River School
Since River School began in 2006, thousands of Hoosiers have had their first experience paddling on the White River. River School’s goal is to provide safe, fun, and engaging on-the-water educational experiences that enhance personal connections to the White River and the natural world.
River School
Our River School program turns an urban corridor of White River into an environmental classroom for students, civic leaders and selected partner programs. Enroute, our guides discuss history, shoreline and aquatic wildlife, riparian flora, environmental science and water quality, all while engaging people in a first-hand look at Central Indiana’s most valuable natural resource.
River School Details
Friends of the White River will make a good faith effort to accommodate individuals with specific needs. However, we cannot make changes that would undermine safe operation of River School, or would cause a direct threat to the health or safety of other participants, volunteers, or staff.
A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your group’s reservation. The additional $35 cost-per-participant will be invoiced to your group after the River School program is complete. Depending on the nature of your group or organization, you may be eligible for reduced participant fees based on FOWR’s current grant funding.
| Group Size | Non-Refundable Deposit | Additional cost per participant |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 8 | $350 | $35 |
| 9 to 12 | $475 | $35 |
| 13 to 32 | $600 | $35 |
All participants should bring: appropriate footwear that will get wet (No Crocs or Flip Flops), comfortable outdoor clothing (it will get wet and dirty), a Filled Reusable Water Bottle (no Glass please); and sun protection (non-aerosol sunblock, hat, sunglasses).
FOWR provides life jackets, paddles, and dry bags.
River School trips are available from mid-May until the end of October. Please see our web calendar for availability. Our standard program days begin between 8am-9am and conclude after four hours, including shuttling, setup, briefings, 1.5 to 2 hours of paddling time, and post trip cleanup. Afternoon or early evening times are possible upon request.
While usually calm and serene, White River experiences high water conditions unsafe for paddling around 25 times a year. When you make a reservation, we will reserve both a Primary and Backup program date. Should river safety conditions prevent going on the Primary date, your Backup date will already be booked.
Our primary River School route is from Hazel Landing Park in Carmel to Oliver’s Woods Nature Preserve in Indianapolis. Participants will usually meet at Oliver’s Woods and carpool for a 5-minute drive to Hazel Landing at the beginning of the trip. Other routes are possible upon request, depending on the time of year, water levels, and available access.
All participants must wear a Life Jacket at all times when on or near the water, and follow the safety instructions of FOWR Guides and the Trip Leader. FOWR makes the final call on all safety decisions, including “Go/No-Go” decisions based on water levels and weather forecast, consistent with our Emergency Action Plan.
Schools, Summer Camps, Scouts, and other groups made primarily of youth ages 10-12 must provide one adult leader per four youth, and
each adult leader must first complete a free River School Volunteer training day.
Current River Levels
Noblesville
Nora
Art Museum
River School Route
Our primary River School route is from Hazel Landing Park in Carmel to Oliver’s Woods Nature Preserve in Indianapolis. Participants will usually meet at Oliver’s Woods and carpool for a 5-minute drive to Hazel Landing at the beginning of the trip. Other routes are possible upon request, depending on the time of year, water levels, and available access.
Eddie Gill IV
Born in Ogden, Utah, Eddie now resides in Carmel, Indiana where he has lived for the past 19 years. Eddie, 23, recently graduated from Grace College in Warsaw, Indiana where he received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and master’s degree in Non-Profit Management. During his time at Grace he also played basketball, going to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in his final two years. He is a lifelong fisherman, adventurer and outdoor enthusiast. Since the time he could walk, all Eddie has ever wanted to do was be outside exploring all of the wonders nature has to offer.
Several years ago, Eddie vowed to make a difference. He wanted to create a more inclusive and diverse space in the outdoor world. With this in mind, he came up with Journey for a Cause. Journey for a Cause was an initiative to raise awareness in diverse communities of the opportunities and benefits experienced with fishing and boating. Inspired by Eddie’s dream to promote diversity and inclusion within the boating, fishing and outdoor adventure community, he took a ten-day journey by boat that began in Evansville, Ind. on June 1, 2021. His journey included visits at nine marinas and waterside venues, ending with a final stop at Navarre Beach, Fla. on June 10. During the voyage, Eddie promoted the mental health and physical health benefits of fishing and boating, and drove awareness of the accessibility of fishing and boating, and demonstrated that the outdoor community is welcoming to all, including those from minority and underserved communities.