Paddle Tribal Waters is a whitewater kayaking and Native and environmental leadership advocacy training program that provides a multi-year progression of course opportunities to build youth leadership and competency in kayaking and advocacy. This program built capacity for Native youth to lead the first source to sea kayak expedition of the Undammed Klamath River in Summer 2025. The First Descent is just the beginning. Paddle Tribal Waters programming is an exciting and impactful opportunity for youth to reconnect with their homewaters, build capacity for community-based paddle clubs, and grow cultural and river revitalization and connection.

You do NOT need any previous kayaking experience. We do encourage students to have some experience swimming, but knowing how to swim is not required and support to increase swimming knowledge and technique will be provided as necessary. 

A day at Paddle Tribal Waters starts around 7:30 am with a group breakfast. After breakfast, the group makes bagged lunches, loads up their kayak gear, and hits the river! The group engages in kayak instruction sessions either on the ponds at Otter Bar or on various sections of the Klamath and Salmon Rivers until about 4:30 pm. Upon return, students engage in an interactive Klamath River Basin leadership, environment, and advocacy curriculum, specifically developed and led by our Native-led PTW education team. Some evenings, the lessons host a series of guest speakers. In the evening, the group has dinner and joins for a reflection on the day. After dinner, the group spends the rest of the day playing games, socializing, or taking personal time to rest for the day ahead. Quiet time starts at 9:30 pm, and it’s lights out at 10 pm in order to sleep and have a good start the next morning.

The curriculum at Paddle Tribal Waters is broken up into two main areas of study: whitewater kayaking and leadership.

On the river, professional kayak instructors teach the basics of whitewater kayaking. Students will gain proficiency in foundational paddle strokes, river running techniques, and kayak rolling. They develop the confidence to successfully and safely paddle class II-III rapids on the Klamath River.

The students also take part in leadership classes each day, where they learn about river stewardship and local Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The course also included community days where students learn from local tribal members, and learn more about the recent Klamath Undamming.

At Paddle Tribal Waters, we cultivate an environment of connecting with nature and the people around us. To support this, we ask that students either leave their phones at home or check them in with staff at the end of our optional phone time, which is offered one time mid-course at Otter Bar. There is no cell service at Otter Bar, but wifi is available. For the multi-day river trip, there is no cell service and students are asked not to bring their phones. Students are often surprised by how much they enjoy being “unplugged” and connecting. Parents / guardians will receive an email update during the course with photos of their student, and are provided with an emergency contact number in the case of emergency.

Ríos to Rivers provides a contact that you can reach out to at any time with questions or emergencies and that contact can be in touch with staff and the base contact. 

Youths age 13 - 18 are eligible to participate in the program. Priority will be given to students with close ties to the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Klamath-Modoc-Yahooskin Tribes, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Shasta Tribe, Quartz Valley Tribe, and Yurok Tribe. You do not need to live in the Klamath Basin to be eligible; please contact us with any questions regarding this.

This program is free. Thanks to the support of foundations, companies, and individuals, all expenses, including lodging, food, kayak equipment, and program transportation, are covered.