Saint Paul metro area. metro Paul Saint / the of heart the through running river, the along 72 miles for extends park the Area, Recreation and River National Mississippi recyclable paper with 10% postconsumer material. Printed and volunteerism. education, recreation, including outdoor programs, and education stewardship environmental park’s the supports fund The Area. Recreation and River National Mississippi the for support community build and River Mississippi the and people between connection enduring the strengthen to is Fund River Mississippi the of mission The

on -milled, chlorine-free recycled and NEWS FEATURES SUMMER 2015 Centennial Paddle the Gorge By Dr. John Anfinson, corridor. Known as the the as Known corridor. River Mississippi the of land and waters the of values significant the enhance and protect, preserve, to Minnesota in created was park a national 1988, In Superintendent, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

Next summer, Parks around the country, including the National ours, will offer special events Park Service and opportunities for recreation, turns 100! conservation, and volunteering. Launched Centennial activities for all ages will Dietzman Gordon by Photo in April take place throughout 2016. 2015, the With more than 400 parks

RIVER NEWS MISSISSIPPI centerpiece of Saint Paul, MN 55101 111 Kellogg Blvd Suite E, 105 the centennial throughout the United States— is a public including five in Minnesota—the engagement centennial campaign encourages people to “Find Your Park” and campaign to celebrate the National Minnesota has thousands of lakes park rangers will be on shore and Park Service’s first century and explore, learn, discover, play, and be inspired in all of our national parks. and one great river. Chances are, on the water making sure everyone’s connect with and create the you’ve canoed or kayaked on some river ready. We’ve got the gear and a next generation of park visitors, Learn more about the national effort Minnesota lakes, but have you great location for a fun, free summer supporters, and advocates. at FindYourPark.com ever paddled the Mississippi? paddle, perfect for individuals or families. Make this summer memorable— paddle the Mississippi River gorge. The adventure starts at East The National Park Service, River Flats, near the University Mississippi River Fund and REI of Minnesota and ends at the are teaming up for this first Paddle Minneapolis Rowing Club, about the Gorge event in Minneapolis, three miles downriver. We’ll shuttle on Saturday, July 18 from 10 AM paddlers and boats back to the start. to 3 PM. Sign up now for a gorgeous way to experience the river. Paddlers must No boat? No problem! The National be age 8 or older and one adult must Park Service and REI will have accompany every boat. canoes, kayaks and gear for paddlers to use. If you’ve got a canoe or Register for Paddle the Gorge kayak, feel free to bring it too. REI at missriverfund.org/events. Outdoor School Instructors and Newsletter of theNewsletter of Mississippi River & Mississippi National Fund River and Recreation Area SUPPORT YOUR PARK MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEWS

Summer 2015 Summer Prairie Pollinator Patches Meeker Island Lock & Dam Ruins FEATURED PROGRAM WELCOME Walk along ’s restored prairie and you’ll likely notice tall grasses and colorful wildflowers. Native Meeker Island Lock and Dam is the fascinating first chapter in By KatieBy Nyberg, Executive Director, Mississippi River Fund 3 Summer 2, Fun 1, Easy as as Stone Arch Bridge area, downtown Saint Paul riverfront, Paul riverfront, Saint downtown area, Bridge Stone Arch Anthony Falls/ located on Saint Nice stations by the Ride stopswith tour for geared bicyclists, are tours Three places. exceptional River’s Mississippi the explores that audio tour is an of day. on time Call ranger, any Ranger Park Service the summer: the most out the Here is a step of by to step way make page. beckon on every learning and to involved—adventure of get plenty ways plants are natural features of prairies, the story of locks and dam on the Mississippi River. Meeker was Photo by Eric Haugen just as natural and necessary as the bees the Mississippi’s first dam when it opened in 1907, but less than a and butterflies that buzz and flutter decade later, the dam was abandoned. The Twin Cities was turning through prairies. to hydroelectric power from Lock and Dam 1 (Ford Dam), built just downriver from Meeker. This summer, the Mississippi River

Fund is introducing Pollinator Patches, FEATUREDPARTNER SITE The ruins of the lock are still visible most of the time along the east a new way to attract more bees and bank of the river at Emerald Street SE where Minneapolis and Saint butterflies to restore prairies along Paul meet. This summer’s closing of Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock the Mississippi River, including at and Dam to navigation makes it the perfect time to visit Meeker

summer. We have enjoy this park the you to out get and inspires newsletter We hope our you. with them topleased share are we and programs park summer and spring planning We’ve been busy arrived! has Spring Coldwater Spring. Without pollinators, Island Lock and Dam to learn more about navigation on the river. many flowers will not make the seeds From the top of the bluff, take the short switchback trail to the river necessary to create the next generation with a National a National with river the to explore Now there’s a way to view the old lock chamber and the foundations of the related of wildflowers. structures. Learn more about the structure by calling the number The patches will be seeded or planted on the Ranger on Call sign. To make a nice loop hike follow with native wildflowers, including the footpath along the river upstream to the wooden steps at the dotted blazing star, wild lupine, and Franklin Avenue bridge and then return to Meeker Island on the butterfly weed (milkweed). Each paved trail on top of the bluff. Pollinator Patch is 500 square feet. We summer! hope to you this see 4. 3. 2. 1.

