February 1, 2012  Seventeen AYRW students attend Financial Education Workshop at the Wells Fargo Bank on Congress Ave. The workshop was led by Wells Fargo associates: Patty Lopez, Sherry Cooper, Francis Agulto, and Lalo Estrada.

January 30, 2012  Ten AYRW students attend presentation by Oscar Garza detailing the work of the East Austin Environmental Initiative  and later, a discussion on Aquatic Entomology and water quality by Todd Jackson.

January 26, 2012  Volunteer Matt started working with the Travis High School group. Fourteen AYRW students went birdwatching and learned about the composting process at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant near the AYRW EcoHouse.

January 9 – 20, 2012     66 River Watch students commence 2012 programs by setting semester goals.

December 5 – 9, 2011     65   River Watchers reflected on the semester and evaluated how successful they had been at achieving their goals.  With most students successfully reaching their goals, we celebrated for the last day of the semester with a new River Watch t-shirt for each student, hot cocoa and holiday cookies, of course.

November 16 – December 9, 2011     68  River Watchers helped at Operation Blue Santa.  Three years ago one of our River Watch Moms called and said that Blue Santa needed some helpers. We went and the students loved it.  We have gone back each holiday season since.  Many of our students have received gifts from Blue Santa in the past so it is extra special for us to help them give back in this way.

December 2-3, 2011     13 Young Men of Austin Youth River Watch played games, got to know each other better and participated in activities from Night Creature Hikes to making Seed Balls to help with the restoration efforts in Bastrop.  Students got their new River Watch shirts.  And  we also celebrated one student’s Birth Day with a birth day cake and ice cream.  Yeah!  It was super fun and great for strengthening our community.

December 1, 2011     10   River Watch students tested water at Bright Leaf Preserve in partnership with the Austin Community Foundation.

November 11 – 12, 2011  Five students, staff, and three volunteers took part in AYRW’s first annual canoe overnight adventure. The trip started at the boat ramp at  Little Webberville Park in Webberville, TX. Canoes were provided by Cook’s Canoes in Webberville.  Along the way, students spotted and heard numerous birds (Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Grebes, Cormorants, Egrets, and more) and learned about riparian ecology. The group set up camp on Cook’s Island and enjoyed a clear, star-filled sky that night. The next day was cool and overcast. The group was joined by an avid birdwatcher who leads monthly bird survey trips on the Colorado River. If your interested in coming along for a trip please contact Claude Morris at cgmorris@flash.net. The trip concluded at Webberville Park at 1pm. We are very grateful to the volunteers and Cook’s Canoes for helping us have an amazing time.