The Best Holiday Gift Guide For River Minded Folk!

Yes, It’s a little late in the game this year, but maybe you are feeling a little behind too? Don’t worry, we have something for everyone! Instantaneous relief for the procrastinator, something humble, and something grand- all of which will spark wide brimmed smiles and joy! My family has been discussing swapping “things” for experiences in upcoming holiday seasons, since the memories we create together outlast any of the material goods we acquire.

We put together this holiday gift guide with folks who wander in the outdoors, tend to travel waterways, challenge the traditional systems of consumerism and hold a strong code of ethics and values. Hopefully this will prove helpful this holiday season and beyond! All of these items fit one or more of three parameters: 1.Created or provided by Idahoans who have a deep relationship to the river (probably were at some point or are currently a river guide). 2. Avoid the easy trap of buying something for the sake of buying something- support small business owners with a strong ethos of lasting quality, with an emphasis on circular economy. 3.Place value on experiential wellness- less stuff headed to the landfill, and more toward making you a healthier, happier, more informed human bean!

1.Funluvin’ Fleecewear– This year we ordered these fleece pearl-snap shirts for our crew for Christmas. I, of course had to test one myself, and I am slightly embarassed to say that I haven’t taken it off for over a week now. I have to reign in the horses a bit because after the first week, I thought I might need two for when laundry day was imminent so I wouldn’t have to go without. This is all coming from a gal who hates to shop and gets stressed out by excess. While we highly recommend these shirts, Kelli O’Keefe- river guide extraordinaire and founder of Funluvin’ Fleecewear, has an entire line of fleece items that will warm your favorite river rat’s kit. She has a line of fleece skirts to keep those buns warm and cute, as well as her famous “cuddle buddy” which fits over a paco-pad to keep from sticking to that plastic all night. https://www.funluvinfleecewear.com/shop/fleece-pearl-snaps

2. Make a Donation in Someone’s Name– This is a creative idea that also dodges needless consumerism! I am guessing that if you have found your way to our niche gift guide, you too care about visions and mission that are supported by non-profit organizations. Say, for instance, you love wild spaces and see value in protecting them for future generations to experience recreation opportunities, fresh water and clean air…make a donation in someone’s name this holiday season. The cool thing about this gift if you can tug on a loved one’s heart strings by picking an organization that means a lot to them, AND the donation can be as small or big as you can or want it to be. This gift is the perfect gift for someone who already appears to have everything, or has a huge heart and doesn’t like gifts. Here are some ideas of organizations that come to mind- but sky is the limit here, choose the non profit that fits the receiver! Non profits are doing a lot of the most meaningful work out there, a lot of heavy lifting without tons of resources. Spread the love around this year with a few hand picked micro donations, every little bit counts!

Idaho Conservation League:https://idahoconservation.org/

Redside Foundation:https://www.redsidefoundation.org/

Salmon Valley Stewardship:https://www.salmonvalley.org/

River Discovery:https://riverdiscovery.org/

Idaho Rivers United: https://www.idahorivers.org/

Save Our Wild Salmon: https://www.wildsalmon.org/

3. River Inspired Art Work– Visit our friend Hannah https://www.hbsartworks.com/ to view her amazing gallery of wood block print originals! She inspires us, so I bet she’ll inspire you too!

4. Membership to Public Radio– I don’t know about you all, but I was very sad when the government took away funding for public radio because I could no longer listen to many of my favorite podcasts without paying, my favorites are This American Life and Radiolab. Both of these are my go-to’s for long drives and tickling my brain! My dad asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year, and I said I would like a membership to be an “NPR Life Partner”, so I could unlock all of the new episodes to keep my neural pathways lit up. Free, independent media is valuable, and this is one way we can keep these sources of information available to all and freedom of speech alive.

5. River Journal– Everyone needs and loves a good river journal. There is a lot of buzz right now about journalling for mental health and overall wellbeing. This journal is for everyone- If you listen to Mel Robbins and want to start a gratitude journal, or if you are a person who loves creative writing, or maybe you are a data-gatherer scientist type and love to record everything about your river journeys, or maybe you are simply a poet whether you don’t or do know it- this is an excellent gift for anyone. Our guide Cayla created these journals and has a few varieties available on her website as well as a host of other goodies derived from her fantastical art works, you can find her here: https://www.caylasanderson.com/river-logs/rivers-of-the-galaxy-river-log-hardcover

6. Guided Wilderness River Trip– For those of you who are looking for something big, and something unforgettable- take your sweetheart, family, dad, mom, daughter, son or best friend on the adventure of a lifetime. Whether your gift receiver values wilderness, adventure, shared experiences, fishing, adrenaline, kayaking, connection, star gazing, philosophizing, or camping in the most wild and beautiful places on earth- you can buy them fond memories they’ll likely never lose. If we aren’t doing this type of thing with our money, what are we spending it on anyways? In times where our wild and natural spaces are disappearing, and cell phones and internet stalk you everywhere you go, these trips grant you a rare and instantaneous peace, the type that proves to be elusive in this wacky modern world of ours. You can see a wide variety of expertly-guided trips of your lifetime here:www.wildernessriver.com

