Packrafting lake in front of Spencer Glacier, Alaska

Frequently Asked Questions

While we try to provide answers to most questions below, do not hesitate to reach out!


  • I don't see the exact course I want - can I request something specific? Absolutely! We are happy to work with you to generate a course that fits your needs that falls within the purview of our certifications.
  • Gear policy: We care about your safety and want to ensure you are comfortable throughout the duration of your course. As such, course participation is contingent upon adhering to our required gear list. Failure to adhere to gear requirements may result in the removal of a student from a course without refund.
  • Gear rentals: As much as we wish we could, we do not rent gear as it is highly time consuming to maintain. In turn, we like to encourage students to support one of the following local rental entities:
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks - Outdoor Adventures
  • Northern Alaska Packrafts
  • Venue changes: While rare, modifications to course itineraries and/or locations can happen. All instructors at Arctic Alaska Packrafting Instruction maintain the right to make these changes at their discretion and will notify you as soon as they are able. While we recognize that changes such as these may be inconvenient, they are always made in the interest of risk management and to provide the most suitable and effective learning environment for our students.
  • Cancellation policy for open enrollment courses and private courses using open enrollment course lesson plans: All courses require full payment at the time of course registration, and before the start of each course. If your cancellation warrants a refund (see scenarios below), all refunds will be issued within two weeks of the start of the course, though likely sooner. Maggie Harings, the owner of Arctic Alaska Packrafting Instruction, maintains the right to make exceptions to the rules below under extenuating circumstances.
  • If you cancel and we CAN fill your spot before the course starts, you will receive a full refund within two weeks of the cancellation, with the exception of a $40 administration fee.
  • If you cancel within 15 business days of the course and we CANNOT fill your spot, you will receive a 50% refund, with the exception of a $40 administration fee.
  • If you cancel within 5-15 business days of the course and we CANNOT fill your spot, you will receive a 50% refund, with the exception of a $40 administration fee.
  • If you cancel within fewer than 5 business days of the course and we CANNOT fill your spot, unfortunately we cannot award a refund.
  • All other scenarios (course transfers, participant substitutions etc) are assessed on a case-by-case basis but are not automatically awarded. A $40 administration fee will be charged regardless of scenario.
  • Cancellation policy for custom private courses: Please refer to "Cancellation policy for open enrollment courses and private courses using open enrollment course lesson plans". Note that a $150 administration fee will be charged in leu of $40.
  • Curious about gratuities? We certainly appreciate them, but they are not expected! If you have the means and you felt your experience warranted a gratuity, the industry standard is 15-20% (and you'll get the biggest high five in return!).
  • What kind of additional skills do you have to ensure safety during class? Having spent much of my personal and professional life outdoors, I have over 30 years of experience in basic wilderness and safety skills, including work in bear habitat. I maintain American Canoe Association L3 Packrafting Instructor and L4 Swiftwater Rescue certifications as well as a current Wilderness First Aid certification (including basic first aid/CPR).
  • I'm interested in the photo package as well - what's that all about? Heck ya! I have over 14 years of outdoor photography experience and am passionate about creating beautiful imagery to commemorate your packrafting experience. If you enroll in a course and indicate on the student form that you're interested in this opportunity, I will reach out to you directly to assess your needs and curate a personalized photographic experience unique to you.