SWCC RAFTING
YOUTH ON WATER WOMEN ON WATER
Stay Tuned for the 2026 rafting season!
meet the guides
Celebrate YOW!
Our rafting programs have brought hundreds of youth, women, and community members on the river across the watershed. This year, we are continuing to offer our YOW and WOW programs, with a renewed focus on skills training, well-being, connection, culture, and stewardship.
Shaping the Future of Our Watershed
We believe to protect the Skeena watershed, we need more than just knowledge, we need skilled, compassionate guides.
Our curriculum focuses on guide training, community engagement, and skill-building, all with an emphasis on personal and the sustainable stewardship of our environment.
YOW engages youth to:
- Develop technical river guiding, swift water, and field technician skills.
- Embody, develop, and share their unique strengths, knowledge, and leadership skills.
- Build healthy connections with each other, the river, land, culture, and communities that sustain them.
SWCC is dedicated to ensuring that YOW and WOW remain free to participants. This is made possible through the support of our funders at: MakeWay, Patagonia, re:Wild, and our community partner Power To Give.
* Stay tuned for updates in April 2026 *
2026 WAIVER:
YOW APPLICATION FORM:
WOW APPLICATION FORM:
15 years of YOW:
Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition’s flagship program is so much more than an outdoor recreational experience!
Education + Safety:
YOW and WOW are river based learning experiences. Participants learn swift water safety, self rescue, water hazards and features, and all about wild salmon.
Culture + Connection:
Participants learn about the history and culture of the watershed and how we can connect to the rivers and to each other.
Leadership + Stewardship:
Participants learn about ecosystem health and how we all play a vital role in taking care of our watershed.
Participants are provided with opportunities to expand their comfort zones and become empowered leaders.
FUN!
Most of all YOW and WOW offer a unique and exciting opportunity to explore the rivers and back channels of the Skeena watershed.
SWCC Rafting Team
Shawntei Michell – Program Manager & Senior Guide
Shawntei is our Program Manager and a Senior Guide, bringing a calm and confident vibe to every trip she’s part of. She first joined as a YOW participant, fell in love with the river, and later came on board as inflatable kayak support. She’s been with us ever since—taking on more responsibility over the past couple of years and now playing a key role both on the water and behind the scenes.
A member of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, Tsayu Clan, Shawntei is deeply connected to her community, land, and culture.
She holds her Wilderness First Aid and Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT) certifications. Whether she’s guiding on the river or supporting youth and community programs, she brings experience, care, and strong leadership to the work
Kaleigh George – Senior Guide
Kaleigh is a member of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in the Gidimt’en clan. For as long as she can remember, the river has been a place where she has felt at home, thanks to the incredible guide team that welcomed her with open arms and made her feel safe in the water. Watching the guides fearlessly leap into crashing waves on rivers like the Bulkley and the Skeena inspired her from a young age. She was always eager to meet at the confluence where the two rivers meet, knowing she’d be surrounded by people who not only loved the river but deeply respected it.
The guide team took the time to teach Kaleigh everything she needed to know—from spotting hazards and using a throw bag to reading currents and understanding water safety. Their knowledge, patience, and encouragement shaped the way she sees and moves through the river. When Kaleigh was sixteen, the team asked her to join them, a dream come true. Saying yes was easy, and she’s always been grateful to those who guided her and helped mold her into the river guide she is today.
Their impact lives on in every paddle stroke and every safety talk she gives. Kaleigh looks forward to seeing you on the river this summer!
Nova Hutchings - Trip Leader
Nova is a Bear Clan member of the Ojibway Nation. This is her third season with SWCC. She is a confident trip leader, with a solid safety skill set. Nova is training to become a Swift Water Rescue instructor, is an avid skier, and is a Wilderness First Responder. When she’s not in a raft, Nova is either fishing or kayaking.
Make a Donation Today
LOCAL GUIDES AND FUTURE LEADERS
SWCC Guides are certified in Swift Water Rescue and Wilderness Advanced First Aid. As facilitators and informal educators on the river, SWCC Guides offer meaningful and safe trips for every Youth and Women on Water participant. Our guides are previous YOW/WOW Participants and graduates of our YOW/WOW Guide training mentorship program. Our river guides reflect the diversity of communities in the Skeena Watershed, consisting of Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en, Gitanyow, and Settler guides.
Re:wild protects and restores the wild. Founded by renowned scientists together with Leonardo DiCaprio, Re:wild is a force multiplier bringing together Indigenous peoples, local communities, leaders, organizations, governments, companies and the public to protect and rewild at the scale and speed we need. rewild.org
