I've been, it was fun! I don't know a lot about it or the levels. I went with a GF and had a good time! We did catch air a couple of times.....meaning our butts came off the raft.....not tame but not technical....:0) Hope you have a great time!!!!! Enjoy!

Bump it up to the next level! You'll have a ball!

I would bump it up a level personally.

From my experience, entry level won't even have any real "white water". Its basically floating down the river in a raft with an occasional jostle.

My ex was a white water rafter! I took a course at local University, after divorce to prove that I COULD do it! After I did the basic course and trial run at local area, I opted OUT to finish the course in North Carolina,in order to pass the course. :o( I failed the class lol

Turn it up a few notches. A run suitable for 5 and 10 year olds would be boring.

It sounds like you signed up for class one. Class 2 is still pretty mild. Class 3 is fun but still pretty much feels safe and doesn't require much navigation. Class 4 gets wild and sometimes scary. I like a mix of class 3 and 4. I don't mind a little class 5 action tossed in but it is a bit scary at times and you have to work hard to stay on a safe course. So I find class 3 and 4 a nice mix of relaxing and a bit of an adrenaline rush. You need to bump it to at least class 2 and maybe 3 so the teens won't be bored.

Go for it-it will be fun. If you wear glasses be sure to get an athletic strap so you don't loose them.

Cookie, what particular rivers or sections are you considering? I've done a bit of rafting, but a lot more whitewater kayaking (up to class 4). Generally, I would think a trip with a minimum age of 5 will be a bit boring for teens.

I went on a professional trip on a large raft through Cataract canyon. It started in Moab, Utah and ended at Lake Powell and definitely included class 5 rapids.. We camped out along the river two for two or three nights. The expedition company provided tents, cots, all the food, and porta potties, etc. They even had ice for our drinks. It was an awesome trip and I loved every minute. I also went rafting in Costa Rica with a group. It was about three hours and a lot of fun..

Did it a few times in my mid twenties and really enjoyed it. Haven't done it since and that was almost 40 years ago. I don't remember anything about levels but it was pretty wild.

Looks like I'm upgrading. Thanks for the input. We will be rafting on the Ottawa River.

......still terrified. How bad is that I didn't even consider one of my kids falling out the raft but only myself!

Fran, where did you do the rafting in Costa Rica?

I've been several times and love it. Agree about a strap for glasses and wear good sunscreen.

Don't know the exact name but it was up in the mounntains somewhere near Monte Verde, a commercially guided trip.

Good for you for upgrading. I'd go to at least a level 3, based upon your description of the age/entry level. Those don't sound like there would be any "white water" at all - or a very, very little. I've gone a few times - Class 5 rapids (I don't think those equate to the ranking system you're describing). I'm not suggesting I was brave - that's just what the group I was with was doing.

It's a blast. Come back and tell us about it.

So, I wimped out! Stuck with the intro level as something came up (hate being female!!) and thought that I wouldn't get soaked - wrong. It was great and a beautiful spot that I wouldn't have seen if I didn't give it a go as it is a different route from the one we will do next. Yes, I will go back and take it to the next level. We even got to slide down some falls. I still have water in my nasal cavity hours later. Even on the milder route we lost a rafter on the first run. There were five sets of rapids and lots of wave surfing. We are heading East in two weeks and will try out the tidal bore rafting in NS.

Glad you had fun!!

I'm assuming by your female comment that the issue was a "female only" issue? You know they make tampons right? ;) J/K

Did you get any good scenery pics?