Our boat operator was Kyle, and he was just great.
He really made our classic white water rafting trip fun for the whole family (family of five, kids aged 6-9). The Class 2/3 rapids were perfect for my kids, including my 6 year old twins, one of whom doesn't really like scary things. The trip included more than a few calm moments where Kyle was able to point out cool things and allow us to just soak in the beauty of the Snake River.
We did the 8 am classic trip with another family (family of 7, including five boys, all older than my kids), but guess who was the first one to "ride the bull" (i.e., sit at the first tip front of the boat and hold on for dear life)? It was my 9 year old! And my 6 year old followed suit as well! And what's more, all three of my kids jumped into cold Snake River (July trip with day time temps in the 80s, but 8 am water temps started out in the 50s), including my 6 year old who was the FIRST ONE IN, jumping off of the boat during a calm section and going for a quick swim. That's how much fun and safe it was for everyone.
Kyle was an amazing guide - funny, interesting, totally informative. He was great at spotting wildlife, including osprey, bald eagles, otters, and gave really interesting details about the Snake River, the various elements of the rapids, and the only real negative is that the rafting trip was over when we reached the end.
We were worried that the rapids would be too much for our 6 year old twins, but it was just perfect. Yes, there were a little scary parts, but the hooting and hollering and the laughing by everyone made everything worth it.
Our other regret is that Kyle was super triumphant over not getting wet, so we should have at least splashed him once. Kyle, one day you will find the water. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but one day you will get wet.