Calleva River School offers beginner whitewater kayaking instruction on the Potomac River near Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Beginner students don’t need their own gear (whitewater kayak, personal floatation device, spray skirt, helmet, and paddle), loaner gear will be provided. Review our beginner courses below, and sign up before they fill up!

We recommend taking these classes in order, or signing up for our Zero to Hero course, which covers this material in an intensive month-long block.

• Whitewater Level 1: Introduction
• Whitewater Level 2: Foundations
• Whitewater Level 3: Maneuvers
• Whitewater Level 4: River Running
• Whitewater Level 5: Rescue Essentials
• Whitewater Level 6: Mather Gorge Trip

What to Expect

Itinerary: These classes are our beginner whitewater kayaking itinerary. The River School will take you from never being in a kayak before to running your first river! 

Locations: We utilize multiple sections of the Potomac River to give you the best experience possible.

Take these courses at your own pace. The six beginner classes will take you from never having sat in a kayak, to confidently maneuvering in beginner difficulty water. These fundamentals are required to safely step up into bigger features, and are meant to establish a strong foundation of whitewater paddling skills.