Support Aiden Alvarez's World Class Kayaking Journey

S-keg taṣ ‘añi ‘añ ‘ab cegig Aiden Alvarez. Hello, my name is Aiden Alvarez. I am a member of the Tohono O'odham tribe and have been accepted to World Class Academy Kayaking Program for 2025/2026. I am raising funds for tuition so that I can take advantage of this key time in my training and advance my skills as a whitewater kayaker while simultaneously earning my high school diploma.

My whitewater kayaking journey started with the privilege to participate in Paddle Tribal Waters, Paddle Tribal Waters Academy (PTWA), a Ríos to Rivers collaboration with World Class Academy and the First Descent of the Un Dammed Klamath. It has been a year to date since I first sat in a hard shell kayak and am now paddling class lV white water.

Paddle Tribal Waters Academy was created as an opportunity for PTW students to continue to grow whitewater kayaking, river safety, and Native leadership skills, while simultaneously fulfilling credits and requirements of a full semester of 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, or

12th grades.

I have now been accepted to attend World Class Kayaking Academy, independent of Paddle Tribal Waters, for the duration of my senior year. Academy will take place in Canada and New Zealand during Fall Semester 2025 and in Chile and Central Europe Spring Semester.

I am looking to further advancing my kayaking skills and sharing my experiences on the First Descent of the Un Dammed Klamath with these reaches of the world who face similar challenges regarding the health of clean and free-flowing rivers and the communities that are inherently connected to and dependent upon them.