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

FMR's Laura Mann Hill featured in 'SciGirls River Rescuers' episode
Catch FMR Stewardship & Education Program Director Laura Mann Hill in the latest "SciGirls" series. Read more
Four young people look at a watershed model with Laura
Welcome to four new FMR staff
This spring we're excited to introduce you to four new staff who will work with our youth programs, events, restoration projects and pollinator research. Read more
Julia, Leah, Carrie, Sov
Celebrating the Water Knowledge Network
FMR debuted our Water Knowledge Network last summer to share community knowledge about water and love for water, while building skills for youth and adults to care for our watershed. Here's what we learned. Read more
People circled in community garden
Farewell Sophie Downey!
After five years of service, FMR's outreach and volunteer coordinator Sophie Downey is moving on. Sophie's hard work brought thousands of metro residents to natural areas to help restore habitat and strengthen community connections. Yay, volunteers! Read more
Sophie Downey smiling for the camera while standing in front of the Mississippi River.
What our volunteers and youth accomplished in 2022
Thanks to 958 young river stewards and 1,926 volunteers for joining us to restore habitat, monitor water quality, stencil storm drains, clean up riverbanks and more this year. You made a difference for the river! Read more
Volunteers in front of sunset
'Heal with the Earth:' FMR's 2022 mural for water quality
FMR worked with artist Graci Horne this year to create a water quality mural at Lake Phalen: a youth-inspired design showing the hydrogen cycle through life connected by water — Dakota floral, wild rice, animals — up through the atmosphere. Read more
Artist Graci Horne with the completed mural
Activating youth leadership through water stewardship programming
Youth leaders at FMR hosted two educational events for our communities, sharpening their leadership skills and engaging other young people in water stewardship activities. Read more
Two people stand with storm drain stencil in front of Como Lake
Congrats to our 2022 ESI summer intensive fellows!
We doubled the size of our summer intensive program for high school-aged youth this year. Find out what our fellows explored and learned, read two reflections on the program and see their final projects. Read more
Group photo
ESI guest post: PFAS in Minnesota and impacts on east metro drinking water
This is a guest post from 2022 Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI) fellow Alecia Jendro who researched the history of 3M's PFAS disposal in the East Metro, the resulting health and environmental impacts, and what's being done about it now. Read more
ESI guest post: The nitrogen cycle and how it affects different organisms
This is a guest post from 2022 Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI) fellow Spencer who created a video exploring the nitrogen cycle and the health of aquariums and how that compares to the Mississippi River. Read more
Spencer

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Upcoming Events

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 - 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Rotary Pavilion at Levee Park, Hastings
Saturday, August 3, 2024 - 9:00am to 2:00pm
Mississippi River Gorge, Minneapolis
New date: Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 5 p.m.
Hidden Falls Regional Park, St. Paul