River Awareness and Cleanup Week, July 17–25, 2010

Are you aware of the watershed around you or do you just drive home over the river and through the beautiful countryside, taking for granted our wonderful natural resources? Be “River Aware” with the St. Croix River Association (SCRA) the week of July 17-25. The SCRA encourages people to do something to reconnect with your river, or whatever favorite body of water is near you.

Attend one of the many planned litter cleanups, picnics, educational activities and celebrations which will be posted on the SCRA website and at many of the partnering organizations’ websites. Most events are family-friendly and inter-generational; some have complimentary caps, T-shirts and canoe stickers. Lots of events will be taking place along the St. Croix River and the tributaries that feed it. Or plan an event of your own with friends and family. Bike or walk one of the many fabulous trails in your watershed. Get out, do something meaningful, have fun and become “Aware”.

River Awareness Week is sponsored by The St. Croix River Association and Xcel Energy, and is made possible by all the wonderful volunteers and partners coming together to plan this fun week of events.

Watch your local newspapers and check back often for other River Awareness events

Saturday, July 17, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Canoe Trip on the St. Croix River and River Cleanup
Sunrise Landing to the main boat landing in Wild River State Park
Meeting Location: Main Boat Landing, Wild River State Park

The Friends of Wild River State Park (WRSP) announce the first annual St. Croix River canoe trip and river cleanup. It is scheduled for Saturday, mark your calendars! The section to be cleaned is the part of the St. Croix River between the Sunrise boat landing and main boat landing at Wild River State Park. Depending on the number of participants, the Wisconsin side of the river may be cleaned too.

Shuttling will be provided if you’re interested. Friends Board member Mo Whalen will be at the Sunrise Landing at 9:00 a.m. to guard your boat and gear until you return from parking your car at the exit point. Rides to the start point will be provided via carpool or park vendor shuttle. This is a rain or shine event, so come prepared. We will not be on the water if an electrical storm is imminent. Bring your own lunch, water, gloves, insect repellant, and sunscreen. WRSP will provide bags for collecting your junk, river interpretation during the canoe trip, and disposal of our trash. Another Board member, Kia Donais, will be rewarding all participants with watermelon at one of our stops! Canoes will be available for rent at WRSP from Eric's Canoe Rental.

To reserve a canoe for the event, call Eric's Canoe Rental at 651-270-1561. Rental rates are $40/canoe which includes a shuttle to the Sunrise Landing area. Life jackets must be worn by all people in canoes. If you prefer not to canoe, walking and cleaning the river at entry and exit points would be very helpful too. For the latest information www.friendsofwildriver.org .

Saturday, July 17, 9:00-12:00
Kids Fishing Contest, Willow River State Park, Hudson, Wisconsin, at the new fishing piers
 

Lessons, equipment, worms and prizes are free. One state park sticker per car, no license needed under 16 years of age. Contact: Kari, 715-386-9340 wrspnc@pressenter.com

Saturday, July 17, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Nature Lab: Wolves
Cable Natural History Museum
 

How big is a wolf track? What is the difference between a wolf and a coyote? What do wolves sound like? Are there packs along the Namekagon River? Stop in the Cable Natural History Museum to talk with a National Park Service Ranger and get answers to these questions and more. Plus make plaster wolf tracks to take home with you. For information, call (715) 635-8346.

Saturday, July 17, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Boomsite clean up
Meeting Location: Boomsite just north of Stillwater
 

River Market in Stillwater is planning a cleanup of the historical Boomsite. The event is open to the public

July 17 and 18
FamilyMeans St. Croix Garden Tour
Stillwater, MN
 

FamilyMeans 18th Annual St. Croix Garden Tour on July 17-18 will feature seven private residential gardens from Stillwater to Mahtomedi. Those who take part in the self-guided tour are sure to be enchanted as each of the seven gardens offers its own charm from whimsical to casual to experimental. Among the highlights of this year’s tour include an urban wildlife sanctuary and Japanese design; a garden created with water-friendly landscaping to minimize runoff and recycle rain water; and a yard that spans more than an acre with separate gardens throughout, including hosts that will be on display for an international “hosta” tour. The annual event benefits FamilyMeans, a Stillwater-based nonprofit with programs in mental health and counseling, collaborative divorce, financial counseling and bankruptcy services, youth development, caregiver support, community and school programs, and employee assistance. $15 per person; children ages 12 and younger are free. Tickets are tax deductible. To order, call FamilyMeans at (651) 439-4073 or visit www.familymeans.org

Sunday, July 18th, 11:00 a.m.
Apple River Association Annual Meeting and float
Meet at the parking lot of Parker Creek DNR Property on 35th Avenue, Amery, WI.
 

