Smart Water Magazine recently featured Wilderness Inquiryโs Canoemobile program and our partnership with KISTERS in a story highlighting how youth and families are becoming โFuture Guardiansโ of their local waterways.
At the Cosumnes River Preserve outside Sacramento, Canoemobile transformed the river into a floating classroom. Students paddled the Cosumnes, learned to identify bird species with U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologists, explored biodiversity through waterfowl decoys, and got their hands dirty planting native purple needlegrass to support habitat restoration.
For many 6th and 7th graders from Galt Joint Union and Marcum-Illinois Union school districts, it was their first time in a canoeโand a powerful boost in confidence and connection to the river. As one assistant principal shared, this day has become โan annual favorite for our school community โ not just with the students, but for parents as well,โ and remains a highlight.
KISTERSโ Future Guardians sponsorship made it possible to keep this beloved Canoemobile tradition alive in 2026 and extend access to even more communities. Together, we also hosted a dedicated paddle for adults served by Sacramento Countyโs Therapeutic Recreational Services, making sure people of all abilities could experience time on the water.
As Becca Emery, Marketing Manager for KISTERS North America, shared in the article:
โA brief paddle can spark a passion which can become a career. Water touches everyone and Canoemobile teaches that everyone has a part in water management and sustainability.โ
This feature underscores what we believe at Wilderness Inquiry: Everybody belongs in the outdoors.ย When young people (and adults) get on the water, they donโt just learn about ecosystemsโthey start to see themselves as caretakers of the places they call home.
Read the full feature in Smart Water Magazine
Want to help more students become Future Guardians of their local waterways? Support our work.
Interested in bringing Canoemobile to your community or school district? Learn about Canoemobile.
Photos: Melany Luce
