Watertrek’s mission is to raise awareness and alert general audiences about the need to protect aquatic ecosystems threatened by plastic pollution, global warming and toxic chemicals. Watertrek introduces expeditions combining sports (aquatic hikes by stand-up paddling as well as traditional hikes), citizen science and collaborative art, a three-tier approach combining motion, pedagogy, and creation. Furthermore, it offers water-themed content and reproductions of these adventures.
Severine Vasselin founded the organization Watertrek in 2013 after having practiced stand-up paddling for the first time on the Côte Bleue near Marseille:
“This experience was a true revelation, a change of perspective both physically, socially and spiritually, a shift in my esthetic point of view of scenery. Physically standing up on the water while being far from dry land that requires balance, to me it seemed necessary to remind everyone of the living beauty of which we are all an integrated part.”
Watertrek organizes long and short distance paddle expeditions. These initiatives have both a scientific and cartographic vocation - mostly in rivers - allowing to collect information about the quantity, the source and classification of waste and pollution present in water.
The projects led by Watertrek are in line with 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the UN.
Our expeditions integrate both esthetic, artistic, and collaborative dimensions.
“The ecological crisis is above all a crisis of sensitivity”
Baptiste Morizot
