Some people find the river. Others build their life around it.

For Nicole, better known as “Nature Nicole” that moment came while she was living in Eugene around 2009, without a full-time summer job and figuring out what was next.

A friend of a friend would take people rafting on the McKenzie River, and she decided to tag along.

What started as a casual day on the water quickly turned into something much bigger.

“I realized pretty fast that I hated being a passenger,” she said. “I needed to be the one steering the boat.”

So she bought her own raft and started learning by doing, running rivers, making mistakes, and gaining experience wherever she could. Then came a Grand Canyon trip in 2010, the moment that changed everything.

“That was it,” she said. “It wasn’t just a hobby anymore, it was a lifestyle.”

She returned to Oregon and applied to guide on the Rogue River. OARS was the first company to call her back, and now, more than a decade later, she’s spent 14 seasons guiding there. But for Nicole, guiding was never just about getting down the river it was about understanding everything that comes with it.

“Guiding is logistics, safety, cooking, reading people… all of it,” she said. “And honestly, I’d rather just sit and listen to nature than talk the whole time.”

That connection to the outdoors has always been part of who she is. Long before the river, she was the kid playing with caterpillars and lizards instead of joining in on the playground. Later, while working in environmental education, students struggled to pronounce her last name, so “Nature Nicole” stuck. It wasn’t something she created, it was something that naturally fit.

Today, Nicole has taken all of that experience and built something of her own. Through Nature Nicole Whitewater, she offers Swiftwater Rescue courses, rowing clinics, and guide training, helping others build the skills and confidence needed to safely navigate moving water.

After thousands of miles on the river, she’s seen firsthand how quickly things can go wrong. That’s what drives her to teach.

“The biggest win has been making these courses accessible,” she said. “I know these people, they’re my friends and some of them had been boating for years without ever taking a class.”

Her business has grown almost entirely through word of mouth, rooted in the same community that helped her learn in the first place. Because for Nicole, whitewater has always been more than just a sport, it’s something passed down, shared, and supported by others along the way.

“You don’t get good at it without people helping you,” she said. “So giving back is just part of it.”

That mindset shows up in everything she does, from teaching on the river to helping organize events like IlliFest, where the community comes together not just to race, but to clean up and protect the river. It’s a reminder that being part of the outdoor world also means taking responsibility for it.

If you’re looking to learn from Nicole or book a course, the best place to start is her website, where you can find upcoming course dates or reach out directly for private instruction.

But supporting what she’s building goes beyond just signing up.

“And honestly, the best support is wearing your PFD and encouraging others to do the same,” she said. “Especially guides. It’s about culture and professionalism.”

For Nicole, it’s not just about teaching skills, it’s about shifting the way people approach the river. Creating a culture where safety, awareness, and respect for the water come first.

So whether you’re taking a course, sharing knowledge with a friend, or simply making better decisions on the river, you’re helping support the movement she’s working to build.