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Our Guides
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Ben Harrison aka El Bendito
Hometown: Boonsboro, MD
Position: Operations Director, Kayak Instructor, Driver, & Trip Leader
Hobbies/Interests: Music (playing) & kayaking.
What I like about working in this industry: Working outside & on the water. White water is the best! |
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Bill Ward aka Mental Ward
Hometown: Brunswick, MD
Position: Guide Manager & Trip Leader
Hobbies/Interests: I have 3 kids - no time for hobbies, but Sarah & I have an awesome Halloween party!
What I like about working in this industry: The outdoors, big water, big hit wild runners, & good times. |
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Ed aka Fred or Smelly Ed Shelley
Hometown: Grateful Dead Tour
Position: Bicycle Manager, Trip Leader, Photographer, Kayaker, & Cool Guy
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, mountain biking, & underwater tea parties.
What I like about working in this industry: I like working in this industry because no two days are alike & it allows me to live in my own little world. |
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Adam aka Squirrely
Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
Position: Camp Director, Trip Leader, & Driver
Hobbies/Interests: Whitewater, drums, running the sound board, playing music, & anything that will keep me entertained.
What I like about working in this industry: I work with kids ages 8-18 so between them & my staff it keeps me on my toes as well pretty entertained, but it's a fun life to live. |
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Shayne Safford
Hometown: Chesapeake Beach, MD
Position: River Guide & Kayak Instructor
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, hiking, camping, rafting...soon to be snowboarding.
What I like about working in this industry: ... |
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Meghan aka River Princess
Hometown: Harpers Ferry, WV
Position: Trip Leader & Camp Counselor
Hobbies/Interests: Anything with water.
What I like about working in this industry: Everything. I have been doing it professionally since 16 & for fun since I was 8. Living in the area I spent every summer day in the river. |
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Tyler Houck aka Huck
Hometown: Charles Town, WV
Position: River Guide, Kayaker, & Sweep
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, camping, campfire music sessions, toga parties, living & learning, high water, & good people.
What I like about working in this industry: I like being with my friends every day, being good at what I do, & getting a front porch sandwich between trips on the weekend. |
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Nikk Bonneau
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Position: River Guide & Photographer
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, snowboarding, & hiking.
What I like about working in this industry: Whitewater DAILY! |
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Jon Beyer
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Position: Trip Leader, Kayak Instructor, Driver, & Photographer
Hobbies/Interests: Couch surfing, white water, history, & gourmet cooking.
What I like about working in this industry: I like spending my days kayaking, canoeing, rafting, & taking pictures. And these guys pay me for it. |
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Josh Wagner
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Position: Driver & Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Philosophy, Martial arts, chess, & obviously nature.
What I like about working in this industry: Meeting a variety of people to have interesting conversations with. I have had a wide range of jobs & this is the best job ever. |
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Chris Goodell aka Stormin Mormon
Hometown: Shepherdstown, WV
Position: Raft Guide & Van Driver
Hobbies/Interests: Snowboarding, long walks on the beach, plaid shorts & sweet shirts, beards (on men AND women), & speaking Spanish.
What I like about working in this industry: Tubers, meeting lots of people, & the left side of the Upper Staircase at 2.5 feet. |
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Isaac Kerns aka Bearman
Hometown: Elkins, WV
Position: Trip Leader & Tube Flinger
Hobbies/Interests: Hunting, plant & animal identification, skiing, charming ladies, & listening to funk til I can't stop.
What I like about working in this industry: I get to be outside everyday & informing guests about the real West Virginia. |
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Jeremy Horner aka Pearl
Hometown: Shepherdstown, WV
Position: Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Tips, R&B, & slow jams.
What I like about working in this industry: When I get tips & light rafts, & sitting at the put-in babysitting rafts. |
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Mary Fear
Hometown: Myersville, MD
Position: Raft Guide, Sweep, & Team Builder
Hobbies/Interests: Snowboarding, camping, Team Shaved Boosch, climbing, Jeeps, backpacking, anything in or on water, & mountains.
What I like about working in this industry: Being on the water everyday, meeting a lot of people, & the staff. |
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Rob Palmer
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Position: River Guide & Kayak Instructor
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, fishing, hiking, music, & beautiful ladies.
