Parks For All Product Donation Application: River Jim Learning Solutions

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Organization Information

Organization Name: River Jim Learning Solutions
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Contact Person: 
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Mission Statement: "To improve students' academic and life trajectories through outdoor experiences."

 

Organization Overview

 

River Jim Learning Solutions has over 12 years of experience providing transformative outdoor experiences to underserved youth in Glenn and Butte counties of Northern California. Founded by Bill Shively, a former school teacher with over three decades of experience before his retirement this year, our organization has connected more than 1,500 students with nature through expertly guided canoe and camping trips on Northern California's waterways.

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Our board consists of former teachers, river enthusiasts, and even past program participants who now help guide a new generation.

 

Personnel

 

Executive Director Bill Shively founded River Jim Learning Solutions in 2006, drawing on his 33+ years of teaching experience and lifelong passion for paddling. An Eagle Scout Master and canoe instructor who has owned over 20 canoes and paddled hundreds of miles, Bill's Master's project titled "The Kid in the Canoe: Finding Attachment in a Test Taking World" reflects his belief that outdoor experiences can transform students' life trajectories.

 

Lisa Williams, our secretary, is a certified lifeguard and wilderness first responder who has been with River Jim for almost 10 years. She fills the essential safety role on our trips, ensuring each expedition meets our safety standards while optimizing staffing resources.

 

Our board consists of experienced educators and outdoor enthusiasts who share our passion for connecting youth with nature. These individuals bring decades of combined teaching experience, outdoor education expertise, and paddling instruction to guide our organization's mission.

 

Program Description

 

For children, experiences in nature have been shown to improve language and communication skills as well as reduce stress, improve attention, and lead to better academic outcomes. (1,2)  Unfortunately, according to a study by the American Center for Progress, 70% of low-income families in America live in nature-deprived areas compared to 48% of moderate-income families and 52% of high-income families. The same study found that communities of color are three times more likely than white communities to live in these areas. The report defines "nature-deprived" as having "a higher proportion of natural area lost to human activity," including urbanization and construction of infrastructure. (3) 

 

The canoe trips provided by River Jim give children from these communities a chance to grow, play, learn, and engage with nature in ways they otherwise couldn't. Their families often lack the financial resources to reach California’s lakes and rivers due to the cost of transportation. Research shows these kinds of experiences may help children become more confident and better stewards of nature in ways that will serve them their whole lives.

 

"I believe that I'm a better student when I went to River Jim trip because I got to know teachers better and be more socialize (sic) to students and teachers," one participant wrote, highlighting the social and educational benefits beyond just the outdoor experience.

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We serve a diverse population that represents the demographics of Glenn County, which is majority Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The Willows Unified School District has 85% Free and Reduced Lunch eligibility, with an ethnic population of over 63% BIPOC (54% Latinx, 4% Asian, 3% AIAN, 2% Black and other).

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Our programs include:

1. One-day canoe trips: Groups of up to 40 sixth graders and 4 teachers/staff experience exciting day trips on Stony Gorge Reservoir or Thermalito South Forebay, learning about California's watersheds while paddling, swimming, and playing outdoors.
    

2. Three-day canoe/camping trips: Smaller groups of 10-16 students and 2-4 teachers/staff participate in extended experiences at locations like Butt Valley Reservoir or Englebright Lake, building deeper connections to nature and each other. There they will have the opportunity to cook, hike, swim, and share s’mores with each other and River Jim guides. These trips challenge students to face a new environment and interact with each other in ways they may never have done before, building confidence and friendships that could last a lifetime.
    

All necessary equipment (life vests, canoes, paddles, tents, cooking supplies) and food are provided to ensure equitable access regardless of family resources.

 

Alignment with Hydro Flask's Parks For All Mission

 

River Jim Learning Solutions directly aligns with Hydro Flask's Parks For All mission by:

1. Providing equitable access to parks and recreational waterways: We specifically target underserved communities with limited nature access, with a goal of recruiting 60% of our participants from BIPOC communities.
    

2. Building education around parks and recreational public lands: Our Mountain to Sea project, initiated with California Coastal Commission funding, teaches participants about hydrology, ecological connectivity, water quality, flood management, and climate change impacts.
    

3. Promoting active, healthy lifestyles in natural settings: Our programs engage children in paddling, swimming, hiking, and exploring the outdoors in ways that build lifelong connections to active living.
    

4. Supporting inclusivity: By removing barriers to participation through providing transportation, equipment, and instruction, we create inclusive opportunities for all children to experience California's natural waterways.
    

Specific Request

 

We respectfully request 168 Hydro Flask water bottles to support our 2026 program season. Based on our program schedule for the year, the bottles will be distributed as follows:

• 150 bottles for student participants: This covers our projected enrollment of approximately 150 students across all programs.

