Policies
Participant Requirements
All participants must:
- adhere to the policies listed below.
- meet minimum age requirements for the specific registered program.
- sign their own waiver and, if under 18 years old, also have a legal guardian sign for them.
For all paddlesport instructional clinics led by American Canoe Association certified instructors participants must meet American Canoe Association ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC).
For all Wilderness Medical Association instructional clinics led by WMA certified instructors participants must meet WMA - Functional Position Description.
For all of our programs, guests must be able/willing to do the following:
- Wear appropriate clothing and equipment - whether personal, provided or rented.
- Respond to and follow verbal or visual instruction.
- Be able to navigate with minimal assistance on rocky, uneven ground in potentially wet and slippery conditions and descend staircases with no railings.
All Rafting Participants Must:
- Adhere to the policies listed below.
- Meet minimum age requirements for the specific registered program.
- Sign their own waiver and, if under 18 years old, also have a legal guardian sign for them.
- Wear company provided helmet and company provided personal flotation device (PFD).*
- Independently roll face up in water while wearing a PFD.
- Demonstrate dynamic sitting position with head above water (sitting upright), and float with feet up in water.
- Wear appropriate clothing and equipment - whether personal, provided or rented.
- Respond to and follow verbal or visual instruction.
- Be able to navigate with minimal assistance on rocky, uneven ground in potentially wet and slippery conditions and descend staircases with no railings.
*Our helmets fit a maximum head circumference of 62cm (24.4 inches). Our PFDs fit a maximum chest size of 56 inches.
All Paddlesports Instruction Participants:
- Adhere to the policies listed below.
- Meet minimum age requirements for the specific registered program.
- Sign their own waiver and, if under 18 years old, also have a legal guardian sign for them.
- Must wear an instructor approved whitewater specific helmet when deemed appropriate and US Coast Guard approved flotation device (PFD) while on the water.*
- Independently roll face up in water while wearing a PFD.
- Demonstrate dynamic sitting position with head above water (sitting upright), and float with feet up in water.
- Wear appropriate clothing and equipment - whether personal, provided or rented.
- Respond to and follow verbal or visual instruction.
- Be able to navigate with minimal assistance on rocky, uneven ground in potentially wet and slippery conditions and descend staircases with no railings.
*Personal equipment will be inspected by our instructors for fit and appropriateness for expected conditions, gear in need of repair or showing signs of damage may be disallowed.
Most of our sit-inside kayaks have a suggested max paddlers weight around 250LBS.
Our helmets fit a maximum head circumference of 62cm (24.4 inches). Our PFDs fit a maximum chest size of 56 inches.
For all paddlesport instructional clinics led by American Canoe Association certified instructors participants must meet American Canoe Association ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC).
- Beginner Kayak 1-Day
- Novice Kayak 1-Day Refresher
- Beginner Kayak 2-Day Foundations
- Beginner Kayak 3-Day Immersion
- Intermediate 1-Day
- Intermediate 2-Day
- Intermediate 3-Day
- Deerfield River Run
- Teen Beginner 3-Day
- Advanced Strokes and Technical Skills
- Upper West River Run
- Lower Millers River Run
- Roll and River Run 1-Day
- Freestyle Basics Clinic
- Advanced Freestyle Clinic
- Flatwater Rolling Skills
Kayak/Canoe
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the requirements in the section titled "FOR ALL PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS" plus the following requirements:
- Must be 14 years old or older.
- Be able to paddle for continuous periods of time without rest.
- Perform a self-rescue after capsizing by remaining calm, orienting their body in current, keeping their feet at the surface of the water, and pulling a capsized boat to shore and/or swimming aggressively to shore in the classification of water advertised in the course description.
On our more experienced clinics/trips, longer unexpected swims in rapids are possible, and guests need to be prepared to self-rescue by swimming aggressively to shore and/or be prepared to receive a throw rope from shore.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
- Private
- Semi-Private
- Group Clinics
- Custom Clinics
Kayak/Canoe
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the requirements in the section titled "FOR ALL PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS" plus the following requirements:
- Must be 8 years old or older depending on the structure of the clinic.
- Be able to paddle for continuous periods of time without rest.
In Flatwater:
- Perform a self-resuce after capsizing by remaining calm, getting oriented, and following instructor directions
In Whitewater:
- Perform a self-rescue after capsizing by remaining calm, orienting their body in current, keeping their feet at the surface of the water, and pulling a capsized boat to shore and/or swimming aggressively to shore in the classification of water advertised in the course description.
On our more experienced clinics/trips, longer unexpected swims in rapids are possible, and guests need to be prepared to self-rescue by swimming aggressively to shore and/or be prepared to receive a throw rope from shore.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
- 1-Day River Rescue Skills
- 2-Day River Rescue Skills
- Swiftwater Clinics with Guest Instructors
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the requirements in the section titled "FOR ALL PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS" plus the following requirements:
- Must be 14 years old or older.
- Be able to paddle for continuous periods of time without rest.
- Perform a self-rescue after entering water and river currents by remaining calm, orienting their body in current, keeping their feet at the surface of the water, and pulling a capsized boat to shore and/or swimming aggressively to shore in the classification of water advertised in the course description.
On our more experienced clinics/trips, longer unexpected swims in rapids are possible, and guests need to be prepared to self-rescue by swimming aggressively to shore and/or be prepared to receive a throw rope from shore.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
- ACA Instructor Certification Courses
- ACA Instructor Update Courses
- ACA Skills Assessment
Kayak/Canoe/SUP
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the requirements in the section titled "FOR ALL PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS" plus the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years old or older.
- Be able to paddle for continuous periods of time without rest.
- Perform a self-rescue after capsizing by remaining calm, orienting their body in current, keeping their feet at the surface of the water, and pulling a capsized boat to shore and/or swimming aggressively to shore in the classification of water advertised in the course description.
