Join author Tyler Childress for an evening of stories, rivers, and history as he signs copies of his newly published biography/memoir, Bail! Bail! Bryce Whitmore and the Birth of Whitewater Rafting. This compelling new book captures the extraordinary life of Bryce Whitmore, the pioneering founder of California’s first rafting company and inventor of the first self-bailing raft, fiberglass river kayak, and self-aligning oar clips. 

We did it—a dangerous attempt to fast-track the Delta Tunnel and gut environmental protections has been stopped… for now. Your calls and advocacy made a real difference—and lawmakers heard you.

In April of this year, more than 30 people gathered for 9 days on the banks of the South Fork American River for FOR’s 2025 Guide Activist Training—a program designed not just to teach river skills, but to build a powerful, connected community of river advocates…

On May 3rd, more than 50 years after its founding, Friends of the River returned to the Stanislaus to help community groups highlight current restoration work on the Lower Stanislaus and build support for expanding efforts to improve fish habitat and overall river health. 

I am thrilled to join the hardworking team at Friends of the River as the new Engagement Manager. My passion for rivers and river communities has driven me to this role, and I am excited to contribute to our mission of protecting and restoring California’s rivers. Read on to learn more about me…