Our Story
Our Story
The Story Behind Water Walkers
by Clint Bandy

More In Common Than You Think

A Fateful Day on the Lake
We spent that entire summer on the lake wakeboarding and wake surfing. One day, he randomly said to me, “I bet the kids you work with have never seen a lake or a boat before”. Suddenly, a light bulb went off! Without researching, or asking the kids, I knew immediately that statement was true.

Filling a Gap with a Dream and a Boat

Growing Pains
It didn’t take long for the rest of the neighborhood to find out about us. Within weeks, as the videos the kids took of themselves wake surfing and wakeboarding started circulating on social media, every kid in the neighborhood wanted to be a Water Walker! So we expanded. Rapidly. And in those chaotic years of growth, we learned the kids had so many more needs we werenʼt meeting. Nobody was. So we evolved into something much bigger than only OUTDOOR ADVENTURE and water sports.

Expanding to Meet Needs

We added… EDUCATION, so the kids could strengthen their learning skills and rise to their respective grade levels academically in literacy, math, and science. WELLNESS, by offering clinical support to help our children cope with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). BASIC NEEDS, so our youth could have the necessary resources to maintain their personal hygiene and eat nutritiously. And finally, the pinnacle, LEADERSHIP, for older teens consisting of a paid work experience, life-skills workshops, and access to mentors.