community Paddle the Gorge on 18. Gorge July Paddle the community (cover photo), or join for us a pontoon or ride our Padelford, Jonathan on a ride the take and Revue City up water! for the Sign from River river the Experience RangerOnCall.com. at available are tours walking and Bike tours. phone Take trip! a day cell make one guided of our river— the to a pledge one visit along place new Make park. favorite the in places or her his ranger a park ask and ofMuseum Minnesota, VisitorStop River Mississippi by the Center Science at the dark. the in left be never Twitter you’ll and or Instagram event! Follow another miss never on us and Facebook, up to for e-newsletter sign our Visit missriverfund.org A donation of $100 will make a

and eight21 and Creative Consulting. Creative, Ultra Nice Minnesota, Ride with partnership in Fund River Mississippi and ParkNational Service theproduced was by program on Call Ranger The at tour rangeroncall.com. virtual and routes a tour Paulsuggested or tour find Saint the orientation to an get to of Museum Minnesota Science Visitor River Mississippi the Centerlobby the of in the nation’s Stop River. Mississippi by places—the greatest about one of to learn our a hike or Nice take bike Ride summer, to rentvisitors This a andit’sfor locals easy Jaycee Park. Hastings’ Vento and Sanctuary, Nature located Bruce at Coldwater are Spring, tours walking additional Three Falls. Fortand Snelling/Minnehaha Pollinator Patch. Donors will receive a Pollinator Patch certificate or can choose to have their certificates sent as gifts. To donate your Pollinator Patch, visit missriverfund.org.

BEE FACT: It’s estimated that Minnesota has close to 400 known species of bees. Honey bees and bumble bees account for less than two percent of Minnesota’s bees; about 98 percent of our state’s bees are wild bees, also

Photo by Jordan Wein known as pollen bees. University of Minnesota Bee Lab Photo courtesyPhoto Minnesota Historical Society

Support your national park and receive benefits year round—become a member of the Mississippi River Fund! Discounted registration and member events are just a few of the perks. Join today at missriverfund.org. JOIN!

Font: Gill Sans Dark Blue “Mississippi”: Pantone 5405 Light Blue Ripples: Pantone 290 Faded Blue “River Fund” & smallest Ripple: Pantone 5405 @ 40% RIVER VOLUNTEER Catch Bluegills on the Mississippi! These little fish love to eat worms and corn. Volunteer Voices Volunteering by Leading Sharing Their Love of Parks

Photo by Leon Kosek By Dodi and Bob Helman Photos by Leon Kosek CALENDAR OF EVENTS Even before we retired in MAY–OCTOBER 2015 MAY–OCTOBER Visit missriverfund.org/events for event details 2002, we had determined that we wanted to volunteer for the Photo by Kathy Swenson and registration information. national parks. Our parks are May 8 Mississippi River Forum spectacular and contributing to them, sharing them with May 9 Spring Planting—Lilydale* others, and taking care of May 9 Artists’ Eye on Coldwater Spring them is a statement that we want to make. May 28 Cottonwood Planting–Coldwater Spring* When walking along the river, do you wonder lead youth and education groups through a We have been fans of the parks why invasive plants aren’t being removed and volunteer “Education Corps.” Education Corps June 6 Take a Kid Fishing Day—Lilydale Park ever since visiting our first parks how you might be able to help? Volunteer Jim volunteers might lead the geocache and shelter June 7 Take a Kid Fishing Day—Thompson Park together, standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon, looking Stensvold did and came up with a solution. He building stations in the Take Me to the River up from the base of the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia, thought that a small crew of volunteers led by a program, while a ranger leads the fire-building June 13 Second Saturdays at Coldwater Spring smelling the bubbling mud pots in Lassen, or floating down trained volunteer working a couple hours a day station. During summer Fish with a Ranger the Rio Grande of Big Bend. could make a big difference. Jim was right! programs, an Education Corps volunteer could June 19 Mississippi River Forum lead a geocache activity, invertebrate collecting June 20 Bike with a Ranger— Our local national park is equally special. It offers us the Other volunteers stepped forward to lead and or water quality monitoring. history of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities, the now the park has three crews that work at June 20 River Action Volunteer Event—South St. Paul* wildlife and natural habitats that live around and in it, Coldwater Spring and on One of the perks of being a ranger is getting the recreation to be enjoyed both winter and summer. The Tuesday evenings, Thursday mornings and thanks from participants for letting them June 23 MRF Member Pontoon Boat Trip opportunities for volunteering are varied and endless. alternate Saturday mornings. restore habitat, no matter how tired and Become a Jr. Ranger! dirty they might be. Sometimes, the reward June 30 River City Revue at MN History Center There is potential for more sites as crew leader We have done a little of all of it and every time we give, we is simply seeing a child’s face light up as she July 1 River City Revue get much more back. We learn things about nature we never volunteers step forward to lead. Is that you? learns something new. As a crew or corps Learn how at nps.gov/miss/forkids knew, find local places we would have never discovered, hang July 4 Bike with a Ranger—St. Anthony Falls Perhaps working with youth and sharing volunteer, those perks will be yours as well! out with like-minded people who inspire us, and witness the your enthusiasm about the river is more your joy of discovery in the eyes of others. Come volunteer with us. July 8 MRF Member Pontoon Boat Trip style. The park is offering the opportunity to We’d like to meet you and share some fun. ColorColor this! us! July 11 Birding Paddle with Wilderness Inquiry July 11 River Action Volunteer Event—Minneapolis*