7. Sturdy Pine Gear– One of our favorite companies in Salmon, Idaho makes the most badass bags that are sturdy as pine. Not only is Sara an excellent human of the highest quality, so are her bags. You can see the toiletry bag above which is good for just about every human alive. She also makes duffels that come in varying sizes and are good for rig-bags on up to hockey gear. Sturdy pine also has great shopping totes for the grocery store, fanny packs for all of your best roller skating adventures and backpacks for your hot spring hike and beyond! https://www.sturdypinegear.com/shop-now

8. 45 North Farm– If you know you know, tallow is trending, and for good reason. Beef tallow is the closest to the oils we naturally produce. So it is no wonder why this stuff works! It goes on thick, but your skin drinks it all up in the sleeping hours leaving your dry, weathered, cracked and or aging skin feeling hydrated, healthy and moisturized. This tallow is a MUST HAVE stocking stuffer for the people in your life who work hard in the outdoors. Jo Philpott makes all of her tallow with the beef raised on her farm with regenerative practices and in small batches. Once you go tallow you never go back! Some people are worried that tallow will smell like beef, but this product smells delightful, the face cream smells like roses. 45 North Farm’s face cream is the perfect night cream, and the calendula cream is really great for hands and helps to ease your aches and pains. Pro-tip: Tallow is the way! Find 45 North Farm on Instagram @45northfarm

9. Mom and Pop Re-used Gear Shop Gift Card– We all feel the stress of capitalism and consumerist ideology. This mentality was quietly engrained by businessmen. This wasn’t a natural mindset for humans throughout evolution, but a greedy message curated to trick people into thinking they need more stuff. We must shift the way we consume, and I am sure if you are like me you feel better, healthier and more grounded when you get by with less. Simplify. Okay Kate, but we all still need a level of “stuff”. Yes! That is why this holiday season we should all remember to shop small and recycle while we are doing so! Our local reused and consignment outdoor shop is called The Beaverhead Gear Exchange. You can find most of what you might need for your next big adventure, and hand over some of your used items for someone else to use instead of throwing them away. Tessa Sever (a longtime WRO guide-lucky us!), is the owner and mastermind behind our local shop, which is wildly popular in Salmon. These circular economies make sense and are worth supporting, so a Gift Card to the Beaverhead Gear Exchange, or somewhere similar in your community is an AMAZING and thoughtful idea. Pro Tip #2: If you find yourself in Salmon in between river trips and you need something for your adventure, make sure to visit Tessa @beaverheadgearexchange

10.Kinshop Travel Cribbage Board– Who doesn’t need a little more cribbage in their lives? And what better notion than to have a board that can travel with you always. When boredom arises, don’t just default to a doom scroll. Pull out your bid for connection and hone in your gaming skills. These beautiful and compact cribbage boards can follow you everywhere and are hand crafted by the wonderful leather, canvas, and wood worker Sarah Mallory. Yep you guessed it, another phenomenal river guide. https://kinshopgoods.com/collections/cribbage-boards

11. A Class-Workshop-Seminar– The learner on the other end will have so much gratitude for your gift. Education is expensive these days, and many of us don’t want to stop learning. Polishing your skills or acquiring new ones is never a bad idea, and is often extremely empowering and enjoyable as well. Here are some ideas for the outdoorsy folks in your life (of course the class doesn’t have to be outdoorsy, nor are these ideas local for all of you- but you get the idea!):

-WFR, Wilderness First Aid, Psychological First Aid, Wilderness EMT Certification https://desertmountainmedicine.com/outdoor-rescue-training-courses/wilderness-first-responder-wfr/

-Swiftwater Rescue Certification https://www.swiftwatersafetyinstitute.com/

-Avalanche Awareness Courses https://sawtoothguides.com/

-Paint and Sip Class

The Sky is the limit, there is so much out there to learn!

12. Acupuncture– Wherever you are, hopefully you have someone trained in Chinese Medicine. This is the perfect yin to the western medicine yang. If you have ever left a doctor’s office feeling like you weren’t heard, or you felt worse and more stressed out than when you arrived…acupuncture could help you. This is the perfect gift for someone who has chronic aches and pains, it is a preventative tool, and it is extremely helpful for psycho-somatic manifestations. Chinese medicine works on the principal that the mind and the body are one unit, they are not separate. In tandem with the individual’s intention for healing, acupuncture works to heal the mind body and soul as one entity. If other things haven’t worked for mental and physical ailments…try gifting an acupuncture session. Gift cards are usually available!

This concludes our holiday season gift guide! We are proud because it feels timeless and incredibly valuable. Don’t forget about this little jewel, and come back next year too. From our WRO family to yours, happy holidays to everyone. We are looking forward to all of the adventure 2026 surely holds, yeeeeehaw!