The Watersmith Journal

Watch Watersmith Guild on Start Up Television Show!
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Watch Watersmith Guild on Start Up Television Show!

Learn about how the Watersmith Guild and First Waves came to be on the Start Up Television hosted by Gary Bredow! The show provides an in-depth look at the fascination of standup paddleboarding and how Ian Smith uses the pursuit as a catalyst to inspire conservation of waterways and mentorship for underserved youth.

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Earth Day Video Premiere!
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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!

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Breaking Waves at Mount Ararat
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Breaking Waves at Mount Ararat

Nestled in the urban sprawl of Pittsburgh’s East End, The Mount Ararat Community Activity Center provides innovative programs and experiential learning to the area’s families and youth.  Earlier this summer, the Center debuted a new program for a select group of students, part of which involved teaching them to surf in whitewater rivers.  While surfing might be the last thing many think of in this landlocked region of Pittsburgh, that is exactly what Mentorship Director, Dr. Charles Howell, has brought to the Center through partnership with a local organization called, First Waves. 

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FIRST WAVES FEATURED ON "PROUD PITTSBURGH"
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FIRST WAVES FEATURED ON "PROUD PITTSBURGH"

WPXI’s, "Proud to be from Pittsburgh," is a program designed to highlight people who are doing good in our communities.”  SurfSUP Adventures and First Waves founder, Ian Smith, worked with Channel-11 News Anchor, Peggy Finnegan, to document a First Waves event on the Pittsburgh Riverfront for the segment earlier this year.

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FIRST WAVES PITTSBURGH
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FIRST WAVES PITTSBURGH

Cheryl Jones has a way of getting straight to the point when it comes to the impact of programs on the youth of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.  She describes things like overcoming challenges, working with peers, and being active outdoors, but this statement was one that tickled the tummy and fogged the windows.  So simple.  So delightful.  “This group of kids will NEVER litter.”

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