Connecting Source to Sea

through adventure, conservation, and education

Rivers for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of passionate river enthusiasts dedicated to changing the way people think about and interact with water. Through adventure, conservation and education, we work to connect individuals and communities to rivers and promote source to sea literacy.

Get Involved

Rivers for Change relies on volunteers to run our organization. We are always looking for new ways to unite people to rivers through shared experiences, stories, and media.

Source to Sea Connections

Source to Sea Grants

We support river lovers who want to share the importance of learning and engaging with rivers from source to sea.

Source to Sea Support

We are source to sea experts. For over 13 years our team has paddled, consulted, advised, and supported over 22 source to sea projects in various capacities. If you’re interested in undertaking a source to sea, or have already completed one and would like to join our growing Source to Sea Network please fill out the form below!

What is Source to Sea

What’s all this talk about source to sea?

We are all connected through drops of water. Understanding the source of water in our lives and where it goes is integral to a holistic knowledge about our interconnectedness and interdependence. Learn more about what this phrase means, and how you can become source to sea literate!

Upcoming Events

Join us at one of our events throughout the year or help out behind the scenes.

View All Events

Support Rivers for Change

Rivers for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are tax-deductible. EIN #37-1654861

Follow Us On Instagram

riversforchange

Happy World Water Day! 💦💙 Today, let's take

Happy World Water Day! 💦💙 Today, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty and vital role of our rivers and their ecosystems. It's up to us to protect them. By supporting organizations that work to conserve and restore our rivers, we can ensure that they remain healthy for generations to come. Let's all do our part to keep our rivers clean and flowing free 🌊
Photo: @ian.connlly
#WorldWaterDay #RiverConservation #ProtectOurRivers #sourcetosea #riversforchange #salmon #salmonsourcetosea
#boatingcommunity

Huge shoutout to @Idahoriversunited! They are an a

Huge shoutout to @Idahoriversunited! They are an awesome organization doing incredibly important work to advocate for and protect Idaho’s rivers and beyond. The RFC team is grateful that we had the opportunity to partner with IRU in 2022 for the @salmonsourcetosea. We are honored to receive the Conservation Partner of the Year Award and are stoked for more collaborations in the future!
It truly takes a village, cheers to future collaborations and partnerships🎉! Go check out @idahoriversunited new River Ambassador Program and head to the link in our bio to see what’s coming up for @riversforchange!
#sourcetosea
#expedition
#riverexpedition
#nonprofit
#education
#riversforchange
#conservation
#salmon
#salmonsourcetosea
#rivertrip
#rivertripplanning
#grandsalmon
#rivers
#river
#boating
#boatingcommunity

Ah a little reminder of those chilly days, high wa

Ah a little reminder of those chilly days, high water, and concrete dams and paddling 1000 miles as a conservation adventure 🙃
@riversforchange is proud to have been a part of this epic #sourcetosea along with @idahoriversunited and a host of organizations, volunteers, and of course the @salmonsourcetosea team in engaging communities through adventure, conservation, and education in the fight to restore dwindling salmon populations.
・・・
Get hyped!!!
The Grand Salmon team is heading to Kentucky this weekend for the National Paddling Film Festival!
Grab your tickets on the @npff.paddling website to attend online (only $5) or in person and hear about their expedition, conservation campaign, and upcoming film!
Edited by @the.leahandrews
Graphics by @watercolorwoods
•••
Huge shout out to all those working tirelessly on this campaign and those we had the honor of working with last summer:
@idahoriversunited @nimiipuuprotectingenvironment @savewildsalmon @savethesouthfork @adventurescientists @great_old_broads @salmonorcaproject @americanrivers @americanwhitewater @backbonecampaign @freeriversfund @freeflowinstitute @snakeriversavers @idahoconservationleague @seatreksausalito @_idaho_adventures @riverradiuspodcast @nrsweb @patagonia @stellarkayaks @daggerkayaks @wernerpaddles @pit_viper @sourcetoseaproductions
#savewildsalmon #removethedams #restoretheriver #sourcetosea #adventure #paddling #conservation #riversforchange #salmonsourcetosea #thegrandsalmon #sufferfest #paddleforapurpose

