June 21 – July 3, 2026
With Ríos to Rivers, Paah Amah, and World Class Academy

About the Program
A two‑week Indigenous youth leadership and river education program. Participants travel, paddle, learn river science, and connect with youth from other river‑based nations.

The Ríos to Rivers Paddle Tribal Waters course is based out of Otter Bar Kayak School on Karuk lands near Forks of Salmon, CA, where you will be camping and setting up “basecamp” for daily kayak, advocacy, and leadership lessons. For whitewater kayaking, you will start by building skills and playing games in flat water, and then move to class 2 & 3 river sections on the Klamath, ending with a 3-day raft support camping trip!

Paddle Tribal Waters is a program of Ríos to Rivers. Ríos to Rivers’ mission is to inspire the protection of rivers worldwide by investing in underserved and Indigenous youth who are intimately connected to their local waters and supporting them in their development as the next generation of environmental stewards. This is a cost-free program.

Who It’s For
Selected Indigenous youth ages 14–18.

What to Expect

• Whitewater skills progression

• Cultural exchange

• Environmental education

• Leadership development

Registration
Applications due February 18 2026. Inquire at: ptw@riostorivers.org