October 27, 2008 (Pineville, NC) –  The REI Foundation has awarded a $5,000 one year grant to the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation (CRF) to launch a new youth program on Lake Wylie.    The Youth Kayaking River Expedition (YKRE) program, which will be launched in the spring of 2009, will bring a message of water conservation and natural protection to the youth of North and South Carolina.

The YKRE program will provide a hands-on opportunity for students to see how their drinking water at home is directly related to the water in the Catawba River system.  “This is especially critical when so many of these young people think the source of their drinking water is the faucet in their kitchen,” said Catawba Riverkeeper David Merryman. “This belief is largely because they are not connected to the natural environment in any way.”  The YKRE aims to cross this barrier.

“We were thrilled to have been nominated by the REI Pineville store to apply for grant funding through the REI Foundation,” said CRF Director of Development Rebecca Klein.  “I can’t stress enough the importance of community partnerships in promoting the mission of our organization.  REI has been an incredible supporter of CRF over the past year and we look forward to many more opportunities to partner with them for events and other activities along the river basin.”

At the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, we believe that nature is our most precious resource and our most exciting classroom.  Encouraging young people to explore and enjoy the beauty, wonder and power of their natural surroundings can inspire a better appreciation for the vital role our environment plays in the future health of our planet and all of its inhabitants.  Our environment is their inheritance, and young people have proven that they can be powerful forces of change in ensuring its preservation.

REI is helping this mission by building a lasting legacy of trails, rivers, and wild lands for generations to come – supporting programs to help people of all ages and experiences participate.  Sally Jewell, REI’s president and CEO stated, “REI recognizes that today’s youth will be tomorrow’s stewards of the environment.  REI is committed to providing opportunities for young people to experience the joys of outdoor recreation and learn how to care for open spaces and our shared public lands.”

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation has been the premier advocate for the Catawba River in both North and South Carolina for over 10 years.  Its mission is to advocate and secure protection and enhancement of the Catawba River, its lakes, tributaries, and watersheds so that it will always sustain the human and wildlife populations that depend on it for life.  For more information on the Youth Kayaking River Expedition program, please contact Catawba Riverkeeper David Merryman at david @catawbariverkeeper.org.  For information on how to donate your time or money towards this program, please contact Rebecca Klein, Director of Development, at becca@catawbariverkeeper.org. 

To join REI in their efforts to protect and restore our communities recreation areas and enhance access to outdoor recreation activities, go to your local REI store and check out the Outdoor Resource Center for local volunteer opportunities.