@riversforchange grantee @jesswiegandt is premieri

@riversforchange grantee @jesswiegandt is premiering her film A River Called Home at @npff.paddling film fest this weekend and you can get $5 online tix!
・・・
Repost:
“A River Called Home” is ONE WEEK AWAY from premiering!
I am excited to kick off the screening tour of this film at @npff.paddling and want YOU to be a part of it all! Get your online tickets now for only $5 (or come rally to Kentucky and celebrate the goodness with me at the main event)! Gets yours at npff.org/tix today!
PS for those of you wondering what it was like living with the four of us on the river for 21 days, swipe to the end for some bonus content. So incredibly proud of this team and everyone who came together to make this project possible.
Learn more and watch the trailer at jesswiegandt.com/arch.
#womeninfilm #jamesriver #environmentalfilm #expedition #womeninscience #waterpollution #river #chesapeakebay #AUSOC

Have a listen to @hayleymstuart who was our first

Have a listen to @hayleymstuart who was our first @riversforchange grantee on the @riverradiuspodcast, she’s up to some amazing work! So proud of her 🥳💪
・・・
Have you heard the newest episode that was released last week with Hayley, listen here:
http://www.theriverradius.com
Hayley Stuart: kayaker, film maker, storyteller, river advocate
Episode Summary:
Hayley Stuart learned to kayak while attending an international traveling high school. Today she works with indigenous river communities in South America to prevent dams from changing their rivers into reservoirs. She is teaching these river communities to kayak, building films about this work, attends the United Nations COP meetings as a linguistics translator working to UnDam the UN, and recently earned a Masters from Oxford University in water science, policy and management.
Episode Sponsor(s):
Jack’s Plastic Welding @jacksplasticwelding
Episode Guest(s):
Hayley Stuart @hayleymstuart
Rios to Rivers @riostorivers
@ara_bolivia
@worldclasskayakacademy World Class Academy
@oxford_uni Oxford University
@riversforchange
@ottawakayak Ottawa Kayak School
@kayaksessionsmag
Sponsors of guest over the years:
@astralfootwear
@nrsweb
@mec
@recoverbrands
@wernerpaddles
@alpackarafts
Key people mentioned in episode:
@alipazcuqui Ruth in Bolivia, working for Beni River
@lorenzokayak Lorenzo in Chile, teacher
Organizations:
@intlrivers
#riverradius
#riverradiuspodcast
#hydropower
#megahydropower
#kayak
#kayaking
#WorldClassAcademy
#WhereIsYourClassroom
#ottawakayak
#bolivianamazon
#rioslibres
#mujeresfuertes
#beniriverbasin
#amazonriver
#amazonianriver
#madidinationalpark
#parquenacionalmadidi
#amazonrainforest
#cop26
#undam
#undamtheun
#stillriversilentjungle
#indigenouspeoples
#bolivia
#schoolofinternationaltraining

We are stoked to announce another one of our 2023

We are stoked to announce another one of our 2023 grantees, Jess Wiegandt!
Jess is a filmmaker and outdoor educator based in the Southeast and she is passionate about river conservation and community engagement. Her project, "A River Called Home" is a film that follows the journey of Jess and three other women who paddled the James River in Virginia, studying its water quality along the way. Jess and her team worked with a high school biology class to engage youth within the watershed, and she will pair experiential lesson plans with the film to further impact K-12 education surrounding watersheds and pollution.
Give Jess a follow and head to the link in her bio to learn more and support her incredible work!
#sourcetosea
#expedition
#riverexpedition
#nonprofit
#education
#riversforchange
#conservation
#salmon
#salmonsourcetosea
#rivertrip
#rivertripplanning
#grandsalmon
#rivers
#river
#boating
#boatingcommunity
#2023RFCgrantee
Photo #1: @jesswiegandt working on a film on the Patuxent River in Maryland, which aired on PBS in 2022.
Photo #2: @jesswiegandt killing it on the Davidson River in North Carolina.

Celebrating the start of 2023 with our new series,

Celebrating the start of 2023 with our new series, #beentheredonethat Source to Sea behind-the-scenes addition!
In case you hadn’t planned for that 1am trailer build with incredible volunteers in the pouring rain, we’re telling you now, there’s a likely chance it could happen to you (been there, done that ✅).
Head to the link in our bio if this inspires you to explore creating a #sourcetosea expedition of your own!
Photo: @riversforchange team
With super volunteers @trent_holen and @dc_dad from the @salmonsourcetosea
#salmonsourcetosea
#sourcetosea
#expedition
#riverexpedition
#nonprofit
#education
#riversforchange
#conservation
#salmon
#salmonsourcetosea

