RK Update

Another great trip today... paddled through the confluence, saw some eagles, drank some hot chocolate, scouted for trash on Duck Island, hiked the game trails, shot some video, drew in the sand, catapulted into the air...you know, just a typical day in the life of a River Kid.

The next trip is Feb 20.  That will be what the group decided will be our Polar Bear Pickup for the year.  Those who want to may paddle that day and cleanup on Mosenthein Island.  The rest who are looking to stay on the banks
will be able to cleanup in North Riverfront Park along the river.  We'd love to get tons of people out for this...spread the word.  All ages are welcome (paddling would be for ages 7+ with parent - normal 4th-6th may sign up without parent). We'll be creating a flyer and talking this one up around school.  If you want more details now, just email me.

I'd also like to put a plug in now for the March 27 Trash Bash up around the Chain of Rocks.  About 500 volunteers from various schools and organizations will be in attendance there.  We can bring as many people as we want, and
all ages are welcome there as well.  Mike Clark will be leading a group of our paddlers out to Duck Island that day.  However, if you'd like to be on land, this is another day you can clean in various places without hitting the water.  You'll be placed with a group leader who will guide you to an assigned location.

FYI - if you're interested in spending the night on Duck Island the night of the Trash Bash, contact me.  There is a crew of hard core cleaners from MO River Relief that will be spending the night there, along with Muddy Mike. They are willing to share camp with a few of us if we are interested.

Another productive meeting on Friday.  Lots of projects moving forward nicely.

Board Meeting this coming Friday.  Lots to talk about.  I've gotta feeling the next update will include some great new developments pending the Board's discussion.

I'm attaching an updated version of the "Dates to Remember" document that I sent earlier in the year...it lists all the meeting dates, paddling dates, campout date, and more.  Thought it might be nice to have it all in one document.

See on the river or in the halls,

Ben

Paddling Saturday - Two Changes

Last chance to let me know you'll be joining us on this weekend's paddling outing.  We meet at NCS at 8am.

The first change is, we'll probably be back TO NCS by about 4:30 pm instead of 6pm as previously listed.

The second change is that, due to VERY muddy conditions near Mosenthein, we will be putting in from the concrete boat ramp at Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area and paddling through the confluence down to Duck Island to clean.  We'll take out at the Columbia Bottoms Conservation Kayak Access...

This makes for much easier ins and outs...it's a longer paddle in distance (2.5 miles) but it's with the current...AND it's right through prime eagle territory...

Let me know ASAP if you want to come along.  Again, I can accept permission forms Saturday morning, but I'd like a simple reply to this email stating your interest in attending either tonight, if you're still up, or tomorrow...the earlier the better.

Thanks!

Ben

--
Jack Biggs

RK Update - New Dates for Calendar

It appears my email finally went through...so I figured I'd go back a week and resend an update that never went through as well...it's got all the dates for paddling trips and much more...enjoy!

Hey RK,

Here's my randomly-timed food for thought on recent RK developments - Sit back and enjoy a few hours of light reading.

The past few meetings have been incredibly productive.  The project planning committees have been generally very effective.  The result is that many ideas are fast becoming products.  There will soon be a great deal of opportunities to get involved and help out as a RK family.  Though some dates are not set, and some projects still in development may create more
opps, here are the events that are currently falling in place, along with some definite dates for certain events and activities:

River Kids Lock-In - One Friday night in the spring - date TBD - This is being designed as a fundraiser for River Kids - There will be a fee that will serve as a donation to the group.  Look for more details and a sign-up opportunity sometime in the near future.

Polar Bear Pickup - I believe either the January or February paddle with Mike will be the official Polar Bear Pickup - we will try to get a ton of people out to North Riverfront Park to help cleanup that area while a bunch of those who are able and willing to commit to a more time-consuming approach, will paddle out to Mosenthein to clean there.

