Serve the River: Service Outings
If you need a service activity exclusively for your group, please consider a stenciling outing, clean-up or restoration outing with FMR.
Storm drain stenciling outings
This is a perfect fit for groups of 20 or more looking for a fun and educational outing with flexible scheduling. FMR can organize stenciling outings, presentations and cleanups in St. Paul for most any local group. We also have new, special programs that allow us to work with youth groups to organize stenciling outings in North or Northeast Minneapolis (a.k.a. the "Above the Falls" area) and along the parkway or Mississippi River Gorge in South Minneapolis. Learn more.
For larger groups: clean-ups!
If you have a group of 30-50 or so, we may be able to arrange a clean-up in St. Paul or in North or Northeast Minneapolis and along the parkway or Mississippi River Gorge in South Minneapolis. Arranged, private-group clean-ups usually take place in June, early July, August and October. Let us know if you're interested!
A restoration outing
Youth are welcome to participate in any of our dozens of annual public events with the advance permission of their parent or guardian.
FMR may be able to arrange a weekday activity with a natural resources, biology or other field-related professional for groups.
— Outings for school or youth-focused groups can be arranged in the "Above the Falls" area in North and Northeast Minneapolis and along the River Gorge in South Minneapolis. Contact Assistant Stewardship Coordinator Kate Clayton, kclayton[at]fmr.org.
— School, corporations, church groups, afterschool programs, etc. are welcome to contact FMR regarding outings in Dakota County or Cottage Grove. Typically, such a private event would take place in the summer in a high-quality natural area. Restoration needs, as determined by the FMR restoration ecologists, would determine and guide the activity, most likely an invasive species removal and/or native plant seed collection. The FMR ecologist would explain the relevance of the work, complete a brief training, etc. There would need to be a minimum of 20 participants (actual show-ups) ... and they should be individuals who enjoy getting dirty for a good cause, or are at least are game for giving it a try. We suggest requiring participation of some type for all, but allowing those who really just aren't into the outdoors another way to help, such as arranging carpooling.
If this looks like a good fit for your group, please email Volunteer Coordinator Amy Kilgore, akilgore@fmr.org, with a brief description of your group, schedule considerations and complete contact information.
Just looking for an Earth Day activity?
If you have a group of 10 or so...
FMR typically offers at least one Earth Day cleanup posted on our events calendar and announced in the Mississippi Messages e-newsletter in February and March.
If you have a group of 20 or more...
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation is looking for groups to coordinate a site for their annual Earth Day cleanup, usually the third Saturday morning of April. For more information visit their Earth Day page.