We are proud to introduce one of our awesome 2023

We are proud to introduce one of our awesome 2023 grantees, Nina Gordon-Kirsch, @nina.gk!
Ever wondered where your water comes from?
Well @nina.gk certainly did...
In July 2022, Nina Gordon-Kirsch - a high school teacher who was born and raised in Berkeley, CA - walked more than 240 miles, tracing the Mokelumne River from her house in Oakland to where her East Bay drinking water comes from. Now, she and her team are raising money to make the journey into an educational film to show in East Bay schools and teach students where our water comes from.
Head to the link in our bio to learn more about the project or help support the making of an educational film about the journey!
www.home2headwaters.com/support

Have you seen our latest newsletter? Curious about

Have you seen our latest newsletter? Curious about what we have been up to over the past year? Head to the link in our bio to find about our newest grantees and board member, a word from our co-founder, Danielle Katz @riverkatz, and some of our incredible accomplishments from 2022, including supporting the @salmonsourcetosea and our latest podcast episode with @riverradiuspodcast!
We are so grateful for the ongoing support of our community.
Want to learn more and join in on the fun? Check the link in our bio to make an end of year tax-deductible donation and get involved!
Photo #1: @brookhess
Photo #2: RFC Team
Photo #3: @brookehess
#sourcetosea
#expedition
#riverexpedition
#nonprofit
#education
#riversforchange
#conservation
#salmon
#salmonsourcetosea
#rivertrip
#rivertripplanning
#grandsalmon
#rivers
#river
#boating
#boatingcommunity

Welcome to our newest board member, Sarrah Claman!

Welcome to our newest board member, Sarrah Claman!
Sarrah grew up in the mountains of Colorado on Ute and Arapaho lands, but her connection to rivers began as a child exploring the unceded lands and rivers of the Temagami, Anishinabewak, and Moose Cree in Northern Quebec and Ontario, Canada by canoe. After moving to Squamish BC, the unceded territories of the Squamish Peoples, Sarrah began to fall in love with coastal rivers while learning about wild pacific salmon and their incredibly vital role in ecosystems and communities across Salmon Nation. Sarrah has been a river guide since she was 18 and currently works as a raft guide with the Upper and Main Salmon River on the ancestral lands of the Niimpu and Shoshone Bannock in Idaho.
Sarrah believes that humans are intimately connected to the land and waters we are surrounded by, and by exposing folks to this inherent connection, people will begin to understand and care about protecting and stewarding these spaces and their inhabitants. She is passionate about advocating for rivers and leveraging her voice as a guide and educator to share nerdy salmon facts and inspire others to care about the ecosystems we are all a part of.
Interested in joining our board or volunteering with RFC? Check out the link in our bio to see our open positions!
#sourcetosea
#expedition
#riverexpedition
#nonprofit
#education
#riversforchange
#conservation
#salmon
#salmonsourcetosea
#rivertrip
#rivertripplanning
#grandsalmon
#rivers
#river
#boating
#boatingcommunity

Go check out the @riverradiuspodcast from last wee

Go check out the @riverradiuspodcast from last week!
Contributing Host Samara Rosen @raftavist interviews our RFC Co-founder, Danielle Katz @riverkatz about source to sea expeditions as conservation activism. They also chat about all the ins and outs of what it takes to run a successful source to sea expedition like the @salmonsourcetosea!
Are you interested in running your own #sourcetosea expedition? Check out the grant opportunities RFC will be offering in 2023 on our website and spread the word to all of your river-loving friends!
Huge gratitude to the @riverradiuspodcast!
・・・
Episode Sponsors:
Nissan @nissan @greeleynissan
Jack’s Plastic Welding @jacksplasticwelding
Episode Guests: Danielle Katz @riverkatz @riversforchange
Photo 1: @riverkatz
Photo 2: @raftavist
#riverradius
#riverradiuspodcast
#sourcetosea
#expedition
#riverexpedition
#nonprofit
#education
#riversforchange
#conservation
#salmon
#salmonsourcetosea
#rivertrip
#rivertripplanning
#grandsalmon
#rivers
#river
#boating
#boatingcommunity

