Shipping Update
We are getting closer to shipping every day and have found sources that can supply large quantities of almost everything we need now. We anticipate shipping before the beginning of July.
As with all of our processes before, we are shipping a very small quantity first to make sure the entire process is smooth and wonderful!
We are also using this time to make some final design changes and create new accessories. And we are still exploring using some different materials for some of the components.
We know that for some surveys and orders outside of the US there are still high prices or no prices available. We are working with our global shipping partners to confirm prices that will provide a quality experience for you at the best price we can, given the sudden inflation costs and delays associated with shipping internationally.
Heads up!
We will be raising the price of the Origami Paddler the first of July, due to the increased costs of manufacturing and components. We have made several design changes in the last few weeks to produce a better boat that everyone will benefit from, and we need to make adjustments. Preorders and Kickstarters are getting an awesome deal on an Origami that you will enjoy for years to come!
Paddle With A Purpose
We also want to introduce a project we have been working on called “Paddle with a Purpose”. Paddle with a Purpose is our initiative calling you to actively engage with others who share our vision for clean water everywhere. There are hundreds of research projects ongoing using ordinary people volunteering as Citizen Science agents. It is easy to be active. Volunteer data collectors send information from the field with their smartphones. Currently, there are over 100 projects listed relating to water research all over the US posted on The CitizenScience.gov website. Listed research projects span a broad spectrum of topics. Click here to see a list of current water projects: https://www.citizenscience.gov/#
Because our family is international, the kind of water and the issues faced vary by location. Consequently, we believe that providing numerous volunteer choices is the best means to kickstart Paddle with A Purpose. Donate your time to worthwhile causes! Your efforts can positively affect people's lives and the environment. Making a difference is not just about making money. Life is about making a meaningful place in the world. And then post your escapade stories on our Origami Paddler Facebook page.
If you have not yet joined, sign up to join The Origami Paddler Family here.
You are the people who make the Origami Paddler Family. Participate! We want to hear from you. Someone said you don't just have friendships, you have to make them. Friends are our biggest assets, so let’s gather together and do something good for the environment and one another. Some key words and phrases to do a web search for volunteering include: “clean water action” and “water quality volunteer activities”.
Here are other project recommendations:
The Globe Program Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment.
Societies around the world are dependent on water bodies (lakes, rivers, etc.) and water quality determines how water can be used. Is it fit to drink? Is it safe to swim in? Can it be used in agriculture?
GLOBE Hydrosphere protocols enable you to take accurate measurements of the often changing quality of water bodies near you. In addition, water temperature can affect local climate and weather and is affected by them as part of the Earth system water cycle. Mosquito habitat observations help all of us track the potential spread of certain diseases and the protocol encourages removing mosquito breeding sites.
National Water Quality Monitoring Council As of 2014, there are 350 Volunteer Monitoring Groups and 20 Volunteer Monitoring Service Providers that together assist an additional 1,350 efforts, equating to 1,720 groups across the USA conducting volunteer monitoring and associated activities.
Explore our interactive map showing a visual directory for where this activity is occurring across the USA. https://acwi.gov/monitoring/vm/programs/vm_map.html
NOAA Coastal Inundation Water Level Collection On-line data site for the entire US. Go to the site above & follow instructions.
The Nurdle Patrol A nurdle is a plastic pellet that serves as raw material in the manufacturing of plastic products. Nurdles are washing up on our beaches, riverbanks, and lake shorelines by the millions. Help us find and map the source by conducting your nurdle survey. Just let us know how many pellets you found and where.
The Ocean Cleanup We are designing and developing cleanup systems to clean up polluting our oceans and to intercept plastic on its way to the ocean via rivers. The Ocean Cleanup has estimated to be able to remove 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch every five years. A significant percentage of the plastic that enters the oceans from rivers and other sources during a transfer that takes many years drifts into large systems of circulating ocean currents, known as gyres. Once trapped, the plastic slowly breaks down into micro-plastics becoming easier to be mistaken for food by sea life. There are currently two different ways you can get involved as a volunteer citizen scientist anytime, anywhere: the River Survey and the Ocean Survey.
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. If you're interested in building a relationship with your local Surfrider chapter, that can be facilitated by reaching out to your chapter, volunteering at their events, and finding ways to support and stay involved. From testing our coastal waters to ensuring that runoff stays in your garden to reducing plastic pollution, Surfrider's programs help ensure that our marine ecosystems are protected. Our network grows stronger with every chapter and club we add. Find a chapter or club near you.