Austin Youth River Watch (AYRW) transforms and inspires underserved youth through environmental education, community engagement, and adventure. Our students learn to collect, analyze, and publish water quality data along local waterways; perform environmental restoration projects with community partners; and participate in several outdoor adventure experiences, often for the first time. Our program is intentionally designed to be accessible to youth in underserved communities. Through our program, students become local environmental heroes, gain leadership and collaborative skills in interdisciplinary settings, are motivated to complete high school, and have positive transformative experiences that they carry for the rest of their lives.