Super thrilled to be on the @riverradiuspodcast!
・・・
A fresh new episode with contributing Host Samara Rosen @raftavist interviews Danielle Katz @riverkatz about Source to Sea expeditions and the myriad of missions that come with these type of trips!
This episode explores how to leverage source to sea river expeditions for conservation. Source to Sea expert Danielle Katz and cofounder of @riversforchange, breaks down the types of impacts that source to sea expeditions can have, how long expeditions take to plan, and what this kind of undertaking demands from a team.
Episode Sponsors:
Nissan @nissan @greeleynissan
Jack’s Plastic Welding @jacksplasticwelding
Episode Guests: Danielle Katz @riverkatz @riversforchange
#riverradius
#riverradiuspodcast
#sourcetosea
#expedition
#riverexpedition
#nonprofit
#education
#riversforchange
#conservation
#salmon
#salmonsourcetosea
#rivertrip
#rivertripplanning
#grandsalmon
#rivers
#river
#boating
#boatingcommunity

Rivers are a force of connection between all being

Rivers are a force of connection between all beings. They weave together our ecosystems and communities as the freshwater lifeblood of our planet. This holiday season, it is our turn to give back to our rivers.
@riversforchange is committed to connecting people to rivers and changing the way we think about and interact with water through conservation, education, and adventure.
You can help us continue our work with a tax-deductible end-of-year gift where your dollars will help fund micro-grant opportunities for source-to-sea expeditions like the @@salmonsourcetosea and other river-centered community outreach and educational programming.
Whether $10 or $1000, your support makes a difference for our rivers! Visit https://riversforchange.org/donate/ to donate. We hope you will consider joining in our work to protect our incredible waterways this #givingtuesday!
#salmonsourcetosea #riversforchange #removethedams #restoretheriver #freethesnake #savewildsalmon
📸
Photo 1: Skip Armstrong
Photo 2: Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment/Megan Mack
Photo 3: Rivers for Change

Feeling grateful for rivers and time outside. #op

Feeling grateful for rivers and time outside.
#optoutside #gratitude #riversarelife

Get Inspired!! Rivers for Change athlete ambassad

Get Inspired!!
Rivers for Change athlete ambassador Cyril Derreumaux recently completed the 1st solo kayak crossing unsupported and human-powered from Monterey to Hawaii in 91 days. He will be giving his first presentation since his return as a benefit for Rivers for Change and Sea Trek Cares. I hope you can join this limited-capacity event.
When: Nov 9th and 10th from 5-7 pm.
What: A presentation with Cyril Derreumaux about his planning, 2021 crossing attempt, and the ultimate success in 2022 of his human-powered voyage from Monterey to Hawaii. Includes a Q&A in case any of you are contemplating similar adventures ;). It's a not to be missed event. Come hear Cyril's inspiring story of perseverance and adventure. https://solokayaktohawaii.com/
Why: Support Rivers for Change and Sea Trek Cares. Get inspired to follow your dreams!
Where: Bay Model, Sea Trek Kayak & SUP Center 2100 Bridgeway Sausalito, CA 94965, CA
Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solo-kayak-to-hawaii-tickets-444722566167
Link in Bio
@seatreksausalito
@riversforchange
@cyrildx
@onthewater360
📸: @tomgomesphotographer
#paddleforapurpose #solokayaktohawaii #sausalito #event #kayaking #seatrek #riversforchange

Super excited about this upcoming presentation by

Super excited about this upcoming presentation by @riversforchange ambassador @cyrildx hosted by our friends @seatreksausalito!
A benefit for Rivers for Change and Sea Trek Cares! 💪💫
See you there!! Nov 9th and 10th. Registration link in bio!
・・・
Repost:
Come see and hear about my 91-day solo kayak crossing CA to HI on my first public presentation.
-> @seatreksausalito in SAUSALITO, Nov 9th or Nov 10th.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solo-kayak-to-hawaii-tickets-444722566167
About this event: The money collected will be split between Rivers for Change and Sea Trek CARES's transportation fund.
-> @riversforchange mission is to connect people to rivers through Source To Sea adventures, conservation, and education.
-> Sea Trek CARES™ offers discounted and free trips to schools and other youth groups. Often these groups can't afford the buses required to bring them kayaking. Join us in getting under-resourced youth paddling at Sea Trek.
Limited number of tickets available so reserve early.
#adventure #sourcetosea #riversforchange #seatrek #benefit #solokayaktohawaii #kayaking #baymodel

