are part of or know of a group that you think would qualify to be taken out an ICO river tour, definitely check them out at their website (
). Also, since the life of their program depends on the work of volunteers, they’re always looking for new guides. If you’re down for the cause, love the water, and have some free weekends next summer, inquire about their training program.