Programs
Inspiring Conservation in Unconventional Ways
FIRST WAVES
Founded in 2014, First Waves is a first-of-its-kind program focusing on standup paddleboarding, river surfing, and the art of filmmaking as a catalyst to inspire conservation of local waterways and mentorship for at-risk youth. First Waves reimagines education, mentorship, and watershed conservation through dynamic, connected-learning experiences for youth facing hardship in their lives. Through proven workshops with a strong network of partners and volunteers, youth participants learn to become proficient paddlers, use their acquired skills to conduct conservation projects on local watersheds, and create documentary films to inspire others. The projects are provided at no cost for youth or their families.
Aqua lab ADventures
Founded in 2024, Aqua Lab Adventures integrates environmental education and paddleboarding to engage youth from Environmental Justice classrooms in learning about microplastic pollution in their local waterways. Aqua Lab Adventures uses a combination of in-classroom programs and field trips to make the programming exciting and relevant to the students’ homes in western Pennsylvania. Students will apply what they learned in-classroom by using paddleboard trawls to collect and then analyze microplastics during micro-expeditions on local waterways. With Aqua Lab Adventures, students will come away with knowing how to safely recreate on rivers, how to ask scientific questions about their environment, and about the causes and effects of microplastic pollution and other conservation and science topics.
Current Projects
First Waves Pittsburgh
First Waves Pittsburgh provides youth facing adversity with an immersive education in watershed science, the art of filmmaking and paddleboarding. The students learn to recreate safely in Pennsylvania waterways and become conservationists by planting trees and performing water samplings. Lastly, a hands-on education in filmmaking and digital media provides an outlet for self-expression, and empowers them to inspire positive change within their community.
First Waves Johnstown
First Waves Johnstown is dedicated to empowering underserved youth with skills and opportunities to improve their lives and create lasting impacts on watersheds in the Greater Johnstown Region. The program achieves these goals through educational workshops that create a basis for healthy and active lifestyles, watershed conservation, education in the art of filmmaking, and diversity in outdoors recreation.
First Waves Alleghenies
First Waves Alleghenies is dedicated to inspiring youth throughout the Alleghenies Region of Pennsylvania to make positive health and life choices. The project is a collaborative initiative with the Watersmith Guild, Cambria County Drug Coalition and Somerset County Drug-Free Communities. Through these partnerships, youth undergo a variety of workshops and programming including river surfing, the art of filmmaking, and exercises to cope with anxiety and avoid alcohol and substances.
First Waves Indiana
First Waves Indiana engages underserved youth of Indiana County in meaningful outdoor experiences including tree planting, water sampling, stream biology, whitewater paddleboarding, fly fishing, and the art of filmmaking. The program is a coalition with Indiana County Conservation District, SurfSUP Adventures, Trout Unlimited, and Malhari Media.
First Waves Erie
First Waves Erie is dedicated to empowering underserved youth with skills and opportunities to improve their lives and create lasting impacts on watersheds in the Greater Erie Region. The program achieves these goals through educational workshops that create a basis for healthy and active lifestyles, watershed conservation, education in the art of filmmaking, and diversity in outdoors recreation.
First Waves Beaver County
First Waves Beaver County is dedicated to empowering underserved youth with skills and opportunities to improve their lives and create lasting impacts on watersheds in the Beaver County and Ohio River Basin. The program achieves these goals through educational workshops that create a basis for healthy and active lifestyles, watershed conservation, education in the art of filmmaking, and diversity in outdoors recreation.
aqua Lab Hazelwood
Aqua Lab Hazelwood will engage students from Propel Hazelwood in science and conservation through in-class and field experiences that include scientific inquiry, documentation, and recreation. The project is a collaboration between the Watersmith Guild, Propel Schools, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and Tree Pittsburgh
Aqua Lab Braddock Hills
Aqua Lab Braddock Hills will engage students from Propel Braddock Hills in science and conservation through in-class and field experiences that include scientific inquiry, documentation, and recreation. The project is a collaboration between the Watersmith Guild, Propel Schools, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and Tree Pittsburgh
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