Scott started river guiding during the summer of 2003 when he was on summer break from San Francisco State University where he was studying English and Biology. He spends the spring, summer, and fall guiding for Mother Lode River Trips and leading environmental education programs. During the winter, he does stream restoration work, planting trees and getting rid of non-native invasive species.
 

Tessa Sibbet started guiding in the summer of 2002 after her sophomore year at UCLA on the South Fork of the American for All-Outdoors. The next two summers she guided on the South Fork and Middle American. In 2005 worked mostly on the Tuolumne for ECHO and in 2006 she spent the summer on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho.

At UCLA she studied English Literature and was active in several clubs including: Dance Marathon, Delta Gamma, Club Water Polo, Outdoor Adventures, and the Alumni Scholars Club. She helped organize many community service events and group activities through these various organizations.

She loves rafting and the community that is formed around it. "I'm thrilled to be organizing the American River Rendezvous for the second year on June 11, 2007!"
 

Bill Dvorak is a pioneer river runner in Colorado and the West. While his past exploits are the stuff of myth and legend among generations of guides, his most important work is related to his new efforts TO EDUCATE COLORADOANS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT LINKAGE BETWEEN GLOBAL WARMING-SNOWPACK-AND RIVER FLOW.
 

Kathryn is the Executive Director of the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA). GARNA's mission is to provide and promote educational activities, volunteer projects and community involvement to conserve the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the Greater Arkansas River Area for present and future generations.
 

"Rio Kleo" is a guide and poet giving voice to the great spirit of the Rio Grande that resides within its moving waters and its dry river beds. She is inspired to bring a cross-border perspective to this vital resource that defines the border between the United States and its neighbor, Mexico.
 

Tamsin is a geologist and committed educator. She works with Plateau Restoration to elevate public awareness of the intricate strands of life that are united by water in the delicate desert ecosystems of the Colorado Plateau.
 

Michael is a graduate of Colorado Mountain College and Prescott College with degrees in Outdoor Education and Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management. In his over 20 years in Southern Utah he has worked as a park ranger, outdoor educator, land manager and river and hiking guide. He has served on the board of the Moab Area Travel Council, Utah Guides and Outfitters, Colorado Plateau River Guides and Plateau Restoration/Conservation Adventures.He has been involved in guide training for more than 20 years.
 

Kris is a dynamo with an incredible amount of hydro-energy to share with the Alaskan community and kids of all ages. She is the lead organizer and catalyst for the annual Nanana River Festival. She recognizes that it is an honor and privilege to work in the service of the great rivers of Alaska, especially the Nenana River.
 

Lindsay brings a refreshing sense of positive energy and purpose to this year's seminar. The many rivers of Western North Carolina are embedded in the beauty of the landscape and define the region watershed by watershed. Bringing the multiple users of these waters together in the spirit of exploration and shared understanding about such an essential community resource is a tremendous opportunity.
 

Originally from Austin, Texas, Mitch fell in love with guiding in the mountains and rivers of Northern New Mexico. Mitch has always loved the outdoors and has pursued a lifestyle to make sure he can eat, drink and breath the stuff as much of the year as possible. As co-founder of H20 Patagonia, he guides on el Rio Futaleufu, one of the most beautiful rivers on Planet Earth.

Aside from leading H20 Patagonia adventure vacations, Mitch teaches rescue techniques for local communities and professional river guides. Mitch is a recognized International Swiftwater Flood/Rescue Instructor and teaches throughout Chile, Argentina and Peru. He is member to the Swiftwater Flood/Rescue Advisory Board of South America and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Mitch and his wife Tatiana live in the town of Futaleufu with their three girls. He loves to kayak, fly fish and explore in whatever shape or form available at the given moment.
 

Lindsay brings a refreshing sense of positive energy and purpose to this year's seminar. The many rivers of Western North Carolina are embedded in the beauty of the landscape and define the region watershed by watershed. Bringing the multiple users of these waters together in the spirit of exploration and shared understanding about such an essential community resource is a tremendous opportunity.
 

Cisco Guevara, co-owner of Los Rios River Runners, has been running the Rio Grande for over 30 years, since he was a boy in Los Alamos. He has a number of first descents in the Copper Canyon area of Chihuahua, Mexico, and on the Rio Costilla, NM. He also teaches and guides cross-country skiing, and is a champion two-stepper, a passionate fisherman, a trick roper and western entertainer, a trained EMT technician, a CPR and first aid instructor, and president of Rio Grande Restoration.
 