We will boat up this cold water fishery as far as we can, then come back to the Apple River. Not strenuous at all. If people want, they can canoe on the Apple as well, through Little Falls, Rapids Class 1, maybe 1.5, very pretty. If people don't want to float, and just want to come to the Annual Meeting, it will take place quite nearby at 410 125th Street. We will have signs up to direct people down to the Apple River. We will provide grillables and beer. People can bring a dish to pass. Very sweet location and neat people. Questions? Call Peter Henry 715-268-6893

Sunday, July 18, 2010 (Rain date alternative is July 25) at 10 a.m.
River Clean Up ~~~Canoe/Kayak from Osceola to William O'Brien State Park
Meet at Osceola Landing
 

We'll paddle our canoes or kayaks to William O'Brien State Park, cleaning up the river banks and islands as we go. Bring a lunch, water, gloves, sunscreen, hat. Clean-up bags provided. Canoes/kayaks not provided. We will arrange our own shuttles back to the landing. Gathering for food and fun will follow the day's paddle trip. Contact: Sally Leider at 651-433-4286 or sallystcroix@mac.com

Tuesday, July 20, beginning at 2 p.m.
Clean Boats, Clean Water
Hudson Area Joint Library Summer Reading Program
Meeting Location: Lakefront Park, Hudson, WI (exact location to be decided, but near the bath house & its parking lot.)
 

Come and learn about cleaning boats before launching and after taking them out of the water to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Aquatic Invasive Species unit at Wisconsin DNR collaborated with the University of Wisconsin Extension and the WI Department of Public Instruction’s Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) to develop this program to support the 2010 Summer Reading Program. This program is intended for school –age children and their parents. Program includes stories, songs, activities, an optional craft project and an opportunity for participants to demonstrate what they’ve learned by examining and pointing out why the boat on site is not ready to go into the water. A naturalist from Beaver Creek Reserve Program will be the present, and is part of the Hudson Area Joint Library’s 2010 Summer Reading Program, “Make a Splash @ Your Library”, and facilitated by Children’s Librarian, Mary Davis and Children’s Library Assistant, Carol Hardin.

July 20–22
Willow River State Park Nature Center Grades 1–3, $30
 

Water, Fish, Insects and Herbs–Do you like to get wet and play in the water? This is the perfect class for you as we look at the plants and animals that live in the water. Contact: Kari 715-386-9340 wrspnc@pressenter.com.

Wednesday July 21, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Putting the Pieces Together; From the Rivers Point of View
Meeting Location: Hudson, $15 pre-registration required
 

This will be the 5th in a series of MDNR and partner sponsored workshops designed to help communities better understand their role and options in protecting the St. Croix’s scenic and natural values. This workshop will offer a “view from the river” session where local communities will have an opportunity to show case practices they have implemented to restore ecologic functions of riparian corridors and tributary streams, protect scenic qualities and recreational values as well as to improve water quality. The session will include discussion about the challenges, barriers and strategies developed by communities in rural, suburban, and urban areas. The workshop will also offer breakout sessions that begin to answer the questions that local community leaders continue to ask about their role in protection the river valley: Why is it so important? What should we do? How do we begin?
 

Wednesday, July 21, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Guided Boat Tour: Still Waters
Stillwater Boomsite Wayside
 

The St. Croix River north of Stillwater, Minnesota, is a place where people and water merge with time. It is a historic and fragile area, laced with long, narrow, tree-covered sand islands and lined by steep limestone bluffs. Join a National Park Ranger aboard a park boat to explore this special place during a 1 ½ hour guided tour. Life jackets will be provided and must be worn during this program. Space is limited and registration is required. Call (715) 483-2274 to register and for information.

