Stewardship & Education

Over a thousand metro residents help restore and learn about the health of our metro Mississippi River through FMR events and outings.

We share upcoming public volunteer events to protect and restore natural areas and riverfront parks on our events calendar. We also offer education and volunteer opportunities for youth and educators.

Here's what our stewardship and outreach staff are currently working on behind the scenes, plus more information from program participants and partners.

Follow us on social media (FacebookInstagram and Twitter) and sign up for our Mississippi Messages e-newsletter to stay current on our work.

POSTS

Educators, sign up for updates!
Sign up and we'll email you when we have new opportunities and resources for teachers and classrooms. Read more
Students work with a watershed model
Earth Day and beyond: Celebrate and steward the river this spring!
Join us for the annual Earth Day cleanup, or get outside with FMR this spring to steward the river! Read more
A family of volunteers at the 2022 Earth Day cleanup
Five things we learned from stream monitoring in 2023
Three teams of volunteers pulled hundreds of samples from streams in 2023, detailing insects and crustaceans present — a key to analyzing stream health over time. Here are five takeaways from our work. Read more
Person in waders samples a stream
Position announcement: Stewardship & Education Program Associate
Join our team to support FMR’s volunteer stewardship and habitat restoration events and environmental education programs! Read more
Thank you to our 2023 volunteers and youth participants!
We're celebrating the accomplishments of our 1,889 volunteers and 1,081 youth participants this year! See some of our favorite photos and highlights. Read more
Volunteer and youth clean up, water plants and save seeds
FMR's new Stewardship & Education Program Director
We're excited that paddler, writer and river-lover Natalie Warren joined our staff in November to lead our Stewardship & Education program. Welcome, Natalie! Read more
Natalie Warren in a canoe on the Mississippi River
Now available: FMR's enhanced Cultural Landscapes lesson
Our education program teaches hundreds of youth yearly about watersheds, pollution, ecosystems and more. Recently, we updated our cultural connections curriculum to be more engaging, inclusive and user-friendly for educators. Read more
Advisory council listens to a speaker about their cultural river connection
Reflections on the recent youth & climate change ruling
A landmark decision for the first constitutional climate trial in the U.S. is about more than climate change. It's about considering the full impact of our actions today, and the power youth have to fight climate change in the courts — and win. Read more
Two young people hold a sign in the river gorge that reads "Protect our future"
ESI guest post: Environmental Racism in the Twin Cities: Pathways to Justice
ESI assistant Riya created an interactive website to showcase youth voices and other perspectives on the past, present and future of environmental injustice in the Twin Cities. Read more
Riya Stebleton by a garden
Latest storm drain mural gives clear message: just water, no waste
Our 2023 mural for water quality celebrates the metro river with vibrant color and a clear message. Visit the new mural at the scenic overlook along the Mississippi River Gorge in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood. Read more
Colorful storm drain mural with text: Just water — no waste

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Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
West River Parkway and 36th Street/44th Street, Minneapolis
Applications due Friday, May 3 by 5 p.m.
Virtual and in-person
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area