Be Prepared Survival School

Former teacher, Dave Button, spent his childhood in Newhalem, Washington along the Skagit River where he first started rafting. After earning his teaching degree from Western Washington University, Dave was stationed first in Arizona and later in Alaska where he completed his military duty. While teaching elementary school in Washington, Dave started his first tour business, Pacific Northwest Float Trips in 1974 and became Washington state’s first commercial river rafting business. Inspired by the legendary Georgie White who guided him on a Grand Canyon Colorado River white water trip, Button returned to the Pacific NW to start his own company. Since then, he has operated raft trips, sightseeing tours & eco-nature excursions in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Arizona. Pacific NW Float Trips pioneered rafting on many Washington Rivers and trained numerous raft guides throughout the Pacific Northwest. Pacific NW Float Trips has been featured in newspapers, television and radio since its very beginning. Most recently Button’s company was featured on the the NBC Today Show segment about eagles on the Skagit River and an interview with NPR radio. With a penchant for adventure, Button and his guides have guided nature trips for wildlife viewing, white water thrillers and novelty adventures.