From her Dutch hometown to the wild waters of the Marañón River in the Peruvian Andes, Vera Knook has transformed a teenage passion into a lifelong mission to protect the worlds rivers.
Knook first discovered kayaking at 14 through a flatwater beginner’s course at a local kayak club. It was there she fell in love with the water – and with the idea that a kayak could take her far from home.
But paddling the world’s rivers wasn’t enough. Knook knew she wanted to protect them.
“Once I started paddling, I was able to go to Austria, Czechia, and various freestyle World Cups,” she said.
“It really initiated my love for the sport but also gave me the opportunity to travel, especially at a young age.”
When it came time for university, Knook chose to study hydraulic engineering, combining her academic path with her long-standing passion for rivers and paddling.
Toward the end of her studies, she became involved in river activism, inspired in part by groups drawing attention to dam development across the Balkans. The group were generating media attention through storytelling, action, and videography.
“The best way to generate attention was bringing together different nationalities, so four of us, from all different countries, jumped in a car and headed on this amazing road trip,” said Knook.
“It’s what really got me invested in activism.”
That experience led Knook to connect with other river enthusiast who shared her passion. Together, they organised the first Students for Rivers Camp in 2019, bringing people from different backgrounds together to celebrate and protect rivers.
Following the success of the first camp, the River Collective was founded in 2020, with a clear mission: protecting rivers through transdisciplinary collaboration and education.
As interest and momentum began building, the COVID-19 pandemic brought much of the collective’s work to a halt.
“It was not the easiest year; we had already done one camp and the second was done online,” said Knook. “It turned out to be really successful, and from there we created the idea of Home River BioBlitz.”
The Home River Bioblitz, a yearly worldwide citizen science event, encourages river enthusiasts around to explore and document the biodiversity in and around their local rivers.
Speaking about the River Collective’s broader mission, Knook described it as an entry point for people really wanting to make a tangible difference.
“Inviting people that care about rivers is really the connector,” she said. “People come from such diverse backgrounds but can still feel aligned.”
The connection formed through the camps often lasts well beyond the events themselves.
“Someone came to our first camp in 2019, and now he’s helping organise the next camp on the Tagliamento in Italy,” said Knook.
“He’s felt that connection to the organisation all these years, and I think it’s because we all have the same passion.”
The camps don’t just inspire activism, they also introduce people to kayaking itself.
“A lot of people actually start kayaking after the camps,” said Knook. “It’s amazing because it deepens their connection with rivers. It shows how closely the sport and river protection are linked, how one can really feed into the other.”
Six years on from its founding, the River Collective continues to grow alongside Knook herself.
“There have been many learning curves for everyone involved,” she said. “I’ve learnt to give people space. Let them really step into the role they’re interested in.”
This year marks the first time the organisation is running two camps: one on the Tagliamento River in Italy, and the another on the Samana River in Colombia.
Open to undergraduate, masters, and PhD students interested in protecting the Samana River, the programme offers participants a two-week experience, that includes an eight-day journey navigating the river’s rapids.
Knook and The River Collective have championed a fundraiser, in which they are inviting river lovers for a unique experience while raising funds for the students for rivers camp in the Marañon
Looking ahead, Knook also points to future opportunities for those beyond university, including a planned fundraising trip in August to support protection efforts for the Samana.
Despite the progress made by the collective, Knook believes the challenge of river conservation remains significant.
“The future is a big challenge,” she said.
“I do feel as though more and more people, even politicians, are starting to see that rivers hold a lot more value than just water.”
Still, she believes maintaining optimism is crucial to the movement.
Protecting rivers, she acknowledges, is often an uphill battle. But for Knook, the work remains deeply tied to the joy that first drew her to the water.
“Make sure to celebrate wins, celebrate with community, and know that people around you also care about that win,” she said.
“It’s super important to still enjoy it, just get out on the water and enjoy it.”
Knook's lifelong passion for kayaking is the driving force behind her activism. Her deep connection to the water fuels her commitment to protecting waterways around the world - ensuring they remain places where both she and future generations can continue to find purpose, freedom, and joy.
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