On our more experienced clinics/trips, longer unexpected swims in rapids are possible, and guests need to be prepared to self-rescue by swimming aggressively to shore and/or be prepared to receive a throw rope from shore.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
- River Explorers - 3 Day Kayak Immersion Program
Kayak/Canoe
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the requirements in the section titled "FOR ALL PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS" plus the following requirements:
- Must be 10-13 years old.
- Be able to paddle for continuous periods of time without rest.
- Perform a self-rescue after capsizing by remaining calm, orienting their body in current, keeping their feet at the surface of the water, and pulling a capsized boat to shore and/or swimming aggressively to shore in the classification of water advertised in the course description.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
- Steep Creek Clinics
- Dryway River Runs
Kayak/Canoe
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the requirements in the section titled "FOR ALL PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS" plus the following requirements:
- Must be 16 years old or older. Qualified students between 14-16 years old may attend at the discretion of the Paddlesports Manager.
- Be able to paddle for continuous periods of time without rest.
- Perform a self-rescue after capsizing by remaining calm, orienting their body in current, keeping their feet at the surface of the water, and pulling a capsized boat to shore and/or swimming aggressively to shore in the classification of water advertised in the course description.
On our more experienced clinics/trips, longer unexpected swims in rapids are possible, and guests need to be prepared to self-rescue by swimming aggressively to shore and/or be prepared to receive a throw rope from shore.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
- Indoor Pool Rolling
- Pool Freestyle Instruction
Kayak/Canoe
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the requirements in the section titled "FOR ALL PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS" plus the following requirements:
- Must be 8 years old or older.
- Be able to paddle for continuous periods of time without rest.
- Perform a self-rescue after capsizing by remaining calm, getting oriented, and following instructor directions.
- Helmets and personal floation devices (PFDs) are optional in the pool but encouraged.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Full Course
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Recertification Course
All participants enrolled in an above clinic MUST meet the the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years old or older. Participants 16-18 years old can attend iwth preapproval from Zoar Outdoor.
- Meet Wilderness Medical Associates - Functional Position Description
- Sign their own waiver and, if under 18, also have a legal guardian sign for them.
- Respond to and follow verbal or visual instruction.
- Be able to navigate with minimal assistance on rocky, uneven ground in potentially wet and slippery conditions and descend staircases with no railings.
Don't forget to read your confirmation letter - there is a lot of useful information in there!
Call our office at 413.339.4010 if you have any additional questions - we're always happy to help!
Resort Policies
- A full payment is due on the day you book your reservation.
- When paying by check or money order, the appropriate payment must be received within 10 days of booking a trip.
- More than 30 days in advance of your trip date, we retain a $10 per person cancellation fee and hold the processing fee.
- 30 days or less in advance of your trip date, you forfeit the entire cost of your trip.
- Money forfeited may not be applied to any outstanding balances.
All reservations are transferable to another person, but not another date. Transferring to another date is considered the same as cancelling.
If you choose to not purchase the Cancellation Insurance:
- For lodging cancellations made more than 2 weeks in advance of your arrival, we will hold a non–refundable 10% from the total amount paid.
- 2 weeks or less in advance of your stay, you forfeit the entire cost of your lodging unless you have cancellation insurance.
There is no reason to purchase cancellation insurance for trips less than 24 hours prior to a trip.
Cancellation Insurance allows you to cancel up to 24 hours before a trip or a lodging/camping stay and receive a full refund (minus the Cancellation Insurance and Processing Fee) or transfer your reservation to another date.
Cancellation insurance must be purchased at the time that an initial reservation is made and must be taken by all members of a group.
No-shows on the date of the trip or last-minute cancellations are not covered by cancellation insurance.
Tax will be added to rental and lodging reservations as required by state law. Our Reservation software provider adds a processing fee to all reservations.
While we have an excellent record, the sports of whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking have inherent risks; accidents can and do occur. For this reason, we cannot assume responsibility for injury or loss of property. Participants in all activities will be required to sign a waiver stating that they are aware of the risks involved and are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Pregnant people are prohibited from participation in Zoar Outdoor activities. Those with health problems limiting their normal activities may be prohibited from participation at Zoar Outdoor’s discretion.
Please note that many of the areas we operate in are rural and have poor or non-existent cell service (including most of the Deerfield River), so emergency communications and emergency service response times may be as much as an hour or more away.
Zoar Outdoor cannot be responsible for supervision of minors when they are not actively participating in our programs. At all times, supervision of minors is the responsibility of the group leaders, parents or guardians.
The following statement is required by state law: “Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy.”
We do not use nuts in our food, but cannot guarantee that the ingredients in our meals do not contain nuts or other food allergens. If you have food allergies or other special dietary needs, we strongly suggest you bring your own bag lunch in non-glass containers and we will pack it with the other lunches on your trip. Please inform our office at 413-339-4010 or
The use of recreational drugs or alcohol is prohibited on all trips. If you arrive at Zoar Outdoor under the influence, you will be prohibited from participating in the day’s activity and no refund will be given.
River Trips (Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing)
Zoar Outdoor river trips go out regardless of the weather with the exception of weather or water conditions deemed dangerous by Zoar Outdoor. Any decision to cancel, move or postpone a trip will be made the morning of the trip at Zoar Outdoor. We reserve the right to move a trip to another location or river section at our discretion. In the event we must cancel a trip for any reason, you will receive a full refund.
In the event of cancellation prior to your trip, you have the option to refund or reschedule. If your trip is cancelled while you are on the course, you will receive a pro-rated refund or credit based on the location where you evacuated the course.
- April 1 – October 15: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
- October 16 – March 31: OPEN 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.