Rain garden talk + tending
Rain gardens are one way for homeowners to beautify their yard while having a direct impact on the river. Rain gardens are designed to catch rainwater runoff, helping prevent erosion and filtering pollutants. They also provide wildlife habitat, attract pollinators and are a way to bring in beautiful plants and wildflowers to your yard.
A seagull made of plastic: The threat of plastics in our waters
Audrey, a summer Youth Empowerment Program participant, wanted to make the threat of microplastics in freshwater visible through art. She crafted her seagull sculpture using plastic she found during just half an hour at a Lake Superior beach. >>
Tend the planted prairie at Indian Mounds Park [FULL - register for waitlist]
Indian Mounds Park is home to one of the most photographed river views in the metro area. FMR volunteers — including students from nearby Harding High Earth Club, community members (including Friends of Mounds Park) and individuals and families from throughout the metro area have been restoring the native bluff prairie at historic Indian Mounds Park's since 2011.
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. >>
Tackling the issue of fishing line for wildlife
We've written a lot about how anglers can help our waters and wildlife by avoiding lead tackle. But another key action is disposing of fishing line responsibly. Jonathan, a Youth Empowerment Program participant this summer and avid fisher, built and installed a PVC fishing line receptacle at Hidden Falls Park. He's also got some tips for dealing with fishing line. >>
'Wade into Wetlands' online lesson
Students from Community of Peace Academy help keep wetlands clean and healthy by removing trash and garlic mustard in the wetlands of Lake Phalen in St. Paul.
Discover the different types of wetlands in Minnesota and why they're so important to the health of our river and environment in our newest online lesson (one of four) complete with videos, optional outdoor activities and teachers' curriculum. >>
Stencil storm drains and more, July through late-October
Lop sprouting buckthorn in the river gorge [FULL]
Join us for an evening of working along the beautiful Mississippi River on the Minneapolis side of the river gorge. This event will take place in the sand flats - an area of riverside floodplain forest at the north end of FMR's 36th St. Oak Savanna restoration project.
Growing diversity for climate resiliency in Minneapolis riverfront forests
In a gravel-bed nursery that captures stormwater at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization’s office, we’re growing tree species predicted to do well as Minnesota's climate warms. These bare-root trees will be ready to plant at our habitat restoration sites this fall, where they’ll strengthen the resiliency of our riverfront canopy. >>
'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. >>