(Lack off) Professional formation and adventure activities: focusing rafting guides

Abstract

This study, of a qualitative nature, aimed to investigate the formation profile of rafting professionals, the domain of the care related to the development of this activity and the preparation of the guides in dealing with the intervenient emotions during the practice. An exploratory research was developed through a mixed questionnaire applied to 20 rafting instructors, of both sexes, which pertain to ecotourism agencies in the city of Brotas, in Sao Paulo State. Data were descriptively analyzed through thematic content analyses and indicate that the guiders are young, between 17 and 25 years old, with no college degree. All of them attended to technical courses offered by the ecotourism agencies. Anxiety and some tension were evident in treating with beginners, due to the need of security and perspective of return guaranty. They all realized the necessity of recycling technical and other kinds of knowledge. Professionals reported that dealing with both their emotions and their clients emotions represent a big challenge. It is imperative that graduation courses awake for the urgency of implementing their curriculum, trying to absorb the new professional work demand in leisure area, favoring new investment in this instructors formation, not only related to technique but also to psychological preparation to strive with the activity and with the clients personal emotions.