Programs
WWoW’s 2026 Program Line Up!
(so far…)
Costa Rica con Las Machacas
Turrialba, Costa Rica
Pejibaye & Pacuare Rivers
January 10-17, 2026
Costa Rica con Las Machacas program aims to empower local Costa Rican women by providing professional training in whitewater rafting and river guiding. This initiative aligns with WWoW’s mission by using river-based education and mentorship to create career opportunities and promote gender diversity in the rafting industry. Participants will gain essential skills, certifications, and mentorship to become confident and competent river guides.
Contact Us: cr.machacas@gmail.com
Donate Here:
Sponsor a girl for $260!
Nari Nauka III
Rishikesh, India
Ganga River
Dates TBD, 2026
This will be Nari Nauka’s 3rd annual progroam! In 2025 we were able to run a 7 day program with 9 amazing girls, 4 instructors, and a bonus tag-along, Sarah Hamilton that took some amazing footage of this program! This year’s goal and progression is to now mentor the girls to teach so they can, in turn, take the program over.
Contact Us: info@whitewaterwomen.org
Donate Here:
WWoW’s 2025 programming
Nari Nauka II - Women’s Guide School
Ganga River - Rishikesh, India
March 22 - April 4 2025
This will be the second round of the Nari Nauka Women’s Guide School on the Ganga River in India, designed to help local Indian women break into the current of the thriving whitewater industry in Rishikesh, where women have never had a place before. Last year we were able to run a 5 day program, training 14 women to become raft guides and pursue careers in whitewater! This year the program will include the opportunity for the participants to earn ACA Raft Guide certifications, First Aid & CPR certifications and Swiftwater Rescue credentials.
This program is supported with on the ground logistics by Red Chilli Adventures.
Women’s Guide School
Tay & Gary Rivers - Scotland
Rescheduled for May 2026
This program has been rescheduled for May of 2026 in order for River Wild Adventures and WWoW to collaborate on program development and be able to run the best program possible in 2026!
When WWoW founder Elisha McArthur was 20 years old, she spent a season working on the rivers in Scotland. At the time (2001) she was the only female raft guide working in the entire country. Twenty four years later, River Wild Adventures, owner and guide Bonnie McGhie-Convery says “Not much has changed.”
We are hoping this program will help to change things and give Scottish women a foothold, and a leg up, in the whitewater industry in Scotland!
This program is supported with on the ground logistics by River Wild Adventures.
Women’s Guide School
Sarapiqui River - Costa Rica
Fall 2025 (Official Dates TBA)
Costa Rica has a thriving whitewater rafting industry, where local women are excited to become guides, but struggle to stick it out in the “machismo” guide culture. Arenal Rafting owner Danny Anchia hopes to change the guide culture at his rafting company envisions a future where at least half his guide staff are women.
This program is supported with on the ground logistics by Arenal Rafting.