A serene image for a rocky 2020: FMR's fourth water quality mural
This summer, local artists worked with students to design our fourth water quality mural at Harriet Island featuring the Mississippi, an iconic bridge, wildlife and more.
Our latest water quality mural is also our first to focus on the Mississippi River. The postcard-like design showcases the river as a serene destination, created by two local artists with input from students. See the mural up close near the pavilion at Harriet Island. >>
Fall 2020 programs and resources for students, teachers
Join us online or for a socially-distanced outing this fall!
We're adapting educational offerings and group outings during this unique back-to-school season. Learn about our live virtual presentations, outdoor activities and online curriculum available through the fall. >>
'Erosion: Sculpting the Landscape' online lesson
To reduce erosion, students from Harding High Earth Club planted native shrubs and flowers with FMR staff on the Indian Mounds Park bluff overlooking the river in St. Paul.
FMR is proud to conduct indoor and outdoor educational programs for approximately 2,000 youth annually. We now also offer our educational resources online.
Come explore our Minnesota landscape and learn how erosion continues to form many of its distinct features and impacts our great Mississippi River. >>
'Ecosystems Invaded!' online lesson
Many invasive species removal projects are taken on and completed by high school students. Here a group of Harding High School students and their teacher pose next to the pile of buckthorn they were able to remove.
FMR is proud to conduct indoor and outdoor educational programs for approximately 2,000 youth annually. We now also offer our educational resources online.
In this program we learn what an ecosystem is, the difference between native, non-native, invasive, and non-invasive plants and animals, and why this matters for our local wildlife and waters.
Come explore our waters with these videos, note sheets and activities. >>
'Our Waters' online watershed lesson
The Mississippi River is the main river in our local watershed. About half of the continental United States drains water into the Mighty Mississippi.
FMR is proud to conduct indoor and outdoor educational programs for approximately 2,000 youth annually. We are now also offering our educational resources online.
What is a watershed and how do humans impact both the land and our water's health? Come explore our waters with these videos, note sheets and activities. >>
Another banner year for our young river stewards!
A big thank you to all the young river stewards who helped us protect and restore the Mighty Mississippi in 2019 — all 2,482 of you!
Students stenciled educational messages alongside storm drains, collected trash throughout Twin Cities parks and helped not only restore habitat along the river but research the best ways to keep it healthy in the future. Plus, students in our new pilot program for exploring the environmental field. >>
Stormwater mural celebrates water at Lake Phalen
Artists Liv Novotny and Violeta Rotstein work on the stormwater mural at Lake Phalen.
On the bridge near the pavilion at Lake Phalen, if you look down, you’ll see a new mural. On June 1 at WaterFest, lead artist Liv Novotny and assistant artist Violeta Rotstein led volunteers to paint this beautiful reminder that all roads lead to our waters. >>
Think spring: Schedule your service and educational programs now
FMR works with many youth and service groups each year. Groups learn about and take care of the river through stenciling outings, cleanups and educational programming. (Photo by Tom Reiter)
Looking forward to warmer weather? We are too! FMR is starting to book spring programs for youth and group outings. If you are interested in a stenciling event, trash cleanup or indoor educational opportunity with FMR staff, we'd love to hear from you soon. >>
Young river stewards hit it out of the park once again
Andersen United Community School students have removed garlic mustard from the Minneapolis gorge for the past three years. This year, they beat the FMR record for amount of plants removed at one event. In two hours, 82 students removed 23 bags of garlic mustard.
A giant thank you to the hundreds of young river stewards who helped us protect and restore the mighty Mississippi this year. >>
Painted turtles and pink lotus flowers help keep our waters from turning green
You can now visit these colorful, water quality-themed mural at Como Lake! This mural is the second design by community members to decorate Como Lake's shores.
Ever wondered why so many metro lakes turn green in the summer?
For St. Paul's Lake Como and many others, one main reason is nutrients that come from neighborhood lawns and streets. After it rains, fertilizer, leaves and grass clippings are directed into our local lakes, creeks and rivers via storm drains, in turn feeding algae and excessive plant growth.
At Como, a pair of murals reminds us of this important connection between our yards, streets, lakes and rivers, and celebrates the community in the process. >>