Hardworking Tents for the "Hardest Working River in America"

In all, the river basin waterways stretch more than 8,900 miles. Keeping the river healthy and clean for generations is no small goal, but Catawba Riverkeeper is up to the task. The North Carolina-based organization aims to “preserve, protect, and restore the waterways of the Catawba River through education, advocacy, and engagement.”

These efforts, of course, require scientists, environmentalists, and policy experts. They also involve the community—from families and volunteers to local businesses and other nonprofits. Catawba Riverkeeper encourages collective action in creative and effective ways.

In addition to fundraising events and river cleanups, the organization also operates three retail locations, The River Room, Confluence, and The Boathouse. Each provides an outpost for Catawba Riverkeeper within the community, as well as a platform for education, advocacy, and engagement. 

Wherever Catawba Riverkeeper goes, there’s usually a Mastertent nearby too. Whether for beer vending, kayak rentals, or volunteer check-in, our equipment offers the versatility and reliability the organization needs. With Mastertent, the team is ready for anything the day may hold. 

“Mastertent USA has been an amazing partner to work with,” Catawba Riverkeeper Executive Director John Searby said. “We own several of their tents in various sizes that we use for events all around our region, and we also have tables and a kiosk from them that we use in our dedicated spaces.”

An Outdoor Classroom

Education is one way Catawba Riverkeeper achieves its goal of protecting, preserving, and restoring the river. Most of that learning, however, happens outside a traditional classroom setting. Instead, it often takes place on the water. 

The organization leads interactive river trips with business owners to help them understand just how important the Catawba River is to the local economy and how to help. The Mastertent team, for example, enjoyed learning about the vital waterways just beyond our Charlotte, N.C. headquarters on a guided kayak tour. Similarly, Catawba Riverkeeper’s “floating classroom” boat gets students of all ages out on the river for a fun and engaging learning experience.

Catawba Riverkeeper also educates its members and guests about the importance of protecting local waters through, of all things, beer. In addition to two other retail locations, the nonprofit runs The River Room, a taproom featuring craft cocktails, wine, and beer. The indoor-outdoor space adjacent to the Catawba Riverkeeper office features RUKU1952 beer garden tables and benches and a spacious, sunny patio. It’s a welcoming spot to hang out or celebrate an occasion. Members and guests can enjoy a drink during business hours or rent the space for private events. 

All the beer on tap at The River Room comes from breweries located in the Catawba River Basin, so they use Catawba River water in their brews. Beer is a tangible way to educate the public and continue to tell that story: Water is important for lots of things, even the beer you drink. 

What’s more, proceeds from The River Room cover rent and utilities for the Catawba Riverkeeper office, lab, and classroom. So, when donors give to Catawba Riverkeeper, they can feel confident knowing every dollar goes to support the mission.

Gathering Together for a Cause

Advocacy is also a key part of the organization’s conservation efforts. Its four primary issue areas include: mitigating stormwater runoffs, decreasing permitted pollution, increasing water quality monitoring, and restoring the river. To that end, Catawba Riverkeeper publishes scientific reports, like the South Fork Catawba Sub-Basin Protection and Restoration Plan, that highlight areas of concern and offer solutions to restore river tributaries.

Catawba Riverkeeper also draws attention to its cause through fun events like Jam at the Dam. Featuring food trucks and kayak rentals, the music festival takes place every May. It also serves as the summer kickoff at The Boathouse, a seasonal rental and recreation location open to the public. A few weeks later, RiverFest reunites the community for a festival-style event. Loaner Mastertents offer shade and comfort while local vendors, live music, and kids' activities make for a lively celebration of the river.

In the off-season, The Boathouse doubles as a space to store boats, kayaks, and cleanup materials that the team uses year-round. The Boathouse and events, like Jam at the Dam and RiverFest, support the organization’s advocacy initiatives.

Both at community gatherings and throughout the summer, a Mastertent Pavilion offers a watering hole of sorts amid the hubbub. The hexagonal structure, which the Catawba Riverkeeper team has nicknamed the “hexabar,” offers an approachable and memorable experience for visitors. As an outdoor drink vending station or a kayak rental spot, the structure adapts to whatever the nonprofit needs. Once, the Catawba Riverkeeper team even used it to propagate a rare water lily species.

“In the almost 4 years of working with Mastertent,” Searby said, “We've never had anything break, wear out, or not work—and we work things hard!”

Facilitating Community Involvement

Engagement is perhaps the most important way Catawba Riverkeeper achieves its mission. Creating opportunities for people to interact with the water spreads awareness for the cause. Without the help and support of volunteers and partners, Catawba Riverkeeper couldn’t have the incredible impact that it does. 

River restoration, in particular, requires lots of volunteer involvement. During river cleanup events, Mastertent 5x5 ft canopy tents featuring the Catawba Riverkeeper logo serve as a recognizable signpost for check-in locations. Staff can set up the compact, 100% waterproof tents easily and stay comfortable, even in less-than-ideal weather. The structures offer shelter from the sun, rain, or wind and can be assembled on both hard or soft ground along the river’s edge.

Catawba Riverkeeper knows that not everyone will raise a hand for a river cleanup, and that’s okay. It facilitates engagement through other means too—like Confluence. Part art, part music, part recreation, part river, this community center operated by Catawba Riverkeeper brings together a range of activities in a single location. Art and music classes, a public gallery, kayak rentals, local beer and more make Confluence an accessible place to stop in for a moment or stay a while. As with The River Room and The Boathouse, proceeds benefit Catawba Riverkeeper.

Whether through a pint of beer, a volunteer event, or a weekend water adventure, Catawba Riverkeeper facilitates all kinds of ways to interact with the Catawba River. Ultimately, it draws support from across the region to maintain its important function for years to come.

At Mastertent, sustainability is a mindset. In addition to our own steps to protect the planet, we value partnerships with environmental organizations like Catawba Riverkeeper. We’re proud to be a small part of the nonprofit’s important work. To donate to Catawba Riverkeeper, volunteer at a cleanup, visit a retail location, or attend an event, visit the Catawba Riverkeeper website.