To register your volunteer group, contact Anna Waugh, Project Manager & Volunteer Coordinator: 651-291-9119, [email protected]. July 11 Second Saturdays at Coldwater Spring Catch Bluegills on the Mississippi! These little To register as an individual volunteer, contact Kathy Swenson, National Park Ranger & Volunteer Coordinator: 651-293-8424, [email protected]. Become a Junior Ranger! July 17 Mississippi River Forum fish love to eat worms and corn. They are often July 18 Bike with a Ranger—St. Anthony Falls Mississippi River foundJunior near Rangers the areshore young and people by who wing promise dams. to learn July 18 Paddle the Gorge The green shaded area shows the boundary of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Ramsey about, explore, and protect our national parks. July 22 River City Revue Dayton Learn how at nps.gov/miss/forkids July 25 Build a Fishing Kit—Fort Snelling Park July 25 Great River Road Junior Ranger Camp—Prescott Mississippi River August 1 Bike with a Ranger—St. Anthony Falls Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park August 8 Second Saturdays at Coldwater Spring August 15 Bike with a Ranger—St. Anthony Falls Fish off Coon Rapids Dam JUNIOR RANGERS August 19 MRF Member Pontoon Boat Trip August 21 Mississippi River Forum North Mississippi Become a Jr. Ranger! Regional Park Saint Croix Learn how at nps.gov/miss/forkids August 27 Visit NPS at the State Fair through September 7 National Scenic Color us! Riverway August 29 River Action Volunteer Event—Hastings* Take a NiceTake Ride to Minnehaha Falls Stone Arch Bridge Catch Bluegills on the Mississippi! These little September 12 Second Saturdays at Coldwater Spring Saint Paul fish love to eat worms and corn. They are often

found near the shore and by wing dams. Photo by Jan Bagley Mill Ruins Park Hidden Falls- September 18 Mississippi River Forum Regional Park Mississippi River Minneapolis Visitor Center September 26 Bike with a Ranger—Minneapolis Minnehaha Regional Park September 26 National Public Lands Day* Coldwater Spring October 10 Second Saturdays at Coldwater Spring October 16 Mississippi River Forum Lilydale-Harriet Island- Lion's Levee Park Cherokee Regional Park October 17 Bike with a Ranger—Falls Colors Tour Experience SpringLake Park

*Volunteer opportunity Members receive free or discounted registration for most programs, Mississippi River including invitations to members-only events. Explore Spring Coldwater Spring Lake Park Reserve Hastings Join today at missriverfund.org/join All events are subject to change.

National Park Service Mississippi River Fund Connect with us: Mississippi River Visitor Center 651-291-8164 651-293-0200 [email protected] MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL RIVER & RECREATION AREA nps.gov/miss missriverfund.org

Explore the river near you or join us for an upcoming program at one of our featured sites. Stop by the Mississippi River Visitor Center to CONTACT Photos courtesy of the National Park Service and Mississippi River Fund, unless otherwise noted. To be removed from the mailing list, please contact [email protected] or 651-291-8164. chat with a national park ranger and pick up a copy of the Mississippi River Companion, featuring detailed maps and information.