Founded in 1954, American Whitewater is a national organization with a mission "to conserve and restore America's whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely." American Whitewater is a membership organization representing a broad diversity of individual whitewater enthusiasts, river conservationists, and more than 100 local paddling club affiliates across America. The organization is the primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater resources throughout the United States, and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve the goals within its mission. American Whitewater's strong conservation and access program was recently refocused and transformed into River Stewardship, an integrated approach to the mission work of the organization. Stewardship includes an educational approach and tools for turning recreational users into conservation advocates.

First Descents was founded in 2001 by professional kayaker Brad Ludden to promote emotional, psychological and physical healing for young adults with cancer through kayaking, whitewater rafting, and other outdoor adventure sports.

First Descents bridges the gap between treatment and recovery for young adult cancer survivors. At the end of the week, participants will return home with a renewed sense of confidence, community and belief that cancer doesn’t limit what one can achieve.

Friends of the River (FOR), California’s statewide river conservation group, works to preserve and restore California's rivers, streams, and their watersheds, and advocates for sustainable water management. We provide public education, citizen activist training and organizing, and expert advocacy to influence policy decisions on land, water, and energy management issues. We have been leaders in the fight to remove the Klamath River dams, to prevent the building of an Auburn dam, and to establish Wild & Scenic rivers throughout the state. FOR also works with utilities to improve the operation of their hydropower systems rivers through California. Our volunteers educate Californians about river issues both on river trips and at events throughout the year.

Girls at Play is committed to increasing the number of female participants and enthusiasts in paddle sports by making paddling accessible, fun and inspiring. Through paddling, yoga and experiences abroad, Girls at Play believes that women can build invaluable confidence and self-respect that will stay with them to make good decisions for their personal well-being. We love to get out on the river and have fun!

American Rivers, the nation’s leading river advocacy organization, is promoting National River Cleanup Week® to raise the public's awareness of the magnitude of trash accumulating in our nation’s waterways. Since 1992, more than half-a-million volunteers have participated in about 4,500 cleanups across the country, removing more than 1,000 tons of litter from 100,000 miles of waterways. This year, from coast to coast, people can pitch in by cleaning up their favorite rivers, streams, lakes, creeks or bays beginning the week of June 2-10, 2007. (Any cleanups registered online by April 15 still count as part of this event – with free trash bags available from American Rivers.) Students are eligible to enter an essay contest that stirs awareness about the root cause of waterway trash and pollution. In addition, organizers are eligible to win prizes – such as canoes, kayaks and paddling gear – in photo, video and publicity contests. Organizing a cleanup – or simply volunteering for one – is fun and easy!

Founded in 2000, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) has established a 740-mile recreational paddling trail for kayaks and canoes, linking the watersheds of northern New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine. Flowing with the stories of Native Americans, European settlers, and the development of towns and the timber industry, the Trail's rich heritage offers paddlers a living reminder of a time when rivers were both highways and routes of communication. The NFCT represents a series of interconnected destinations, extending through a diversity of waterways, landscapes and communities within the Northern Forest and highlighting local resources. The longest inland water trail in the Northeastern United States, the NFCT is managed and maintained by community-based stewardship organizations.

Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition is the only organization working to achieve equality for, and provide power, influence and opportunity to women in the outdoor industries to increase their influence and visibility. OIWC accomplishes its goals by: · Stimulating professional development: Educational seminars and panels held at trade shows and, in the future, at regional events and in outdoor industry companies, provide valuable career and management training. · Providing networking opportunities: Gatherings, luncheons, and other trade show and regional events attract standing-room only crowds and stimulate personal interaction and professional growth. · Providing resources to its members: The members-only section of www.oiwc.org and the ProLink newsletter offer a wealth of resources ranging from basic professional skills to balancing work and family. · Honoring and mentoring women: The Pioneering Woman and First Ascent Awards honor and recognize female mentors and young leaders in the outdoor industries. OIWC scholarships and mentoring programs enable young women new to the industry to develop their skills.

The Student Expedition Program (STEP) is a leadership program for low-income, college-bound high-school students. STEP's goal is to support, motivate, and prepare talented, low-income youth for the challenges that lie ahead in college and life. At the core of STEP's program is a 3-week sea kayaking leadership expedition in Alaska with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). By confronting and overcoming the challenges faced on expedition, students gain self-confidence, self-esteem, a sense of purpose, and an understanding that they have what it takes to succeed.

Team River Runner (TRR), established in August 2004 by kayakers in the Washington DC area, is an all-volunteer organization run by local kayakers and overseen by a board of directors and military medical staff. Working in partnership with The Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA, TRR helps veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) find health, healing, and new challenges through whitewater boating on the Potomac River. While the focus of TRR’s work is on military personnel recuperating at WRAMC, TRR also provides whitewater boating opportunities for family members as well as for other wounded veterans nationwide.