Are you looking for a new way to experience the outdoors with your family? If you haven’t tried whitewater rafting, what are you waiting for? Rafting is a great activity for adults and children of all ages.

If you want to ride the rapids with your kids, here are some of KODI’s top tips for making your family rafting adventure a great success.

Be Prepared

When going whitewater rafting with children, it’s up to the parent to make sure the child is educated on safety protocols and proper etiquette.

Talk to your child about what to expect. Kids have wild imaginations, and they may be envisioning a scary, big water trip, when in fact, you have a mellow float planned. The same can be said in reverse. If you expect to hit rapids, let your child know.

It’s also up to the parent to have everything a child may need to have a comfortable rafting experience, such as snacks, water bottles, a towel, a change of clothes, and sunscreen.

Pick the Right Trip

Most raft companies, like KODI, offer family-friendly trips that run on milder stretches of water. These floats may even be able to accommodate babies and toddlers, given how fast a river is currently running.

With babies and toddlers, a river section without rapids, or with very small Class I rapids and riffles, is ideal. Elementary-aged kids and older can probably handle Class II and III rapids. The important thing is that they will listen and follow directions and they know what to do if they are ejected from the raft and end up in the river.

Older kids might be ready for bigger rapids, so talk to your booking agent and ask them what is most appropriate.

Always Put Safety First

Everyone needs to wear a PFD when on the boat or playing in the river—even good swimmers. Kids under the age of six or seven should wear a PFD in camp, too. Take swimming lessons. The better the swimmer, the better they will handle a spill into the river.

Stay Warm

Cold water can be a risk even on warm days. Have dry clothes, towels, and rain jackets in a dry bag. Kids get cold quickly in a boat since they aren’t moving around much.

Want to book a Colorado raft trip for your family? Contact KODI Rafting today, we’ll help you choose the perfect trip for you and your kids.