Looking for a guide for an upcoming river rafting trip? Iowa State’s Outdoor Recreation Center has you covered.

On Aug. 15, 15 ISU outdoor recreation trip leaders left on an eight-day trek to Desolation and Grey Canyon areas of Utah.

Jerry Rupert, director of ISU outdoor recreation, said the trip leaders learned a number of important skills on the trip.

“We learned skill training in rafting and kayaking,” Rupert said. “There was an emphasis on leadership and expedition behavior, but most importantly we learned about safety and judgment both on and off the water.”

Keri Bolluyt, senior in horticulture, said much of the outing was focused on wilderness situations.

“A lot of us hadn’t been to the desert before,” she said.

“It was a really good experience — we all learned a lot, most notably how to run an extended trip on the river.”

Rupert said he learned about the river stretch while attending the University of Utah as a graduate student. Rupert has taught classes for the National Outdoor Leadership School for twelve years, including a two-week white water rafting course this summer. The Leadership School, in Lander, Wyo., is one of the premier outdoor training institutions in the world.

While in Utah, the ISU students were broken down to smaller sections, said Chad Becker, a senior in exercise and sport science.

“We went into groups and taught each other things ranging from water hydrology to plant identification,” Becker said.

Water hydrology covers topics ranging from how rapids are created to more important features of what to avoid while in the river. Rafters try to steer clear of hydraulics, strainers and undercut rocks while looking to catch that big wave.

Even though the trip was primarily a training experience, having a good time came in a close second.

“Everyone really had fun,” Rupert said.

“We had a motto that ‘If we’re safe, we’ll have fun — if we’re not safe, we might have fun.'”

The main goal of the excursion was to educate trip leaders on how to run an extended trip, and Rupert said that goal was accomplished.

“After reading student evaluations of the trip, I’d say it was very successful experience,” Rupert said.

The most dangerous part of the trip occurred just outside of Des Moines, when the van blew a tire. Rupert said there were no near misses while on the river — the most dangerous part of the trip is always driving out and back.

The trip-leading program is just one component of the Outdoor Recreation Center, Rupert said.

“We have many opportunities for others to get involved,” he said. “We have some employment openings which range from [working at] the climbing wall in Lied [Recreation Center] to being a rental attendant, trip leader or even a workshop instructor.”

The Outdoor Recreation Center offers many trips throughout the year.

Since Iowa is lacking in white water rapids, Rupert said, many of the local water trips take place on the nearby Raccoon, Shell Rock and Cedar Rivers.

“There are a number of specific rapids on these rivers,” Rupert said. “We just won’t go down the whole river.”

Ultimately, Rupert said he plans to offer extended trips around the United States and internationally as well, giving students another prospect for their spring break plans.