Access to nature is not equal. We think it’s time to change that.

 

RiverWatch is registered charity and over 30 years, we have connected nearly 200,000 Alberta students to science, nature, and their local waterways through hands-on school floats. In 2023, we expanded beyond the classroom with RiverWatch EcoFloats—an award-winning tourism and hospitality experience that now sells out across Edmonton and Calgary. These guided interpretive river floats and unique experiences for the public bring people to the river not just to see it, but to touch it, learn from it, and feel a lasting connection to the water that shapes our communities.

RiverWatch is a first-of-a-lifetime experience.

We ask the big question at the start of every trip:  “Who here has ever been on the river before?” Almost no hands go up.

RiverWatch improves access by removing barriers and opening doors to nature.

Many students—especially those in under-resourced communities and schools—lack access to outdoor learning. They live near waterways but have never experienced them firsthand or learned how rivers sustain life.

2025 marks our 30th anniversary. We’re celebrating with purpose. 

To honour this milestone, we’ve launched Floats for Kids—a school-focused donation and corporate partner program designed to connect underserved classrooms to Alberta’s rivers through free, guided float experiences. We educate and inspire the next generation to protect the water that gives us life. 

Whether you sponsor a family, a class or an entire school, your support helps remove barriers to nature and education.

 

Floats For Kids – How It Works

We Have Two Ways Of Giving

1.) Sponsorship of Youth, Family & Community Floats

Create access to nature for youth at risk, newcomer families, and community groups through inclusive, guided river experiences. Your support of Floats For Kids opens the river to underserved youth, newcomer families, and community groups who’ve never had the chance to connect with nature. These floats offer more than fun—they create belonging, healing, confidence, and environmental learning. We work with partners like Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, refugee agencies, and youth shelters to ensure every dollar reaches those who need it most.

Levels of Support for This Program:

✅ $100 – One Youth + One Adult: Gift a life-changing first float to a youth and caregiver. Includes gear, guides, and their first-ever connection with the river. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds and build trust in new environments.

✅ $250 – Family or Small Group (4–5 People): Sponsor a shared float for a newcomer family or youth group. Quiet moments on the water build bonds—and a sense of belonging. For many, it’s a rare chance to simply relax, reconnect, and feel at home in nature.

✅ $500 – Youth Program Float (10–12 Participants): Support a small youth group with a guided float focused on ecology, teamwork, and confidence. One raft, 3 hours, countless memories that shape self-worth. It’s not just a float—it’s a launchpad for leadership and resilience.

✅ $1,000–$2,500 – Large Group Experience (20–50 Participants): Make a full-scale float day possible for underserved youth or newcomer organizations. Every $50 covers a youth’s seat—and opens the door to nature, safety, and story. You’re helping entire communities access outdoor learning they’d never otherwise afford.

Donate Now

 

2.) Sponsorship of RiverWatch Science Floats

Bring hands-on, curriculum-connected water science experiences to Alberta classrooms. Your sponsorship of RiverWatch Floats For Kids provides fully guided, curriculum-connected float trips for students and youth groups in Edmonton and Calgary. These experiences go far beyond a typical field trip—each float is a powerful blend of science, adventure, environmental education, and real-world data collection on local waterways.

Levels of Support:

✅ $500 – Half a Class (1 Raft): Give 15 students their first river science adventure—3 hours of hands-on testing, wildlife discovery, and unforgettable learning. This single raft can spark a lifelong curiosity about science and nature.

✅ $1,000 – One Full Class (2 Rafts): Bring an entire class on a guided STEM float. Gear, science kits, and inspiration included—future scientists in the making.
For many students, it’s their first time seeing science come alive outside the classroom.

✅ $5,000 – Entire School (Up to 5 Classes): Fund a full school’s outdoor learning day. Five classes. Five rafts. One unforgettable curriculum-connected experience. Your support brings equity to education—making sure every student gets access, regardless of background.

✅ $10,000 – Large School (Up to 10 Classes): Be a game-changer. Give 300+ students across 10 classes a deep dive into science, climate, and conservation—on the river. This level of support creates lasting impact, building a generation of environmentally aware youth.

*Each sponsorship level includes premium recognition options and a direct connection to the impact you’re making—photos, thank-you notes from students, and opportunities for on-site visits or media involvement.

Purpose-Driven Partnerships Drive Impact.

When you support Floats for Kids, you’re not just opening doors for youth—you’re aligning your brand with values that resonate: equity, education, and environmental stewardship.  And we make sure your impact is visible, meaningful, and rewarding.

✔ Make a Measurable Difference
All levels of support get students, underserved youth, families and group on the river—fostering confidence, connection, and environmental awareness through hands-on learning.

✔ Engage and Reward Your Team
For every $1,000 donated, your company receives one complimentary EcoFloat or private team-building experience for up to 12 people—a guided, memorable adventure with your team or clients that reconnects you to nature and each other.

✔ Connect with Your Community
Show customers and staff that you care—by supporting inclusive, local experiences that bring science, nature, and adventure to those who need it most.

✔ Boost Your Brand
Depending on the level of your support, your logo and name may be featured on rafts, vehicles, and RiverWatch social platforms. Recognition in our public events, media coverage, and high-visibility social campaigns reach hundreds of thousands of Albertans.

✔ Tell a Story That Sticks
Every float you sponsor becomes a story of impact. We’ll help you share it through photos, testimonials, and social media shoutouts that highlight your role in creating access and change.

✔ Align with a Trusted Leader
As Alberta’s largest river education non-profit, RiverWatch is known and respected for three decades of science-based programming, environmental stewardship, and award-winning public experiences. Your sponsorship connects your brand with a mission that Albertans trust.

A RiverWatch Donation is tax deductible and purpose driven.

We’re a registered charity. Tax receipts are issued automatically for eligible donations. RiverWatch is Alberta’s only nonprofit offering guided educational river floats in Calgary and Edmonton. We’ve been a leader in outdoor science education for 30 years, with a focus on environmental literacy, stewardship, and advocacy. QUESTIONS? Email: executive@riverwatch.ab.ca or Call: 587-857-3447 

Donate Now

 

 

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!

RiverWatch, Alberta’s largest non-profit river rafting organization, promotes adventure, science, education, and stewardship of our province’s waterways. These programs are made possible in Edmonton by our presenting sponsor EPCOR. RiverWatch is pleased to welcome back our Calgary partners: NSERC, the City of Calgary – Water Services, Nova and many more. RiverWatch also thanks MEC, Kenwood Canada and the The Rocky Mountain Paddling Center as our technical gear and safety partners.