Tourism Week 2024 Partner Highlight: The RiverWatch Institute of Alberta
We know the ways that travel can impact each of our lives, discovering new places, experiencing new cultures, learning and growing. There is a transformative power to travel, and it matters deeply to many of us.
To help celebrate Tourism Week 2024, our team sat down with Jay Ball, Executive Director of the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta, to learn more about the one-of-a-kind experiences that Jay and his team deliver to visitors and residents alike.
Founded in 1995, the RiverWatch Institute is Alberta’s premier non-profit organization dedicated to advancing environmental education and water quality monitoring in the province. As Alberta’s largest group specializing in river rafting for educational purposes, RiverWatch offers unparalleled citizen science experiences aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of environmental issues within our water systems.
RiverWatch engages with the community in a variety of program formats that include comprehensive science education and environmental awareness programs along Alberta’s rivers and watershed systems, catering to schools (school science floats) and the general public (public EcoFloats). Utilizing an impressive fleet of nearly 30 commercial rafts and various support vehicles, RiverWatch facilitates engaging river-based programming and community-driven water monitoring initiatives. These programs support over 30 volunteer and citizen science watershed groups, emphasizing hands-on learning and active participation.
"Participating in a RiverWatch float gives attendees the chance to come experience the North Saskatchewan River in a new light. This river has a unique story that is waiting to be told, and when participants go on a float, they leave the experience with a newfound appreciation and knowledge about our ecosystem," says Jay Ball.
Participants, guided by professional river guides, gain insightful knowledge of the science and health of waterways through float trips, stewardship activities, and the use of specialized water monitoring equipment. The organization's goal aims to empower Albertans from diverse backgrounds to become knowledgeable about their watershed, fostering a collective sense of appreciation, enjoyment and responsibility towards our environment.
To learn more about the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta and their upcoming summer float season, please visit riverwatch.ca.