The Watersmith Journal
10-Years of First Waves
This video celebrates the 10th anniversary of the First Waves Program! Over the past decade, we've empowered countless youth through river surfing, environmental education, and community engagement. This milestone wouldn't have been possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers, the generous support of our sponsors, the collaboration with our partners, and the enthusiastic participation of our amazing students. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey. Here's to many more years of making waves together!
In Our Own Backyard - A First Waves Film
The First Waves Team was back in Johnstown with a whole new cast of youth participating in the project for the first time. In total, more than 20 students from the Greater Johnstown Schools took part with activities ranging from river surfing, the art of filmmaking, and watershed conservation sciences. The students also completed a riparian improvement along a Class-A Wild Trout Stream as part of the project.
First Waves Expansion and a New Home!
Since 2014, First Waves has empowered underserved youth with education, adventure, and mentorship that promotes watershed conservation and recreation. We are excited to announce that in 2022, First Waves will be expanding to regional programming that encompasses 4 projects across Pennsylvania. The projects will include the Greater Pittsburgh Region, Greater Johnstown Region, Indiana County, and Cambria County. The expansion will allow the initiatives to reach a greater number of youth in both urban and rural areas where access and educational opportunities are limited.
Furthermore, First Wave’s success and growth has always been facilitated through collaborations with other non-profit organizations such as the Benscreek Canoe Club, Tree Pittsburgh, and many others. Now, along with the program’s expansion to regional impacts, First Waves will become the flagship program of a new non-profit, The Watersmith Guild. Officially founded on Earth Day in 2021, the Watersmith Guild’s mission is to inspire watershed conservation and improve lives through arts and adventure programming.
Earth Day Video Premiere!
Let’s celebrate Earth Day with a surprise premiere of the First Waves Johnstown Project film from the Summer of 2020! Special thanks to the volunteers, mentors, and supporters that made this project possible. Enjoy the show!
Adaptation - A Recap of First Waves 2020
The endeavor of running rivers, especially ones strewn with whitewater, is a practice in adaptation. The best looking lines don’t always work out, and plan B or C are often called on for relief. Something as small as a light bump with an unseen rock can alter a smooth descent into a sideways and backwards gauntlet like ballet in combat boots. While style and grace are admired, the important thing is getting to the bottom in one piece. In the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, education and youth experiences edged beyond a light bump with a stone. In many cases, it was as if the entire river disappeared beneath them. For the First Waves program to continue working with youth in the Johnstown area, the mindset of adaptability needed to be fully embraced.
Contours - Official Film Premiere
Contours is the latest film project by First Waves, a program that inspires conservation through the art of filmmaking and the pursuit of river surfing and paddleboarding.
The Current to Conserve - Official Film Release
The Current to Conserve is a paddleboarding and watershed conservation film by the students of First Waves! Additional support from the Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
ADVENTURE FILMMAKING
At first glance, a group of teens yielding camera equipment and various electronics around water seems like a bad idea. Now, incorporate the instability of standup paddleboards, whitewater rapids, and the goal of scooping up every piece of trash we float by! “A recipe for catastrophe,” some will crow. At First Waves, our eyes bulge and mouths water at this morsel of contrast, challenge, and adventure.