What I like about working in this industry: Seeing the excitement on peoples' faces & being on the water everyday. |
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Chris Collins aka Darkness
Hometown: Harpers Ferry, WV
Position: River Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Team Boosch, camping, snowboarding, kayaking, music, movies, attractive women that challenge me intellectually, lacrosse, computers, playing guitar & my bass, art, writing, reading, fishing, & anything on the river.
What I like about working in this industry: Team Boosch & being outdoors. |
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Ben Case
Hometown: Rutledge, PA
Position: Trip Leader & Camp Counselor
Hobbies/Interests: Rafting, canoeing, hiking, reading, computers, traveling & coin collecting.
What I like about working in this industry: Working on the water, the beautiful scenery, staying active all day, & meeting interesting people. |
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Brian aka The Haze or Hazelett
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Position: River Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Jousting, Thi-chi, knitting, swimming, class V & V+, Team Boosch!!!
What I like about working in this industry: h*t guests, big water, pillow surfs, recycling, & greasy Martins chicken. |
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Eric Gumm aka Gumm
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Position: River Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Fishing, camping, football, & WVU.
What I like about working in this industry: I just Can't even explain it. |
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Kathleen aka Smokes
Hometown: Shepherdstown, WV
Position: River Guide & Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Playing outside, speaking French, & nature.
What I like about working in this industry: I get to play outside & meet amazing people all day, but also get to chill indoors with all the other awesome office girls on hot days when I'd rather enjoy the AC. |
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Taylor Bishop
Hometown: Harpers Ferry, WV
Position: Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Running & cycling.
What I like about working in this industry: I love being outside & providing an opportunity for people to experience nature. |
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John J. VanCamp aka J.J.
Hometown: Bakerton, WV
Position: Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Motor sports, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, & cooking.
What I like about working in this industry: I meet lots of cool people & I get paid to play on the river. It's also gotten me in good shape & makes me feel like a part of something. |
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Mike Giuliano
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Position: Sweep, Guide, & Trouble Maker
Hobbies/Interests: Climbing, paddling, art, camping, biking, backpacking, shooting, & Jeeps.
What I like about working in this industry: The river is my office. I breathe fresh air at mine! |
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Katie or Kate
Hometown: Waterford, VA
Position: Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Being with friends, whitewater anything, Team Boosch, workin on my art, camping, & listening to music.
What I like about working in this industry: Being on the water with good people in a beautiful place...
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Tanner Haid
Hometown: Petersburg, WV
Position: Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Alligator wrangling.
What I like about working in this industry: Tuber chicks. |
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Steffan Waugh
Hometown: Sykesville, MD
Position: River Guide & Camp Counselor
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, rafting, biking, hiking, wrestling, hockey, & hanging with my friends.
What I like about working in this industry: Meeting new & interesting people that love to have an active lifestyle. |
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Grizz
Hometown: Pittsburg, PA
Position: Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: "Be comfrontable, that's my motto."
What I like about working in this industry: ...
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Hunter Ingersoll aka Forest
Hometown: Eastern Shore
Position: Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Anything outside, live music, & jump rope.
What I like about working in this industry: Awesome times, awesome people.
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Our Office Staff
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Kym Grove aka Groovey
Hometown: Falling Waters, WV
Position: Program Director
Hobbies/Interests: Art, people, travel, food, being outside in any capacity, more art, more outside, & a combination of any of the above.
What I like about working in this industry: This industry has a culture of its own, that's hard to explain... Flexible shower schedules, quirky down to earth people, high stress tolerances, & hard work make for a great day at the office!
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Angie Goldizen aka Ang
Hometown: Harpers Ferry, WV
Position: Administrative Assistant
Hobbies/Interests: Photography, outdoors, painting, hiking, & camping.
What I like about working in this industry: I like that I was introduced to the rivers & the mountains in this area. I may have grown up here, but it was not until about 3 years ago that I realized how awesome it is! I also met my husband here!!
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Amanda aka Miss Amanda
Hometown: Charles Town, WV
Position: Office Manager &
Marketing Manager
Hobbies/Interests: Art, nature, music, meeting new people, my dog - Bayou, tattoos, & vegetarian fare.