Harris got his baptism in the Rio Grande at Boquillas, Coahuila, Mexico in 1964: I walked from Texas to Mexico and scarcely got my calves wet. Since 1975 he has been the owner-operator of Far-Flung Adventures, a river outfitting company based on the Rio Grande. His experience as a river guide has enabled him to observe the workings of the Rio Grande first-hand. In 1994, he founded Rio Grande Restoration, a non-profit stream flow and watershed advocacy group. He has been a member of such private river protection efforts as the Rio Grande Alliance and Forgotten River Advisory Group and serves such public initiatives as the Middle Rio Grande ESA Collaborative Programs Water Acquisition and Management subcommittee, New Mexico Strategic River Reserve legislation and regional water planning for Taos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque. He resides in a riverside cottage in Pilar, from which he studies, speaks and writes about the history of the river and promotes awareness of the importance of the Rio Grande to people, communities and ecosystems. The past and present trajectory of the Rio Grande predicts the direction of its future: economic insecurity and ecological decline. Todays generation is not particularly well served by past tinkering with the river. Coming generations will depend on our best efforts to correct the course. If decision-makers are able to understand how we got into our present dilemma, they may be able to apply these lessons, make policies with respect to the river and perhaps protect it as a life support system to the water using communities- farms and habitats, upstream and down.
 

Mark is a river manager for the Bureau of Land Management in theTaos, New Mexico Field Office, where he is charged with overseeing recreational boating on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama rivers. Some 30,000 to 40,000 visitors annually boat these two "Wild and Scenic" rivers, a special designation for pristine wild rivers under federal law.

Mark is a charter member of the River Management Society, a professional organization dedicated to the protection and appropriate management of rivers and their unique natural features. He has been involved with educating raft guides since the late 1980's and is a Master of Leave No Trace land stewardship principles and practices. In preparation for the river manager position, Mark worked as a BLM river ranger for 12 years, and as a professional raft guide for 4 years. He is an avid whitewater enthusiast who has boated many rivers in the western United States; he also enjoys mountain biking and landscape painting.
 

Dear Water Lovers, I have a lifelong interest in concepts that promote harmony between humanity and nature. I am currently a Community Development major within the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University as well as an intern with the State of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as the Sandy River water-trail coordinator. On behalf of the Headwaters Institute, we like to welcome you to our first national educational movement held within the Sandy River Basin watershed, aptly titled the Sandy River Symposium. The admission for the event is free and open to the public with a target age range from junior high school students to young adults. The event is to be held Septem 6th, 2008 at Dodge Park near the City of Sandy, Oregon. As a donor, participant, or even a veteran workshop facilitator, you are about to engage in a creative and rewarding process of watershed based education. This project, like many other community development projects is in growing response to river recreation and the leave no trace principals that we need to apply in these sensitive environments. Communities that recognize their unique history and heritage make profound place-connections for their citizens and tourists alike. The Sandy River Symposium was created through the help of the Headwaters Institute, the Portland-Water Bureau and other various watershed education partners to help local residents celebrate the unique natural history and heritage of the Sandy River Basin Watershed. Potential Sandy River Symposium workshops include: Team Building Exercises (PSU-OR); Bio-Monitoring (PSU-ESR); Water Quality Monitoring (DEQ); Leave No Trace (LNT); Invasive Species Identification and Removal Techniques (Americorps); Animal Tracking (Metro) as well as a field trip outings to former Marmot Dam (BLM); Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Tour (PWB); River Cleanup (American Rivers); and a wildflower/nature hike (BTA). The Headwaters Institute encourages place-based education through events such as the Sandy River Symposium. We believe a deeper understanding of the importance of healthy watersheds and ecosystems comes from learning in an interactive environment. It is intended that these informed individuals who are inspired by community-based events such as the Sandy River Symposium and other Headwater Institute hosted workshops will do more to engage participants in an active role in their community to protect, conserve, and restore watersheds for the enjoyment of future generations. The Headwaters Institute believes that education is the best tool for to promote public support for river restoration.We have planned for a brown-bag lunch, to be eaten while we are listening to folk tales from pioneer-day actors and a barbeque grill-out which will feature keynote speaker City of Sandy Mayor Linda Malone. Please come join us in the celebration of the Sandy River Basin Watershed. Thank You, Sandy River Symposium Matt Moreland 45425 SE Marmot Rd. Sandy, Oregon 97055 971-409-4316 sandyriversymposium@gmail.com
 

Margaret has been passionate about rivers for the past 25 years, having worked for NOLS on their river programs, having taught kayaking in Jackson Hole, and now by taking my children on extended raft trips on western rivers. The passion is being passed on. She has been on the board of the Snake River Fund since it's inception 9 years ago and has now temporarly stepped up to help coordinate educational events for the community.
 

"My goal in organizing the White Salmon Riverfest and Symposium is to help people become aware that our river is a jewel. The White Salmon is beautiful, clean and runs through the backyards of many people. The White Salmon has sections that range from Class I through Class V, which makes it ideal for kayakers and rafters - beginners through advanced. Since this river is so special, I would like to see everyone - land owners, raft guides, kayakers - come together to educate themselves on how to keep the White Salmon alive for years to come!"