Get ready to celebrate as we joyfully welcome back the herons, cormorants, and egrets that make Minnesota their summer home! After their long migratory journey along the Mississippi River, these magnificent birds are returning, heralding the arrival of spring and a season of renewal.
Meet some of the turtles that call the Mississippi River home. Through careful observation and exploration of one of the places they call home, discover how their adapted bodies and behaviors help them survive in this riparian habitat.
The ice is thawing, and birds are migrating north along the Mississippi River. Use binoculars and a spotting scope to look for ducks, mergansers and other water birds! All materials provided.
The great blue herons have returned to the Upper Mississippi River! Learn about herons and their lives on a geocaching course, pretend you’re a great blue heron migrating along the Mississippi Flyway by playing a game. Gain experience using binoculars as you take a walk in search of herons and look for their distinctive blue eggs.
The possibilities for discovery are endless in winter at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area! Join us at Crosby Farm Regional Park where nature’s beauty reveals itself in its serene, frosty charm. This enchanting stroll will be led by a knowledgeable national park ranger who will guide you through the breathtaking floodplain forest, showcasing the […]
Pedal along the Mississippi River on the paved trails near the Gateway Center with a naturalist. Make stops to observe what is happening along the path and near the river in early April. Learn how to plan your own bike rides on the regional trails connecting to other Three Rivers Parks. Bikes and helmets provided upon request.
Learn about the exciting and dangerous work that accompanied a five-decade career of working on America’s river with Lee Hendrix, pilot and former captain in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Lee piloted commercial towboats and the last three overnight passenger steamboats on the Mississippi — the Delta, Mississippi and American Queen. Through engaging storytelling, Hendrix sheds light on his rare experience along one of the most powerful and important waterways in the world. This program is part of the 2026 Big Year of Rivers Speaker Series.
Join us for a morning of interactive art and science at the MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center, where we will learn about the impacts of restoration efforts along the Mississippi River. Following an informative presentation by the director of conservation at Friends of the Mississippi River, Dr. Alex Roth, local poet, Moheb Soliman, will […]
Volunteers needed! We’re kicking off the season this year with a clean-up along the Mississippi in Minneapolis, part of the citywide Earth Day Clean-Up on April 18th. Join us with your own kayak to help! We plan to paddle from Riverfront Park in Fridley down to Boom Island, picking up trash from the river and […]
Join us for a presentation by Andrew Tri, a research wildlife biologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. From an era of persecution to conservation and management, Minnesota’s black bears are truly a conservation success story. We’ll discuss bear ecology, management, conservation, how to coexist with these amazing critters and why rivers can be corridors for range expansion. This program is part of the 2026 Big Year of Rivers Speaker Series.
Calling all knitters and crocheters! Commemorate the Big Year of Rivers by trying a new twist on a temperature blanket. Instead of using the temperature for each day of the year, use the Mississippi River’s flow rates. In this class you will visit the river and learn why its flow fluctuates so much and the impact that has on people and world around us. You will be provided with a breakdown of river flow ranges per color, the data for the year up to date and step-by-step instructions on how to get the daily readings for the remainder of the year. Several different pattern options will be provided to get your creative juices flowing and find a style that suits you.
“From Rapids to Reservoirs & Back Again?’ — a presentation by John O. Anfinson, PhD For the first time since the Twin Cities’ founding, we have an opportunity to redefine the Mississippi River in the heart of the Twin Cities. In 2014, Congress directed the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to permanently close the Upper […]
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.