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Activity Log

River Watchers Attend Green Job Fair

Activity Log

Westcave Award for Enduring Dedication

Austin Youth River Watch
P.O. Box 40351 Austin, TX 78704
Email: info@riverwatchers.org
Phone: (512) 708-9115

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Fall Programming Week 1 & 2!! New and returning r

Fall Programming Week 1 & 2!!

New and returning river watchers have spent the last two weeks getting to know one another through community-building activities and even went on Nature ID Hikes with their coordinators! Last week, one of our co-executive directors, Fidel, gave an awesome presentation explaining who we are and what we do. Fun fact: He was a river watcher when he was in high school! We are so excited for the rest of the school year. 💙

At AYRW, we're all about looking out for each othe

At AYRW, we're all about looking out for each other. Our commitment to our local community drives us to keep you informed about the quality of our local waterways, including updates about toxic algae. Swipe through to learn more! 🧪

Last month, AYRW had an alumni bash to celebrate o

Last month, AYRW had an alumni bash to celebrate our former students and catch up! It was SO fun, we forgot to take photos... but we didn't forget the wonderful memories we made while in the program!! We are so proud of our alumni and can't wait to see what amazing things they continue to accomplish. ❤️

A special thanks to @zilkerparkboats for supplying kayaks for our former riverwatchers!!!

Summer Programming Recap 2023! This summer was a

Summer Programming Recap 2023!

This summer was a blast with our riverwatchers. We adventured near and far. From the local parks in Austin to the Gulf Coast of Texas, riverwatchers did it all this summer!

They learned about water quality, all about watersheds, and angler education.

The Texas summer was brutal, but we got to cool down in some really fun places. A special thanks to all of the organizations, community, and amazing staff that made this summer possible. Swipe through the photos to see all the fun in the sun we had! ☀️

Riverwatchers visited the largest bat colony in th

Riverwatchers visited the largest bat colony in the world! Thank you to Erin Cord from @batconservationinternational for providing us with food, and thank you to the staff at Bracken Cave for sharing fun facts about the bats! Here are a few that they shared:

🦇The cave is home to 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats!!
🦇It is the largest bat colony in the world.
🦇The bats take about 3-4 hours to leave the cave!

Students saw the bat tornado, spotted a few albino bats, and also saw a few hawks hunt the bats.

Shop for a Cause! We're thrilled to team up with @

Shop for a Cause! We're thrilled to team up with @naturaltribute to bring you an amazing opportunity to support Austin Youth River Watch while getting your hands on some awesome merch!

Head over to the Natural Tribute website and check out their exclusive collection of AYRW-inspired merchandise.

👉 Shop AYRW Merch using the link in our bio

RECAP: Our Gulf Coast Trip was a success! From exp

RECAP: Our Gulf Coast Trip was a success! From exploring coastal habitats to engaging in hands-on activities like fishing and water quality testing, our students made new memories, new friends and had a blast along the way! Thank you to all who donated and made this transformative experience possible! 💙🌊🐠

FINAL DAY! Today is your last opportunity to contr

FINAL DAY! Today is your last opportunity to contribute to our Gulf Coast campaign! Your donation will directly impact the lives of our students and provide them with a transformative experience along the great Gulf Coast of Texas.

We also want to remind you that your donation today not only supports our Gulf Coast trip but also contributes to creating more equitable access to the outdoors for our students. For many of them, this journey will be their first time experiencing the ocean, walking along the shoreline, and witnessing the wonders of a whole new ecosystem. Your support provides them with an opportunity they would otherwise never have.

To make your final contribution and help us make a lasting impact, please visit our campaign page before the end of the day. Link in bio.

Final days to give! With only four days left to gi

Final days to give! With only four days left to give, we're currently at 25% of our target, and we need your support to reach our goal! Your support can make a huge difference in providing an unforgettable experience for our students. You can learn more about the trip and contribute to the campaign using the link in our bio.

Help us make a splash! We're excited to update you

Help us make a splash! We're excited to update you on our "Journey to the Gulf Coast" fundraiser. With just one week left, we're currently at 13% of our goal. We need your support to make this transformative experience a reality for the River Watchers.

The Gulf Coast trip is an incredible opportunity for our students to embark on a 4-day educational adventure to the great Gulf Coast of Texas. It's a culmination of their hard work and dedication throughout the year, where they will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for nature and the interconnectedness between rivers, watersheds, and the coastal ecosystem.

To make this transformative experience a reality, we need your help! Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us closer to empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Donate here using the link in our bio!

Every donation counts! Help us reach our fundraisi

Every donation counts! Help us reach our fundraising goal for the Gulf Coast trip and provide an unforgettable experience for our students. Your contribution, big or small, brings us closer to making this educational adventure a reality.

