Lebanon Troop 279 and North Country Rivers (NCR) in Maine will be hosting the 4th annual Whitewater “Raftoree” as a fun and adventurous way to kick off the summer. The event will be centered around 2-days of whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River (Class III-IV rapids) guided by NCR’s professionally licensed river guides and a “mini-guide training” facilitated by NCR’s lead guide trainers. The training, instruction and trip facilitation will be focused on supporting scouts in completing the BSA Whitewater Rafting Award and relevant requirements of the Whitewater merit badge, and introducing them to the amazing world of whitewater rafting adventure and team-building opportunities.
Dates: June 18,19,20,21/2026
Location: North Country Rivers, Bingham, ME https:www.northcountryrivers.com/
Cost per person: $350
Cost includes: Camping (3 nights), 3 Breakfast buffets, 2 River lunches, 3 Dinner buffets, 2 Days of Whitewater rafting (Full river and “Ultimate” trips), All river gear (wetsuits, PFD’s, spray jackets, paddles, helmets, & booties), 2026 Raftoree event patch, Professional photos (jpegs) from both days of rafting and firewood.
Who: Scouts, Venturers and adult leaders. (Raft trips are being run by a professional whitewater rafting adventure outfitter and guided by professionally licensed whitewater raft guides). This event is not appropriate for Cub scouts.
Solo attendees: Scouts who wish to attend, but don’t have a troop, leaders or parents to accompany them are welcome to team-up with other troops.
Solo attendees: Scouts who wish to attend, but don’t have a troop, leaders or parents to accompany them are welcome to team-up with other troops.
Kennebec Whitewater Rafting in Maine
Requirements:
- Current BSA medical forms
- NCR liability release forms signed by parent/guardian (can sign online).
- Current (2026) BSA Swim test – Swimmer level (for all participants).
- BSA Safety Afloat training (online) is required for adult leaders.
- Notification of any allergies, physical challenges or medical concerns.
- Notification of any allergies, physical challenges or medical concerns.
- Notification of need for any special meal options (i.e. vegetarian, gluten free, etc.).
- Sense of adventure, swimsuit and a smile.
Registration: Verbal commitments of anticipated troops and participants are requested ASAP. Payments are due by June 1, 2026 with checks or money orders made payable to: Lebanon Troop 279.
Contact: If your troop or individual scouts wish to participate in and register for this upcoming event, or if you would like more details about the event please contact Chris Lamontagne (Lebanon Troop 279) via email at wavetrain33@gmail.com.
Accommodations & Amenities
- Tent camping sites w/ picnic tables and firepit
- Bathrooms (male & female) w/ showers
- Full-service restaurant
- Arcade w/ Pool table, Foosball, Air hockey
- Horseshoe pits
- Disc golf course
- Huge grass fields
- Biking trails
- Trail bike and inflatable kayak rentals
- Jimmy’s grocery store (across the street)
Helpful links for more information (you may need to copy the links into your search bar):
North Country Rivers website:
https://www.northcountryrivers.com/
NCR Whitewater rafting YouTube Video:
Boy’s Life Article:
http://www.ncrivers.com/images/NCR_BoysLife_mediumres.pdf
BSA Whitewater Rafting Award link:
https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WW-Rafting-brochure-6-28-18.pdf
BSA Whitewater Rafting Award application link:
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Whitewater_Rafting_BSA_Application.pdf
Whitewater merit badge requirements link:
https://www.boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/meritbadges/whitewater-merit-badge.asp
Whitewater merit badge pamphlet link:
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/merit_badge_reqandres/whitewater.pdf
Whitewater merit badge worksheet link:
http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Whitewater.pdf
Anticipated Schedule of Events:
Thurs. 6/18
Afternoon – Arrival, registration for camping/rafting at NCR base & camp set up
5:30 pm – Dinner
6:30 pm – Opening ceremony, introductions, initial orientation, team-building initiatives
Gear prep & Instruction (in wetsuit room): wet suits, pfd’s, paddles, helmets, booties, etc.
Raft prep & instruction (in barn)
8:30 pm – Cracker barrel
9:00 pm – bedtime
Fri. 6/19:
7:00 am – Breakfast @ NCR base
7:45 am – Trip leader orientation. Board bus to Kennebec River. Safety protocols & instruction.
8:30 am – Stop at Indian pond for flat-water guide training and instruction including guide strokes, use of crew, proper techniques for getting into the raft, flip drills, etc.
11:30 am – Put-in at the top of Kennebec River for Class III-IV whitewater rafting trip (approx. 3-4 hrs) and practical instruction
3:00 pm – Take-out at Crusher Pool. Board bus back to NCR base camp.
3:30 pm – Lunch and slide show presentation of raft trip.
4:15 pm – Downtime (Volleyball, horseshoes, cornhole, ultimate frisbee, Disc golf, whiffle ball, soccer, football, etc.)
5:30 pm – Dinner @ NCR base
6:30 pm – Group debrief of the day and continued instruction associated w/ whitewater merit badge and BSA Whitewater Rafting Award
8:00 pm – Downtime campfire, songs, smores/cracker barrel, etc.
9:00 – 10:00 pm – bedtime
Sat. 6/20:
7:00 am – Breakfast @ NCR base
7:45 am – Trip leader orientation and gear up
8:30 am – Board bus to Kennebec River. Safety protocols & instruction.
10:00 am – Put-in at the top of Kennebec River for Class III-IV *“Ultimate” whitewater rafting trip (approx. 4-5 hrs) (*note: The “Ultimate” rafting trip includes running the upper gorge of the Kennebec River twice!!!)
3:00 pm – Take-out at Crusher Pool. Board bus back to NCR base camp.
3:30 pm – Lunch and slide show presentation of raft trip.
4:15 pm – Downtime (Volleyball, horseshoes, cornhole, ultimate frisbee, whiffle ball, Disc golf, soccer, football, etc.)
5:30 pm – Dinner @ NCR base
6:30 pm – Group debrief of the day and continued instruction associated w/ whitewater merit badge and BSA Whitewater Rafting Award
8:00 pm – Campfire ceremony, songs, skits, smores/cracker barrel, etc.
9:00 – 10:00 pm – bedtime
Sun. 6/21:
8:00 am – Breakfast @ NCR base
9:00 am – Break camp
10:00 am – Closing ceremony & farewells
Stay tuned for more details to follow!!!
Chris Lamontagne
Lebanon Troop 279
wavetrain33@gmail.com
(603) 727-8898