RiverWatch Science Floats - Your Classroom On The River!

 

THE RIVERWATCH MISSION

“The RiverWatch Institute of Alberta delivers science education and environmental awareness experiences along Alberta’s rivers and watershed systems. Through our professional river guides, float trips, stewardship activities, and water monitoring equipment, participants learn about the science and health of our waterways. By becoming watershed knowledgeable, Albertans of all walks of life will better understand, enjoy and care for our environment.” – Jay Ball, Executive Director.

IMPORTANT CHANGE TO SCHOOL SCIENCE FLOAT BOOKING REQUESTS

RiverWatch Implements Earlier Booking Process for 2024/25 School Year!

To enhance school planning, all booking processes for RiverWatch school floats (both fall and spring seasons) have been moved to the early fall of each school year. In the past, our spring bookings were made in February /March, a very, very compressed time frame for our staff and schools. This shift to earlier booking windows in the fall helps improve planning for both schools and RiverWatch. This change allows schools to secure their preferred dates well in advance while enabling RiverWatch to plan effectively for the year, including budgeting and staffing. There are no chanages our refund policy, and we remain flexible with final student numbers as the float date approaches, ensuring smooth coordination for all parties involved. By moving the booking process to the fall, both schools and RiverWatch benefit from a more organized, flexible, and predictable system. Advance booking coordination for both the school and RiverWatch provides more time to finalize details and collaborate effectively, reducing last-minute issues to ensure a smooth, enjoyable float experience for your students. Shifting the booking process to the fall offers significant benefits for both schools and RiverWatch, particularly for larger schools with multiple classes.

Benefits for Schools:

  1. Securing Preferred Dates: Early booking allows larger schools to secure their preferred dates for both the fall and spring float seasons, minimizing the risk of losing out due to high demand. By booking larger schools early, RiverWatch can then schedule small and medium-sized schools around those dates, ensuring a well-balanced and efficient float schedule for all schools.
  2. Aligning with School Schedules: Booking early ensures floats fit smoothly within the school’s academic calendar, minimizing clashes with other events or exams.
  3. Efficient Resource Planning: Advanced scheduling allows schools to arrange transportation, substitute teachers, and supervisors well in advance, avoiding last-minute stress.
  4. Flexibility in Adjusting Numbers: Schools can modify student numbers up to 30 days before the float, offering flexibility for fluctuating participation.

 

Benefits for RiverWatch:

  1. Optimized Program Planning: Early bookings give RiverWatch a clearer view of yearly demand, allowing us to plan equipment, staffing, and logistics efficiently.
  2. Improved Budgeting and Staffing: Knowing the schedule in advance helps us allocate resources, hire guides, and procure materials, maintaining high program quality.
  3. Supporting Larger Schools: Early planning allows us to allocate sufficient staff and resources to meet the needs of larger schools, ensuring a safe and high-quality experience.

 

2025 SPRING BOOKING REQUESTS NOW OPEN

  • Spring 2025 bookings are now OPEN. Use the form below to request a booking.
  • To meet safety and insurance requirements, RiverWatch has set a maximum raft capacity of 16 people, including 15 students and 1 adult/teacher supervisor, with each raft requiring one adult supervisor.
  • A booking request does not guarantee a spot; it adds your class to the Spring 2025 waitlist.
  • Spring float confirmations will begin soon.
  • Float dates may change due to river conditions, air quality, weather, and other factors.
  • CLICK HERE FOR THE SPRING 2025 BOOKING REQUEST FORM

 

SCHEDULING & WAITLIST UPDATES

  • School science float requests are granted until the program is full.
  • Priority is given to schools rescheduled from the previous season due to cancellations (weather, air quality, high water).
  • New bookings are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis after rescheduled schools.
  • When a date becomes available, we will contact you to confirm your booking and provide pricing details.
  • Once the program is full, remaining requests are placed on a waitlist/standby list based on the email timestamp of the request.
  • Waitlisted classes will be notified by email when a spot opens.
  • If a school declines the offered date, they are removed from the waitlist, and the next school is contacted until the date is filled.