• January 21 - River Buddies Q&A Session with 1st grade parents
• January 24 - 8am-6pm paddling with Mike - Mosenthein Island
• February 4 - First River Buddies Meeting - 4-5pm (For participating RK members)
• February 20 - 8am-6pm paddling with Mike - Mosenthein Island
• February 25 - 2nd River Buddies Meeting - 4-5pm
• March 11 - 3rd River Buddies Meeting - 4-5pm
• March 27 - 8am-2pm - Trailnet Trash Bash at Chain of Rocks Bridge - We will be paddling with Mike that day as part of the cleanup - This is also National Skyscraper Day, so I apologize if this outing interferes with any major plans you might have.
• April 4 - 4th and Final River Buddies Meeting - 4-5pm
• April 10 - River Buddies Cleanup - Location TBD - all are invited to attend (Coincidentally this date is actually National Sibling Day - go figure)
• April 24 - 8am-4pm - Paddling with Mike - Duck Island/Maple Island
• April 25 - St. Louis Earth Day Festival - 9am-7pm including setup and breakdown
• May 21 - RK Family Party - Location to be determined - ideas anyone?  It's National Waiter/Waitress Day, so maybe we should eat out - or are we supposed to give them the day off? Not sure - what a conundrum.
• June 5-6 - River Kids Campout with Mike Clark on the Mississippi - We will spend Saturday cleaning the river with Living Lands and Waters, then campout on one of the local islands overnight.  We will visit with Chad Pregracke and the LL&W crew as part of this experience as well.  INCREDIBLE opportunity!

All that, and we'll still be free for Mardis Gras.

Keep in mind, there are certain projects that may require some additional meeting time.  If so, I will let you all know about those meetings as they are scheduled.

Other project developments:
Mural is being revamped - Reminder - Get your mural design ideas in to my box as soon as possible.  I'll get them to the committee. CD - We are seeking local artists who are willing to donate the use of one of their songs to the production of a CD that would then be sold to raise awareness and funds for River Kids.
Sweatshirt - design is being finalized
Documentary - cameras will be rolling at all events - concept - "A Day or Two in the Life of a River Kid."
Nightime Cleanup - working on a date and logistics

A gift? - Some of us spoke on the last paddling trip about how exceptional Mike Clark is in regards to his knowledge and patience.  He is also generous...to a fault at times, if that's possible.  We do pay Mike for the trips he runs, but it is a nominal amount that he charges, and it's hard to get him to accept more.  So a few of us thought it might be nice to pass a
metaphorical hat around and put together a gift of green as a bonus, perhaps toward the end of the year.  If you are interested in chipping in for this, I will gladly collect and organize the gift.  We could give it to him at the final campout as an extra thank you...or maybe someone has another idea. I'm game for anything!

See you on the river,

Ben

River Trip This Weekend

RK Families,

I apologize for not getting info to you sooner...I have had email issues for a week now and have not been able to send out emails to my larger email lists, like this one...I think I have found the issue, so I'm trying again...

The next Might Mississippi Paddling trip is scheduled for this Saturday, Jan 23 - 8am-6pm.

This trip will be run much like the last one with one change - We are planning to pack our own lunches this time around, allowing us to focus less on gear and more on trash.

RK and parents (even siblings 7+) are welcome to join us on the trip.  But ALL who come along must follow the winter paddling guidelines for gearing up:

Three layers - thin underlayer (long underwear will do), thermal layer (polar fleece or wool - no cotton), and outer layer (waterproof and wind resistant)

Plus, head, hands and feet must be covered.  Waterproof boots are a must. Gloves should also be at least water resistant.

Mike will gladly loan out gear (wetsuit, paddling gloves, and boots) to adults as he did before.  As far as I know he is still short on the youth sizes.  If that changes I'll notify you all.

Water levels are rising...If I need to cancel or move the trip, I will notify everyone by email the night before.

If you are planning to attend, please fill out the attached liability waiver and the permission form below.  The forms can be turned in as late as Saturday morning, but please email me a quick reply letting me know you are planning to join us.

And as always, please email me if you have any questions about the trip.

Thanks!  Ben


Permission Form:

I give permission for ____________________________ to meet Ben at New City School at 8am on Saturday, January 23 and travel with River Kids to North Riverfront Park where they will meet up with Mike Clark and paddle across the Mississippi River to Mosenthein Island for a river cleanup.  I am aware of all the winter paddling gear guidelines and will prepare my child appropriately for the trip.  I will also send along a lunch, snacks, drink/water bottle, towel, dry change of clothes and drybag to carry everything.


E-Signature: _________________