• 10 bottles for teachers and school staff: These will be given to the educators who accompany students and help extend the learning experience back into the classroom.

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This quantity (168 bottles) falls within your guidelines as quantities must be in multiples of 24. This aligns perfectly with our anticipated participant numbers for 2026 while allowing us to maintain a small inventory for replacement if needed.

 

Implementation Plan

 

The Hydro Flask bottles will be integrated into our program in several ways:

1. Participant hydration and safety: Each participant will receive a Hydro Flask at the beginning of their trip and be encouraged to keep it filled throughout their experience. Proper hydration is a critical safety requirement for outdoor activities, especially during summer months when many of our programs take place. Having quality water bottles that keep water cool encourages better hydration practices among participants.
    

2. Educational tool: The bottles will serve as educational tools to promote discussions about the environmental impacts of single-use plastics, particularly their role in polluting waterways. Single-use plastics are a major source of marine debris, with an estimated 8 million metric tons entering the oceans each year.⁴ By providing reusable alternatives, we aim to encourage sustainable habits and greater stewardship of aquatic ecosystems.⁵
    

3. Lasting memento and behavior reinforcement: Participants will keep their bottles after the program, providing a lasting reminder of their experience and encouraging continued outdoor activity and environmental stewardship. Each time they use the bottle in their daily lives, they'll be reminded of their connection to California's waterways and the lessons learned during their River Jim experience.
    

4. Sustainability initiative: The bottles will eliminate our need for disposable water bottles on trips, reducing our environmental footprint and modeling responsible practices.
    

Expected Impact

 

With Hydro Flask's support, we anticipate the following impacts:

1. Enhanced participation: We plan to serve approximately 150 children in 2026 through at least four one-day trips and two three-day trips.
    

2. Environmental education: Each participant will learn about watershed protection and the importance of reducing plastic waste in our waterways.
    

3. Behavioral change: Surveys conducted before and after the program will measure participants' attitudes toward nature and conservation practices. Our goal is for more than half of participants to express a more positive relationship with nature after their experience.
    

4. Reduced environmental footprint: The donation will eliminate more than 200 single-use plastic bottles across all our 2026 trips, many of which could potentially end up in the very waterways we're trying to protect and appreciate.
    

5. Elevated Experience and Connection: The professional-quality Hydro Flask bottles will enhance our participants’ experience while serving as lasting reminders of their time on the water. This helps reinforce both the emotional connection to nature and the value we place on providing high-quality opportunities for underserved youth.
    

Demonstrated Resource Efficiency

 

River Jim Learning Solutions has demonstrated exceptional efficiency in resource use through:

1. Strategic Community Partnerships: We have maintained sustainable program funding through partnerships with a variety of organizations that have supported us over the years, including Willows Unified School District, Rotary, Soroptimist, North Valley Community Foundation, Army Corps of Engineers, Glenn County Fish, Game and Recreation Commission, and various corporate sponsors. These relationships help us access waterways, recruit participants, secure funding, and maximize community involvement.
    

2. Maximizing Staff Expertise: Our team includes staff with extensive professional river guiding experience who apply their specialized knowledge to our programs. This professional-level instruction ensures high-quality programming delivered efficiently.
    

3. Operational Support: While our trip staff are paid professionals ensuring consistent quality experiences, our organizational operations benefit from dedicated board members who volunteer their time for planning, outreach, and administrative support.
    

Conclusion

 

River Jim Learning Solutions embodies the spirit of Parks For All by connecting underserved youth with transformative experiences in California's natural waterways. As Richard Louv notes in Last Child in the Woods, "Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart." Our programs create these passion-igniting moments for children who might otherwise never experience them.

 

The requested Hydro Flask donation would significantly enhance our ability to deliver these experiences while simultaneously teaching practical lessons about conservation and sustainability. We deeply appreciate your consideration of our request and welcome any questions you may have.

Contact for Follow-up:
 

1. Strife S, Downey L. Childhood Development and Access to Nature: A New Direction for Environmental Inequality Research. Organ Environ. 2009 Mar;22(1):99-122. doi: 10.1177/1086026609333340. PMID: 21874103; PMCID: PMC3162362.

2. Scott S, Gray T, Charlton J, Millard S. The Impact of Time Spent in Natural Outdoor Spaces on Children's Language, Communication and Social Skills: A Systematic Review Protocol. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 23;19(19):12038. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912038. PMID: 36231338; PMCID: PMC9566327.

3. Rowland-Shea J, Doshi S, Edberg S, Fanger R. The Nature Gap: Confronting Racial and Economic Disparities in the Destruction and Protection of Nature in America. Center for American Progress. Published July 21, 2020.

4. Jenna R. Jambeck et al., "Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into the Ocean," Science 347, no. 6223 (2015): 768–771, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1260352.

5. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), "Marine Debris Program: Plastic Pollution," last modified 2024, https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/.