Grateful for volunteers and our future generation of river advocates

Idaho Rivers United teamed up with BSU Environmental Studies students to create river education projects that engaged over 330 students in the Treasure Valley.

IRU had the privilege of working with eight BSU college students to extend specific communications, policy and education projects. The education program paired up with Boys and Girls Club in both the Meridian and Garden City locations.  

Student of all ages learned about a variety of topics. Topics ranged from bio-magnification (a concentration of toxins as it moves through the food chain), river health, salmon life cycles and river clean up activities. Additionally, IRU education projects have extended to other programs over the past year. 

Schools involved included Hill Side Junior High, Anser Charter School and River Stone. During Earth Month our business partner Rain Salon paired up with Lake Hazel Elementary School for a clean-water art project and art show, that raised money for Idaho’s rivers. All together these classes engaged over 330 students.

This year’s education programs have grown and there is push to continue to strive and reach more students throughout Idaho for 2019.

The work IRU does to protect and defend Idaho’s rivers is bigger than any one organization.  For this reason, IRU needs an extensive network of citizens, businesses, members and partners to lend a hand.

Partners and volunteers offer IRU new perspective and expertise plus helping hands. Over the past year IRU has appreciated the help of over thirty volunteers, some who are either consistently helping IRU with in-office work or others who have helped for a specific event or project.  A welcomed new partnership with Idaho State University’s Honor’s Society was for formed for the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Pocatello.  Fifteen students joined in to help with day of logistics of the film festival at the University screening. Boise State’s Beta Alpha Psi’s Accounting Fraternity also joined IRU for a successful annual auction.

A collaborative river clean up gained a larger number of volunteers in April, where over 170 local citizens joined IRU, Chums, Proof Eyewear, and Boise Coop to clean up areas of the Boise River.  Again in October, Philadelphia based company United By Blue partnered with IRU for another one-hundred plus volunteer day that helped IRU keep our local rivers clean and healthy this year.

Thank you! Whether it be for education or clean-up projects or other river initiatives, IRU needs the community assistance and is grateful for all the support from volunteers and partners lending a hand. As needs come up we hope you will consider joining us for project or event.  The success seen is due to our amazing volunteers by our side.  To join in as a volunteer, please email: danielle@idahorivers.org .

IRU’s education and volunteer achievements have been driven by IRU’s new intern Danielle Warnke, who has dedicated her time and energy into building successful programs that mutually benefit IRU and the volunteers.