Flipping the Script: Fresh Outreach Ideas from Booming River Programs

Join us for this month’s River Management Roundtable as we flip the script on traditional outreach. You’ll meet two dynamic program leaders whose innovative approaches are helping their river programs to thrive. Learn how RIVERSPORT OKC and Soul Trak Outdoors are redefining what it means to connect with communities—serving the increasingly varied perspectives and expectations of staff, partners, and the people they serve. Their resounding success offers fresh ideas you can apply to grow your own river-based programs.

Melanie Borger serves as the Chief Athletic Officer at the Riversport Foundation in downtown Oklahoma City. She works with a dedicated team of coaches, colleagues, and families to remove barriers and expand access to outdoor recreation and Olympic watersports. Melanie believes that every kid is an athlete—they just haven’t found the right sport yet. This philosophy underpins her leadership of an expansive, inclusive, and collaborative network of community partners. During her 17-year tenure, RIVERSPORT has grown from offering a single activity in one building on the banks of the Oklahoma River to providing countless opportunities on three bodies of water across central Oklahoma. RIVERSPORT Rapids in downtown Oklahoma City will also serve as the venue for Canoe Slalom at the 2028 Olympic Games.

Junko Taniguchi (she/her) resides in Washington, D.C., and works as Programs Manager for Soul Trak Outdoors, a community-based nonprofit that connects communities of color to outdoor spaces while also building a coalition of diverse outdoor leaders. Soul Trak works to break down barriers to the outdoors for BIPOC communities in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia), engaging participants of all ages and backgrounds through backpacking, climbing, community hikes and bike rides, environmental stewardship initiatives, and both whitewater and flatwater kayaking, to name a few. Outside of work, Junko enjoys all of the above activities, as well as cooking, fly fishing, and reading.

Registration

On the second Tuesday of the month, the River Management Society hosts River Management Roundtables (facilitated virtual discussions) with professional river, greenway, and water trails leaders, planners, and managers who will benefit from peer-to-peer sharing. Our goal is to facilitate an open forum in which you can ask questions, share solutions and build comradery. There's no fee or membership requirement to attend, but registration is required to help us set expectations and improve our outreach. We will record the discussion and send it out to registrants within the week.

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