 

YOUR RIVERWATCH SCIENCE EXPERIENCE

We believe the best way to study a river is by taking your science classes on a float trip aboard our professionally guided large rafts, fully equipped as floating laboratories! Our science education programs align DIRECTLY with the Alberta provincial curriculum and have been a go-to resource for Alberta secondary science classes since 1995. Our hands-on and experiential science float programming is offered in the fall from early September to the end of October and again in the spring (late April to mid-June) once the ice is off the river.

With a laser focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), students explore their local river ecosystem aboard rafts equipped as mobile water quality laboratories. A day of guided rafting takes the student classroom into the real natural world to experience an interesting mix of ecology, wildlife, history, geology, engineering, technology, industry, water quality monitoring and data collection. Our programs showcase science in ways students have never seen before, creating an experience they’ll never forget, INCLUDING A TOUR OF LOCAL WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS! Over the years, more than 150,000 students have adventured out with us to become young scientists for the day. 

 

YOUR RIVERWATCH GUIDES

All RiverWatch guides are highly trained and possess a minimum Class 1 PROAOA certification to meet Transport Canada Commercial Rafting Standards. All our river guides complete an intense week of training involving rafting, emergency response, health and safety, bus driving, equipment maintenance, water quality monitoring, and local/natural history interpretation. To work for RiverWatch Guides must possess Standard First Aid certification and/or may also have Wilderness First Aid, National Lifeguard Society, Swift Water Rescue or Emergency Medical Responder training. The result is an experienced group of certified and professional river guides ready to provide a safe, engaging and fully immersive rafting experience. Your RiverWatch raft guide will help students gain new insights and appreciation for our rivers’ history, culture, bio-diversity and stewardship. Everyone will finish the day more connected to nature and the river!

RECENT FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS

Teachers recognize RiverWatch’s exceptional value. The quotes below come from discussions and feedback highlighting the impactful and transformative experiences RiverWatch provides. These reflections from educators underscore the program’s success in not just meeting but surpassing educational expectations, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of our natural world among students.

  • “The RiverWatch experience was exceptional! It was a journey that transformed our usual classroom setting into a laboratory.”
  • “The level of engagement and enthusiasm from the students was palpable. It’s one thing to teach concepts; it’s another to see them come to life right before your eyes.”
  • “The guides were not just guides; they were bridges connecting classroom theory to real-world practice. They offered our students a rare opportunity to apply classroom lessons to tangible, real-life scenarios.”
  • “The practical application of knowledge is invaluable and has significantly deepened my students’ understanding and appreciation of the subjects.”
  • “This trip isn’t just a field day; it’s a catalyst for excitement within the curriculum. Seeing the students engage deeply with the material in a real-world context has underscored the immense value of experiential learning.”
  • “Very valuable; it’s as if the river itself breathes life into the curriculum.”
  • “The efficiency and effectiveness of this program are unparalleled. It’s not just a time-saver; it’s a deep dive into learning that transforms days of classroom time into hours of immersive, hands-on experience.”
  • “The RiverWatch approach to teaching has enriched my curriculum and, more importantly, my students’ understanding.”
  • “The guides were phenomenal – their expertise and ability to connect with the students were evident from the start. They were adept at sparking scientific and general discussions, making every moment on the river teachable.”
  • “The guide engagement with the students ignited a dialogue that bridged water, science, culture and so much more.”

Questions? Email us – sciencefloats@riverwatch.ab.ca

 

RiverWatch, Alberta’s largest non-profit river rafting organization, promotes adventure, science, education, and stewardship of our province’s waterways. Our presenting sponsor, EPCOR, makes these programs possible in Edmonton. In Calgary, RiverWatch welcomes back the City of Calgary – Water Services as our lead partner and MEC / Kenwood Canada as our guide technical gear and safety partners.