BIGGER River Journey: A Field Trip for Grown-Ups
For 30 years, the Big River Journey field trip has engaged children on the Mississippi River. Our flagship program takes 3rd through 5th graders out on an authentic paddleboat in the Mississippi River for an eight mile journey filled with hands-on learning opportunities.
Once a year, this field trip is open to grown-ups!
We’ve kept some classics from the school field trip, but also made some elegant upgrades to the experience. Step aboard the very same paddleboat, but see it transformed to include a full Captain’s Dinner, a free drink ticket at the onboard bar, and brand new, never before seen learning stations!
The evening will be structured like a “school day”, including morning announcements, lunch, three class periods, and recess! Of course, there will also be breathtaking sights of the river from the outdoor decks—just like what students experience on Big River Journey.
Tickets: $100 General Pubic • $75 MPC Members • $50 Volunteers
All proceeds from this fundraising event will go to a good cause: keeping Mississippi Park Connection well funded so we can support the National Park Service and Mississippi River through stewardship and habitat restoration, youth education, and community programming.
The Sacred Water Shared Future campaign is powered by you! The heart of this centennial celebration is the incredible variety of events planned and hosted by our partners — community groups, nonprofits, businesses, schools, and individuals who feel a connection to the Mississippi River.
We do not host events ourselves; instead, we serve as a central hub for river-focused activities happening across the Twin Cities throughout 2026.