During this journey, our students will have the chance to explore the diverse coastal habitats, including beaches, wetlands, and estuaries. They will engage in hands-on activities such as shoreline cleanups, fishing, and water quality assessments, gaining firsthand knowledge of the challenges and solutions related to coastal conservation.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 to cover transportation, lodging, meals, activity fees and staff time. Donate today using the link in our bio.

Summer Program Week 2! Last week River Watchers we

Summer Program Week 2! Last week River Watchers went to McKinney Falls State Park. We learned about the aquatic food web and knot tying before heading down the Lower Falls to fish! We caught 20 fish total! Some of the species include largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, and longear sunfish.

For our adventure day this week, River Watchers met at Camacho activity center for a kayak and slackline adventure on Snake Island in Lady Bird Lake.

Our friends at @reliantenergy have some tips for

Our friends at @reliantenergy have some tips for what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint this summer and help our Texan environment: follow the 4-by-4 rule: if no one is going to be home for more than 4 hours, set the temperature 4 degrees higher while you’re gone. It will make a bigger impact than you think!

Want to make an even bigger impact? Sign up for the Reliant EcoShare (SM) program! In partnership with @earthsharetexas since 2011, you’ll be supporting more than 30 environmental organizations in Texas and offsetting your carbon emissions so Texas summers can stay as beautiful as ever. 😁

Support our "Journey to the Gulf Coast" campaign.

Support our "Journey to the Gulf Coast" campaign. This 4-day trip offers a unique opportunity for the River Watchers to embark on an educational and eye-opening adventure on the great Gulf Coast of Texas.

At AYRW, we believe in creating equitable access to the outdoors for all. For many of our students, this will be their first time visiting Matagorda Bay, seeing the beach, or witnessing the ocean. To make this trip possible, we have set a fundraising goal of $10,000. This will cover transportation, lodging, meals, activity fees, and staff time. Your contribution, whether it's $25 or more, brings us closer to providing this life-changing experience for our students.

To contribute to our campaign, please visit our website using the link in our bio.

Austin Youth River Watch has adopted an exciting n

Austin Youth River Watch has adopted an exciting new co-leadership structure that further embraces our commitment to be an innovative and equitable organization.

We are thrilled to announce that AYRW now has two executive directors: Melinda Chow, our longtime ED and now Co-ED; and Fidel Campuzano Gonzalez, our new Co-Executive Director.

Fidel and Melinda will work closely together as Co-EDs to expand the organization’s reach to serve even more of our community.

Fidel is an alumnus of our programs and a former board member. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep connection to AYRW and Austin. Fidel's enthusiasm includes his desire to further the mission of AYRW and to make a lasting impact on the lives of River Watchers. Learn more about Fidel and his inspiring journey, visit the link in our bio.

Summer Creek Clean-Up on Lady-Bird Lake! Thank you

Summer Creek Clean-Up on Lady-Bird Lake! Thank you to all our incredible volunteers who came out Friday morning to the clean up event. Together we were able to remove 250 lbs of trash from the lake. We love keeping our waterways clean and beautiful!

Austin Youth River Watch is thrilled to launch our

Austin Youth River Watch is thrilled to launch our "Journey to the Gulf Coast" campaign! This 4-day trip offers a new and exciting opportunity for our high school students, the River Watchers, to embark on an educational and eye-opening trip to the great Gulf Coast of Texas.

For many of our students, this will be their first time visiting Matagorda Bay - for some, their very first time seeing the ocean. It'll be their first time seeing where the Colorado River lets out, going saltwater fishing, and experiencing a whole new ecosystem. Help us create an unforgettable experience and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.

To learn more or contribute to our "Journey to the Gulf Coast" campaign, visit the link in our bio!

*Senior Highlight* This Crockett High School gradu

*Senior Highlight*
This Crockett High School graduate is now beginning her higher education studies in Engineering at Texas A&M! She got accepted to ALL the universities she applied to (a total of 16!) and she received the TAME Scholarship for the 2023-24 school year!

Congratulations graduate and environmental steward! We are incredibly proud of your achievements!

*Senior Highlight* This Crockett High School grad

*Senior Highlight*

This Crockett High School graduate has been with
River Watch for the past 2 years, completing a total of
20 hours in AYRW programming. She is now beginning
her higher education studies!

The most important thing that he learned while at River
Watch was gaining an overall understanding of our
environment. She also mentioned that her favorite
memory included participating in the summer camping
trip at Black Rock Park.

Congratulations graduate and environmental steward!
We are incredibly proud of your achievements!

*Senior Highlight* This Johnson High School gradu

*Senior Highlight*

This Johnson High School graduate has been with River Watch for the past 4 years, completing a total of 73 hours in AYRW programming. She is now pursuing her higher education studies on Criminal Justice or Marketing at Texas State University!

The most important thing that she learned while at River Watch was "that there’s little things that we can do to make our environment better, smallest changes matter a lot."

Congratulations graduate and environmental steward! We are incredibly proud of your achievements!

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© 2023 Austin Youth River Watch.

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