What I like about working in this industry: My job is different every day. I work with a variety of people from guests to employees - which is always fun & I get to share my love for the outdoors with them. I also love interacting with our summer campers, they are a blast! Being the boss is pretty cool too! |
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Lauren
Hometown: Sterling, VA
Position: Outdoor Adventure Camp Manager, Assistant Office Manager, Website Maintenance / Computer Person, & Driver
Hobbies/Interests: Snowboarding, white water kayaking & rafting, camping, concerts & music festivals, rock climbing, caving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, chillin with friends & other cool people, & my 2 dogs.
What I like about working in this industry: Being around people who like to do the same things as me, getting to be outdoors & participate in these great recreation activities, working in a great environment with chill people, & learning new things all the time.
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Lydia
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Position: Retail Manager, Teen Adventure Days Manager, & Assistant Office Manager
Hobbies/Interests: Underwater basket weaving, taking the peanut butter out of nutter butters & replacing it with oreo cream, night vision goggles, replacing stolen road signs, putting pennies in order by year, taking the cream out of oreos & replacing it with peanut butter, & submitting suggestions to Apple.
What I like about working in this industry: Meeting new people. And when you tube naked, it adds color to your cheeks! :) |
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Rebecca
Hometown: Harpers Ferry, WV
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Watching my Mountaineers & Packers, dancing, movies, music, school, & entering waivers!
What I like about working in this industry: All access to the river! Working with the most interesting people ever & having a summer job that doesn't involve fast food!
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Cara
Hometown: Charles Town, WV
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: White skirts, mountains, water, sleeping, eating, & Mountaineers.
What I like about working in this industry: Flexible showering schedules, great people, good times, leftover chicken dinners, & the frightening rapids of the Shenandoah & Potomac Rivers. |
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Melissa Slusar aka Mo
Hometown: Lovettsville, VA
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Swimmin' & music.
What I like about working in this industry: Meeting all the awesome people who work at River Riders & our wonderful customers. |
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Wendy Corey
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy hanging out with my family, dog, & two cats. I also enjoy spending time camping, skiing, & just being outside... that is when I am not driving my 2 girls to whatever activity they have planned at that minute.
What I like about working in this industry: I like meeting new people who enjoy being outdoors & having a new adventure everyday.
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Katelyne Dominguez aka Kate
Hometown: Here & There
Position: Office Staff/Janitor
Hobbies/Interests: Poetry, Class I-III rapids, music of all sorts, reading, writing, my friends, fancy dancing, being a spiritual warrior, tattoos, scenery, shadow puppets, coffee, bongos, art, being silly, being on the river, hiking, road trips, being outside, & my cat.
What I like about working in this industry: Everyday here is a dang adventure, whether you like it or not.
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Kathleen aka Smokes
Hometown: Shepherdstown, WV
Position: River Guide & Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Playing outside, speaking French, & nature.
What I like about working in this industry: I get to play outside & meet amazing people all day, but also get to chill indoors with all the other awesome office girls on hot days when I'd rather enjoy the AC. |
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Jenn
Hometown: Sharpsburg, MD
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Life, love, my family & family of friends, kitties, pug worshipping, zombies, cheesy b rated horror films, eating a lot, sweet tunes, good books, dancing, activism, laughing & smiling, tattoos, caffeine, kite flying, sleeping, & art for art's sake.
What I like about working in this industry: I am staying active & off the couch & also encouraging others to do so. |
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Chris aka Chrissy
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Swimming, hiking, enjoying a good movie, painting/drawing, hanging out with friends, & anything outdoors mostly.
What I like about working in this industry: Access to the river whenever & I get to meet new & interesting people everyday. Everyday is a challenge & that's always a great mind stimulator! |
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Amanda aka Mandi
Hometown: Mount Airy, MD
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Listening to music, singing, hiking, traveling, reading, Ben & Jerry's, Burlington, The Outer Banks, & art.
What I like about working in this industry: Being surrounded by amazing people that appreciate being outside. |
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Jackie Henning
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Position: Office Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Music, the simple life, friends & family, tattoos, & being ridiculous.
What I like about working in this industry: The river & meeting good people. |
Our Drivers
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Janet
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Position: Driver Manager
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my 2 sons & work. That's all I have time for.
What I like about working in this industry: My co-workers are awesome. I love dealing with nice people. |
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Josh Wagner
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Position: Driver & Raft Guide
Hobbies/Interests: Philosophy, Martial arts, chess, & obviously nature.