Thursday, July 22, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Junior Ranger Program: Bald Eagles
Weiss Community Library, Hayward
 

Paddlers on the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers sometimes glide right under this magnificent national symbol. Learn about the life history of bald eagles by acting out their behaviors. This fun program, along with other activities developed for children ages 8 – 12, will help you to earn a National Park Junior Ranger badge and certificate. For information, call (715) 635-8346.
 

Friday, July 23, 7:45 to 8:30 p.m.
Native Landscapes
St. Croix River NPS Visitor Center
 

The restoration of native plant species brings benefits to land and water resources, wildlife, and people, while also helping create healthier lakes and rivers. Join a National Park Ranger to learn more about these benefits and see what is currently blooming in the native landscape area at the St. Croix River Visitor Center. For information, call (715) 483-2274.
 

Saturday July 24, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Wet 'n Wild St. Croix River Day
 

Meeting Location: Minnesota Interstate State Park
Prepare to get wet and wild as you fish with MinnAqua, paddle the St. Croix in a voyager canoe, search for mussels with area researchers, get an up-close look at fish in a 100-gallon aquarium, dive into the history of logging the river, and more!

Saturday, July 24, 2010
Budd Access Grand Opening Celebration, Kinnickinnic River Land Trust.
For more information see http://www.kinniriver.org/field-trips/

Sunday, July 25, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Twilight Paddle: Full Thunder Moon
St. Croix River, Wisconsin and Minnesota Interstate State Parks to Osceola Landing
 

Meet a National Park Ranger at the Wisconsin Interstate St. Croix River landing at 5:00 p.m. or the main river landing at Minnesota Interstate State Park at 5:15 p.m., then embark on a 6 ½ mile paddle to observe the river at twilight and learn about the special nature of this protected area. Participants must provide their own canoe/kayak and other gear, including a personal floatation device. Shuttle service is not provided as part of this program: canoe and kayak rentals and shuttle services are available through area outfitters licensed by the National Park Service. This program will be cancelled in event of inclement weather. There is no charge for the program, but an annual vehicle sticker or daily pass is required to enter the state parks. For information about this program or a list of available outfitters, contact the St. Croix River Visitor Center at (715) 483-2274.

Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours
 

During the SCRA River Awareness week, Evening Specialty Cruises are offered on the following dates: Saturday, July 17th enjoy a wine & chocolate cruise, July 21st a Picnic Cruise, July 23rd a Mexican Fiesta and July 24th a Dinner Cruise, daily excursions at 11:30, 1:30, 3:30 & 5:30 that include narrated history, wildlife and geology For additional information or reservations please call 651-465-6315 or check out the website at: www.taylorsfallsbaot.com  Taylors Falls Canoe & Kayak Rental is celebrating 100 years this season. Book on-line & save $3.00

Just Add Water This Summer at The Phipps! Hudson, Wisconsin
Just Add Water, a new art and science program, encourages children and adults to learn about the St. Croix River and its watershed. Here's how YOU can take part:
 

Drop In: Visit the Just Add Water lab independently when a class is not in session and explore maps, displays, interactive projects, and activities that highlight the beauty and importance of the St. Croix, a treasured feature of our local environment. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $3 suggested donation.
 

Stay for Lunch: Between, before, or after class, campers are invited to spend the lunch hour with Summer Art Camp staff. Bring a sack lunch to eat in the park (weather permitting), visit the Just Add Water art and science lab, and join in fun group activities exploring the St. Croix. $5 fee per lunch hour, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
 

Take a Class: The Just Add Water Lab is a classroom for students ages 8 through 15. Spend time in and along the river with naturalists as well as local artists or poets. Create original work that conveys the beauty and importance of the St. Croix River Watershed. July 19 - 23, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. (ages 8 - 13) Fee $119. Instructor Liz Malanaphy has been co-coordinator for Hudson School Destination Imagination Program for nine years and has helped students create five murals in area schools. To enroll, go to www.ThePhipps.org, call 715.386.2305 or stop by The Phipps! The Just Add Water program is made possible in part with support from Hudson Daybreak Rotary.