Welcome to Outdoor Ventures
Outdoor Ventures has been dedicated to performance based education delivering real world river skills, advanced rowing and paddling techniques to our students since 1971.
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We offer an extensive multi day whitewater or fishing guide program as well as daily training courses for the private boater.
Invest in your Safety!
Where you will learn the river skills needed to keep you, your family and your guests safe while on the river. Learn to minimize your risk through performance based skill development. You have purchased or built a brand new or used boat worth thousands of dollars, now invest in your own safety! Wearing top of the line equipment, rowing or paddling the newest state of the art boat is only part of the equation.
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Outdoor Ventures specializes in “one on one” training which enables you to learn efficiently and more thoroughly.
Now you need to be confident in your own abilities, be aware of your own limitations and be able to boat with skill and fluidity.
Whether seeking advanced river skills, abilities in reading water for fishing or whitewater, basic rowing lessons, paddling instruction for river guiding or private recreational boating, each one of our student’s training courses are customized to their individual needs.
When learning a new skill, it is imperative that your Instructors are well versed in proper teaching techniques. Knowing how to row a boat or tie a knot is only part of the skills a teacher must have. Delivering the new skill to the student in an efficient, thorough and clear manner is a key element in your training.
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Our instructors have over 50 years combined experience running rivers, guiding and fishing as well as have been trained in the fundamentals of instruction.
PRIVATE TRAINING
Outdoor Ventures is dedicated to teaching you advanced boating skills and minimum risk travel on the water.
Whether you are going to be fishing your favorite steelhead stream, taking your family on their first back country trip, or just bought a brand new boat and need some pointers before you go out, Outdoor Ventures is confident you will benefit from this training.
GUIDE TRAINING
The modern river guiding environment requires a high degree of performance and professionalism from you, the river guide.
Being aware of your river skills, abilities and competent in them when needed on the river is a very important element we stress in forming your boating skills into “guide material.”
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The river skills you learn with Outdoor Ventures form a foundation of good habits & techniques that can keep you and your guests safe while on the river.
Our training syllabus is performance based and designed to accommodate any level of boating skill you wish to acquire.
Visit the Oregon State Marine Board website and Requirements for Guides at: www.BoatOregon.com
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT TOURS
Drifting down the river in a wood drift boat is an experience all in itself. These river worthy boats have been developed throughout the years by Northwest pioneers who had the passion for running rivers and sharing their experiences with other folks. Sit up front in comfort while we row you down the river, drifting through emerald green pools and over roller coaster wave trains.
We believe that the river allows you to get your mind off of things. Sit back and relax while we row you down our favorite stretch of river. Give your mind and body time to relax, refresh and reload. Float through green water, big trees and steep valleys, allowing the stop lights, texting and honking horns to drift away with the current.
SCENIC & WHITEWATER RAFTING TRIPS
Enjoy the river from an inflatable paddle raft with your favorite group of friends or family. Become part of a team when paddling through a class III rapid. Relax on the water in calm pools, paddle through waves and holes with water on your face. View Osprey, deer and other Northwest wildlife along the shore.
BOATS USED
Their are many ways to run a river. Being able to row, paddle and drift down your favorite stream is truly a special privilege.
Outdoor Ventures can train you in a variety of hand powered river craft ranging from inflatable paddle boats, gear boats, catarafts, pontoon boats, drift boats, whitewater dories and inflatable kayaks. The use of your own boat is also recommended, since that is the one you will be using on the river.
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Driftboats and Dories are our specialty!
Robb Grubb was taught how to row a driftboat as soon as he was big enough to pick up an oar on his own (about 8 years old in 1979). His teacher was his father, William Blair. William’s legacy lives on in Robb as well as the hundreds of students that William taught to row and paddle with grace and fluidity.
With this experience, along with family tradition, combined with an in-depth knowledge regarding the fundamentals of instruction, you are guaranteed a fluid and thorough learning experience when it comes to boating rivers. Robb will be able to show you advanced rowing and paddling techniques that only an experienced boatman can teach you in these highly versatile craft.
RIVERS RUN
Outdoor Ventures operates and runs rivers in the state or Oregon.
We are conveniently based out of Bend, Oregon near the McKenzie, Willamette, Deschutes, Owyhee, Siuslaw, Lake Creek, Umpqua, Clackamas, Sandy and Rogue river systems and many coastal streams. These rivers have an excellent variety of characteristics and difficulty to fulfill your training curriculum. Our home waters on the McKenzie river provide a natural transition as you move from the lower river, upstream, from easy learning to more technical water.
Knowing how to run fluctuating river flows throughout different seasons and weather conditions makes you a more skillful and proficient boater. A normal course of training may be spread out over many seasons to take full advantage of changing water.
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Whether seeking river skills for guiding or private recreational boating, each one of our student’s training is customized to their individual needs on the rivers they will be working or recreating on.
Please download PDF files for more information on our river training services:
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