Climate change, hydrologic alterations, non-native species, and water quality concerns threaten freshwater ecosystems worldwide (Dudgeon and Strayer 2025). At the same time, opportunities for college students to engage in field-based experiential learning are declining, though these opportunities are critical for cultivating the next generation of freshwater scientists, stewards, and storytellers (Soga and Gaston 2025). Field-based learning comes with barriers to participation, including financial, time, social, and cultural constraints (Carlin et al. 2023). However, these experiences can be transformative for students, fostering personal growth, leadership, and science identity (Soga and Gaston 2025). To ensure that field-based experiential learning is successful, programs must be intentionally designed to be safe, welcoming, and inclusive—especially for Indigenous students. In working to bridge Indigenous knowledge and perspectives with Western science in field settings, instructors have the essential opportunity to build courses that honor cultural perspectives, acknowledge the complex history of environmental science, and enhance ecological understanding. In this presentation, we will share examples of place-based, experiential, freshwater field education at two Native American-Serving, non-Tribal institutions in the United States. We will discuss program successes, challenges, and lessons learned, as well as actionable steps and best practices informed by these programs that can help make field-based learning more accessible and inclusive. We will highlight Fort Lewis College’s Tribal Water Media Fellowship program, in which students learn about, then create independent media projects on, Tribal and Indigenous water topics. In addition, we will discuss professional development and curricular opportunities such as the nationwide River Studies and Leadership Certificate (RSLC) program, a program administered by the River Management Society with the goal of empowering students to pursue river careers. Overall, our programs highlight the need to work collaboratively with freshwater science students, faculty, and practitioners to improve inclusion in field education and build the next generation of diverse water leaders and storytellers.