Youth Education

Bethany Birnie - Students at Hidden Falls 04 - Copy.jpg — Field Trip Experiences

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Seed Pods — Other Education Experiences

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Online Learning — Online Experiences

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In partnership with the National Park Service, our outdoor and online youth education programs provide a fresh, hands-on approach to the ways learning can be integrated with the outdoors, empowering students to become avid learners, and enabling them to begin building a lifelong relationship with the river.

Our goal is to reach more than 20,000 youth and their families annually—increasing student achievement and encouraging outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship as life-long pursuits.

From Our Blog

Featured

Celebrating Katy Paquette

Nestled between the neighborhoods of Beaver Lake Heights and Lincoln Park in east St. Paul is the vibrant school community of Nokomis Montessori-North Campus, where Katy Paquette has become a leader of innovative teaching and holistic environmental learning.

Meet River Educator, Lora Pederson!

There is more push in education to teach students in expansive ways, including not only honoring the wealth of knowledge students bring on their own but also with engaging students in critical thinking, problem-solving, and interest-based learning. I believe this sets students up to build positive learning identities which in turn brings more opportunity and joy to learning.

A Conversation with Ranger and Education Technician Johnna Austin

I am a Park Ranger and Education Technician for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA). I started my park ranger career as an Education Technician for the Bureau of Land Management in Newport, Oregon where I led students through tidepools

2022 Big River Teacher Award Winner: Cara Rieckenberg

The inaugural Big River Teacher Award recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation by a teacher who has participated in the park’s education programs.

Contact us:

David Kappelhoff, Education Coordinator, Mississippi Park Connection
Programs: Big River Journey, Online Learning, Program Development, River Educators, Summer Educator Program & Paddle, Winter River, Working River
dkappelhoff@parkconnection.org

Jim Ford, Education Program Manager, National Park Service
Programs: Big River Journey, Canoemobile, Mississippi River Explorers, Summer Educator Program & Paddle, Take Me to the River, Winter River
jim_ford@nps.gov

Johnna Austin, Education Specialist, National Park Service
Programs: Big River Journey, Canoemobile, Mississippi River Explorers, Take Me to the River
johnna_austin@nps.gov

Abby Olson, Park Ranger, National Park Service
Programs: Big River Journey, Big River Art Contest, Junior Ranger Programs, Mississippi River Explorers, Online Learning, YMCA Camps
abigail_olson@nps.gov