What I like about working in this industry: Meeting a variety of people to have interesting conversations with. I have had a wide range of jobs & this is the best job ever. |
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Dawn Hockenberry aka Diesel
Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
Position: Bus Driver
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy spending time with my family & friends. I like flea markets, the beach, the river, & camping.
What I like about working in this industry: Being outside doesn't make you feel like you are "tied down" at a job. Meeting new people daily. When I come into work each day I know that my job is the same, but every day is as different as the people that come to us to enjoy the rivers. |
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Debbie Henry
Hometown: Bristol, CT
Position: Driver
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with family, horseback riding, camping, bingo, & scrapbooking. You might say I enjoy driving -- I have been doing it for 20 years now!!
What I like about working in this industry: Being able to meet people from all over. Everyone seems to be so carefree when they are in the outdoors!! |
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Ben Harrison aka El Bendito
Hometown: Boonsboro, MD
Position: Operations Director, Kayak Instructor, Driver, & Trip Leader
Hobbies/Interests: Music (playing) & kayaking.
What I like about working in this industry: Working outside & on the water. White water is the best! |
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Chris Goodell aka Stormin Mormon
Hometown: Shepherdstown, WV
Position: Raft Guide & Van Driver
Hobbies/Interests: Snowboarding, long walks on the beach, plaid shorts & sweet shirts, beards (on men AND women), & speaking Spanish.
What I like about working in this industry: Tubers, meeting lots of people, & the left side of the Upper Staircase at 2.5 feet. |
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Adam aka Squirrely
Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
Position: Camp Director, Trip Leader, & Driver
Hobbies/Interests: Whitewater, drums, running the sound board, playing music, & anything that will keep me entertained.
What I like about working in this industry: I work with kids ages 8-18 so between them & my staff it keeps me on my toes as well pretty entertained, but it's a fun life to live. |
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Jon Beyer
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Position: Trip Leader, Kayak Instructor, Driver, & Photographer
Hobbies/Interests: Couch surfing, white water, history, & gourmet cooking.
What I like about working in this industry: I like spending my days kayaking, canoeing, rafting, & taking pictures. And these guys pay me for it. |
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Lauren
Hometown: Sterling, VA
Position: Outdoor Adventure Camp Manager, Assistant Office Manager, Website Maintenance / Computer Person, & Driver
Hobbies/Interests: Snowboarding, white water kayaking & rafting, camping, concerts & music festivals, rock climbing, caving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, chillin with friends & other cool people, & my 2 dogs.
What I like about working in this industry: Being around people who like to do the same thing as me, getting to be outdoors & participate in these great recreation activities, working in a great environment with chill people, & learning new things all the time.
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Our Front Porch Staff
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Brownie aka DownTown BrownFrown
Hometown: Southern WV
Position: Front Porch Manager
Hobbies/Interests: ART & MUSIC, Nature, & having a good time.
What I like about working in this industry: You can go out on the rivers and know what you are doing for fun for FREE. |
Our Photographers
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Jon Beyer
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Position: Trip Leader, Kayak Instructor, Driver, & Photographer
Hobbies/Interests: Couch surfing, white water, history, & gourmet cooking.
What I like about working in this industry: I like spending my days kayaking, canoeing, rafting, & taking pictures. And these guys pay me for it. |
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Ed aka Fred or Smelly Ed Shelley
Hometown: Grateful Dead Tour
Position: Bicycle Manager, Trip Leader, Photographer, Kayaker, & Cool Guy
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, mountain biking, & underwater tea parties.
What I like about working in this industry: I like working in this industry because no two days are alike & it allows me to live in my own little world. |
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Nikk Bonneau
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Position: River Guide & Photographer
Hobbies/Interests: Kayaking, snowboarding, & hiking.
What I like about working in this industry: Whitewater DAILY! |
Our Shop Staff
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LJ Hockenberry
Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
Position: Shop Staff
Hobbies/Interests: Football, basketball, fishing, hanging out with friends, poker, canoe rescuing, being with Frodo, riding with friends.
What I like about working in this industry: The perks of being in the outdoors by the waters. |
River Riders Owners
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Matt, Laura, Zach, & Sierra Knott
Hometown: Harpers Ferry, WV
Position: Owners & President
Hobbies/Interests: Whitewater, the outdoors, & camping.
What I like about working in this industry: Started as a raft guide as a teenager & we love being able to share our knowledge & experience of the area with you. |
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