#throwbackthursday to Sept 20th! Huge congratulati

#throwbackthursday to Sept 20th! Huge congratulations to @riversforchange athlete ambassador @cyrildx for the completion of his incredible 91 day kayak crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Stay tuned for an upcoming IG live interview with Rivers for Change co-founder John Dye and Cyril on Saturday Oct 8th at 1pm.
・・・
🇺🇸 - Cyril made it!
91 days at sea solo, unsupported and 100% human powered kayak from Monterey to Hawaii. We hope you caught the Facebook live of Cyril’s arrival and if not check the page to watch it!
Thank you so much for your support, love and encouragement of Cyril as he attempted and accomplished this feat. Love you all, aloha to all. Xx Land Support
🇫🇷 - Cyril l'a fait !
91 jours en mer en kayak à propulsion uniquement humaine, en solitaire, sans assistance, de Monterey à Hawaï. On espère que vous avez pu suivre le Live Facebook de l'arrivée de Cyril et si ce n'est pas le cas rendez-vous sur la page pour le regarder !
Merci beaucoup pour votre soutien, votre amour et vos encouragements pour Cyril pendant toute la durée de son aventure. Aloha à tous. La team de soutien à terre !

Great conversation with @illuminecollect about und

Great conversation with @illuminecollect about understanding where your water comes from, connecting to your communities, and getting involved! As well as adventure and conservation and #sourcetosea journeys. Enjoy!
・・・
"If you follow the water drops you shower in upstream, you will likely find some community that is involved with cleanups in your area. Nonprofits are always at their capacity, so if you have skills, that is an easy way to get involved."

@riverkatz grew up in California, so the outdoors and the wilderness were a big part of her childhood. She started whitewater rafting at a meager 4 months old. She felt at home along the riverside as she grew older, and she began leading her father's whitewater rafting company around this time.

When Danielle got the opportunity to paddle over 2,000 miles along the Mississippi River, she became inspired by the connectivity of riverways and started @riversforchange as a result of this experience.

Since then, Rivers for Change has been able to spearhead change in local riverways with cleanups, source-to-sea trips, and river education.

Hear more about Danielle's journey along the riverside, and what the future holds for Rivers for Change on the Life in Motion Podcast. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

#illumine #collect #lifeinmotion #livemore #podcast #newepisode #riversforchange #nonprofit #riverways #localadventure #adventuremore #getoutdoors #sourcetosea #sockeye #betheadventure #lifestyle #nature #environmentalist #riverfun

Super proud of the @salmonsourcetosea team for rea

Super proud of the @salmonsourcetosea team for reaching the sea!
This was one of the more ambitious #sourcetosea campaigns @riversforchange has been involved with over the last decade and we’re thrilled with how many people we were able to connect to, educate, and inspire to take action to protect and restore these incredible ecosystems.
These paddlers followed drops of water 💦 1000 miles from central Idaho down the Salmon, Snake, and Columbia rivers to gain support around breaching the 4 lower Snake River dams.
When adventure marries conservation it can have profound impacts.
Thank you to all of the incredible partner organizations, sponsors, and individuals who helped make this campaign possible! And to all those who wrote postcards, submitted comments, and wrote your legislators. Thank you 🙏
There are still actions to be taken so keep making your voice heard to revive a watershed, abide by treaty rights, and restore an endangered species 💪💫🙌
•••••
@idahoriversunited @nimiipuuprotectingenvironment @savewildsalmon @savethesouthfork @adventurescientists @great_old_broads @salmonorcaproject @americanrivers @americanwhitewater @backbonecampaign @freeriversfund @freeflowinstitute @snakeriversavers @idahoconservationleague @seatreksausalito @_idaho_adventures @riverradiuspodcast @nrsweb @patagonia @stellarkayaks @daggerkayaks @wernerpaddles @pit_viper @sourcetoseaproductions

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! After paddling 1,000 miles du

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! After paddling 1,000 miles during almost three months on the water, portaging eight dams, and seeing the river habitat change from wild and free to stagnant and dead, the @salmonsourcetosea crew is getting close to their final push to the ocean.
Please join us in Astoria, Oregon for a source to sea celebration and to toast this incredible journey. Hear the team explain firsthand about their trip, what they experienced and why breaching the Lower Snake River dams is the best option for salmon recovery we have left.
Thanks to @fortgeorgebeer for hosting us and @surfrider for the support. RSVP with the QR code or link and we hope to see you there!
Art by team paddler: @oceansandmountains
#idahoriversunited #salmonsourcetosea #riversforchange #astoria

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