WildLink alumni from Madera and Kingsburg High Schools went the extra mile for their Wilderness Ambassador Project in November 2006. In an effort to link their expedition experience to their home communities, they spent a Saturday doing their part to restore the watershed of the San Joaquin River in Fresno.

They volunteered their time to WildLink partner the San Joaquin River Parkway. Their River Steward Program includes volunteers who are instrumental in maintaining the San Joaquin River Parkway. River Stewards are the driving force of the River Parkway Trust’s Land Stewardship programs, which include habitat restoration, removal of invasive exotic plants, trail maintenance, and river cleanup events. In return for their time, these River Stewards get a number of rewards. These include spending time at the river, and having an opportunity to learn more about this wonderful resource. A tremendous amount of satisfaction can be gained by helping to protect and restore the San Joaquin River.

In recognition of the valuable service volunteers provide to the community, River Stewards are invited on an exclusive, guided canoe tour of the San Joaquin River each year, and will also be eligible to go along on canoe tours that are not fully booked.

WildLink would like to salute the efforts of these very special alumni, and recognize their willingness to really get involved in their Wilderness Ambassador Project.

If you would like to get involved as a River Steward, training is provided for each project. The Workdays are typically the first Saturday of the month and last from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Volunteers meet either at the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies or various other locations on the river.

For more information, please visit the San Joaquin River Parkway website.

Click here to view the Kingsburg and Madera High WildLink expedition pages.