George Wendt (USA)
2025 Class | Advocate
No outfitter connected more people to rivers than George. He worked tirelessly to expose people to wild rivers of the world in the hope that they’d see the value in preserving them, as it was his steadfast belief that “we save what we love, and we love what we know.
Amy Kober, American Rivers senior communications director
George Wendt was known for his generosity in the service of river conservation, directing OARS to donate more than $5 million to non-profit groups over the years, and it was apparent to everyone who met him that he cared deeply about every aspect of the river experience.
From his first river trip on the Colorado River through Glen Canyon as a UCLA student in June 1962, George was captivated by the beauty of wild places. George knew that his fledgling company, OARS, could play a significant role in delivering people to the wilderness to save these glorious places, and he made it his mission to offer that opportunity to anyone who sought it.
In the 48 years since George Wendt founded OARS, the company has expanded to offer trips on more than 25 rivers in 15 countries. To date, OARS has positively affected the lives of well over 500,000 travelers, including disadvantaged youths, veterans, persons with disabilities, and countless others from underserved populations. While generating much-needed exposure for the world’s rivers, George fought vigilantly himself to protect rivers both locally and globally. George saw his company and the life-changing experiences it offered on the river as the conduit by which he could spread river advocacy to the world, and his commitment to ecotourism as a way of raising awareness both at home and abroad was simply unmatched.
He was named a “Paddler of the Century” by Paddler Magazine in 2000 and, throughout his truly remarkable life, donated countless hours and numerous trips to support youth and environmental organizations locally and around the globe.
