River Relief

February 10, 2016

2016 Schedule

2016 marks Missouri River Relief's 15th year of cleaning up the Big Muddy!  Check out what's new and our full 2016 Schedule here.

Scroll down for your area of interest: Outreach, Clean-ups, River Races, Education Events

As we get closer to the dates you will find full webpages for our events linked here.  We're excited for the opportunity to serve another year on behalf of the river. 

What's New in 2016?

Beginning this year we are implementing an Environmental Education grant awarded by the EPA, called "Building Capacity for Missouri River Education" that supports three main projects -

• Building a network of River Action Teams along the lower Missouri River and supporting Missouri River Action and education projects with a series of grants to organizations along the river;
• Conducting a teacher workshop entitled “Missouri River: A Catalyst for Learning”
• Hosting an on-the-river summer camp for youth called “Missouri River Academy”

Read more about this two-year capacity building grant here.

River Clean-ups

River Clean-ups provide volunteers the opportunity to explore and enjoy the river with family, friends and neighbors while beautifying a gorgeous stretch of the Big Muddy. River Clean-up’s will leave you satisfied in knowing that you are playing a role in improving your watershed.  Here’s the River Clean-ups we are hosting: 

•  Sept. 10 - Jefferson City Missouri River Clean-up 
  Jefferson City, MO 
   

There are other River Clean-ups hosted by partner organizations that Missouri River Relief assists with:

• Oct. 1 - Missouri River Clean-up - Kansas City, MO 
  Hosted by Healthy Rivers Partnership
  
  Note about the Kansas City Clean-up:  There is no online sign-up for this clean-up, just show up at Kaw Point Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sign-in on site.  See you on the river!  
   

• Oct. 22 - River Des Peres Trash Bash - St. Louis, MO 
  Hosted by River Des Peres Watershed Coalition
  

Outreach

The Big Muddy Speaker Series brings together Missouri River experts with community members to share knowledge and perspective on the Missouri River, its history, ecology, commerce and more. It is created and inspired by a partnership of organizations with a common goal - to deepen the connection of our communities to the river that connects us to each other.

• 2nd Tuesday of each month - Rocheport, MO
• 2nd Wednesday of each month - St. Charles, MO
• 4th Tuesday of each month - Kansas City, MO

We pride ourselves on bringing communities together regardless of what the occasion might be, big or small:

• Oct. 28-30 - Missouri River Rendezvous 
  Klondike Park, Augusta, MO
   

Fundraisers

In the past 14 years, Missouri River Relief has organized 133 river cleanups from Yankton, South Dakota, to St. Louis, Missouri, relieving the Missouri River of more than 801 tons of trash. We get it done with a help from volunteers, partners and fundraisers. 

• Stay tuned...

River Races

To witness the determination of river racers, the grit of the ground crews and the hospitality of the volunteers involved are truly inspiring. We are proud to provide safety boats to assist up and down these race courses and be part of so many races that have changed the way our state looks at our rivers. These serve our mission to connect people to the Missouri River in an intimate way, while also raising money as a fundraiser to support our efforts.

• August 27 - Race for the Rivers - partner event from Washington to St. Charles

• Oct. 8 - Race to the Dome - 16 or 26 miles - Providence/Hartsburg to Jeff City

River Excursions

Every moment of being on the river brings a new experience. Our custom river excursions provides companies, agencies and other non-profits an opportunity to encourage team work, improve communication and foster a closer connection to the longest river in North America  

• August 13th - True/False Boondawdle Boat Rides
  
  
• Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Elementary Science Ambassadors Trip
   
• Fall 2016 - DNR Leadership Ladder
  Columbia, MO 

Education

Our education programs engage participants’ innate sense of wonder and natural curiosity to explore the Missouri River through place-based programs that are interdisciplinary in nature and experiential in character. We seek to build participants’ knowledge and understanding of the Missouri River through hands-on experiences that will deepen their connection and sense of responsibility for its care and stewardship. 

• Sept - Oct - Nov. - Missouri River All-Stars (After-School)
  Five CPS Elementary Schools - more info. coming soon
   
• Sept. 21 - Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Teacher's Workshop
   
• Sept. 28 - Service Learning on the MO River 
  Benjamin Banneker Middle School students
   
• Sept. 29 - Investigating the MO River
  KC area school students 
   
• Oct. 6 - MO River Excursion
  Douglass High School students 
   
• Oct. 13? - Service Learning on the MO River
  Jefferson City area schools - date still tbd
   
• Nov. tbd - MO River Excursion - Kansas City, MO
  Greenworks Kids