Camping

Hello all!

Yup...it's long.  But there's a ton of VERY important information locked up in this bad boy.  So please grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and read carefully and thoroughly. :)

If you have not replied to my email about the camping trip this weekend, please reply as soon as possible.  I need to have a final number by tomorrow (Wednesday) in order to finalize the details of the trip.

If your child is NOT attending (and if you haven't already done so), please send me an email saying that your River Kid is NOT going.  This will help me figure out numbers as well.

I also need to know exactly who is planning on coming late.  I've heard that there is some secondary school testing and perhaps some baseball going on Saturday morning.  I am willing to work out a meeting location where those kids can join the trip, but I need to know for sure who needs this to happen and the earliest time each person could make it to North Riverfront Park (by Mosenthein Island).

Assuming numbers do not change much from here on, Mike and I have worked out a tentative plan for what could be one of the most amazing river trips possible.  Here is the tentative plan for those who need some more detail right now:

I will meet everyone who wants a ride at NCS at 8am on Saturday.  (I will secure a bus if necessary, but again, I need to know numbers.)  We will drive to Columbia Bottoms where we will meet up with Mike, pack all the gear into the canoes and set off.  We will paddle to Duck Island (where we have sent substantial time cleaning this year) and enjoy some hiking and
exploration.  We will then paddle on down river.  (We could pick folks up at the Columbia Bottoms kayak access here if timing fits.)

The river is high enough that the Chain of Rocks rapids are not rapids, but flatwater...so we will paddle right on down to Mosenthein Island.  (This is the second option for pickup for latecomers.)  Once we've connected with latecomers (if necessary), we will proceed to the east side of Mosenthein Island to our campsite.  We'll set up camp and then explore Mosenthein until dinner time.

We'll wake up, explore, eat breakfast, spend a little more time on Mosenthein, then paddle across to our take out at North Riverfront Park.

We will take care of all group camping/paddling gear.  However, each child must bring the following personal gear:

• Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
• 2 full changes of clothing
• Outer layer - jacket/coat (nighttime temps will be around 60)
• Rain wear
• Waterproof boots for paddling
• Dry Shoes for land
• Hat
• Head lamp
• Water bottle (unbreakable)
• Lunch/Snacks for Saturday
• Optional entertainment - frisbee, ball, book, sketchpad, etc.

NOTE - For one night, toiletries are not necessary.  Of course if there's anyone who really feels they need them, that's fine.

All personal gear should be packed in a dry bag and MARKED IN SOME RECOGNIZABLE WAY...tying a bandana or placing a sticker can make it easy to spot your bag in a pile of 15 RK bags.

I have dry bags for loan or purchase ($18) in the Performing Arts room.

Weather looks reasonably good.  Forecast suggests isolated showers, but sun in between...highs in the upper 70's. I will have access to weather radar and reports at all times via cell phone.

I will have access to email and calls as well in case you need to contact us for any reason.

If numbers grow much beyond what they are right now, I would love to have an additional adult paddler or two join the outing.  If you are interested in coming along, please let me know.

FOOD - We will have a basic camp food menu, with the regular hot dogs and s'mores, cold cuts and chips, etc...as well as some vegetarian options. However, if you have any special dietary needs that we should address, please sent them my way pronto...we'll make sure everyone eats and eats well!

Questions?  Anything I should include in my sequel?

Ben

Permission For Camping

It's almost River Time!

Here's the waiver for the camping/floating trip this weekend. Please fill out this form and return a hard copy to me by Saturday morning.

I will send out an informational email with more details, but please reply to this email offering your permission for your child to attend the trip.  I need to collect numbers ASAP for Mike:

I give _________________ permission to participate in the River Kids Camping/Canoeing Trip on Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2.  I understand that my child will be paddling Saturday morning from Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area down river to Duck Island where he/she will camp overnight.  I understand, the group will paddle to the kayak access ramp the next day and return to NCS for pickup in the afternoon.

Parent e-Signature:_______________________

Earth Day and the Weather

After a lot of looking at radar and listening to weather predictions for today, I've decided that we should not participate today in the Earth Day Festival.  I just can't imagine anything good coming from standing around in cold, windy, wet conditions all day with no way to get out of the elements. To me that sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Beyond the safety and comfort issues, I believe attendance at the Festival will be very low.  It doesn't seem worth all the energy, effort, discomfort and risk to present to the few folks who attend in spite of the conditions.

So stay home today, and stay healthy and dry.  There will be other Earth Days!

See you all soon!

Ben

Earth Day

Please do stop by my room and sign up for a shift at Earth Day this weekend...right now, there are only two folks signed up...I'll have lots of

snacks to eat.  :)

Ben

TED Talk with 12-Year-Old Author

I told the River Kids about this 12-year-old author and her speech about valuing kids' perspectives and contributions...it's worth the 8 minutes it takes to watch.

Ben

http://www.ted.com/talks/adora_svitak.html

RK Earth Day

Hello all!

First, before I forget to mention it...at one point there was a paddling trip scheduled with Mike Clark for April 24...that trip is canceled in light of Earth Day and the camping trip being moved to May 1-2.

Second, though some of the 4th graders had baseball practice and had to miss out on some of the fun, many of us spent Friday doing very Earth-friendly activities around NCS...We planted some trees, weeded the green roof, and organized gear for our Earth Day presentations coming up this weekend...As
much as we need to be sitting around planning our projects at times (much to the chagrin of the more active portion of our crew - me included), it was certainly nice to be moving about taking action!

Third, all the juicy Earth Day details:

While Earth Day is officially April 22, the St. Louis Earth Day Festival is this coming Sunday, April 25.  Weather permitting, there will be some 2000-3000 people in Forest Park enjoying the Festival!

River Kids is, for its 5th year in a row, hosting its very own educational booth where our kids will use a stream table and other activities to grab the attention of passers-by and hopefully open some eyes to the major issues facing our rivers today.

Did you know that approximately 50 times per year, the River des Peres reaches levels high enough that raw sewage flows freely into the river and down to the Mississippi...

That's the kind of information that our kids will pass on to their audience as they present on the factors affecting the health of our local waterways.

In addition to running stream table presentations, the kids will be selling merchandise and talking with festival-goers at our information table or around our beading table - where participants may create a necklace with 100 beads, each representing 1% of the Earth's water...97 green and blue for
salt water, 2 clear for freshwater trapped in ice caps, and one silver representing the precious freshwater that isn't frozen.

The festival is open to the public from 11am-6pm...Rachel Stone set up the attached sign up sheet - I'm sending it for your viewing.  I will hang the actual sheet just outside the door to the PA room...Please stop by and sign up officially on that sheet. (That way you will also be able to see where there are empty slots.

NOTE - All-day volunteers are certainly welcome (both parents and children). You may also stay for longer than a shift indicates...Basically, if it feels crowded, some people simply take a break and enjoy the festival for a little while.  I've never felt there were too many people at the booth helping!

CRUCIAL DETAILS:

- Kids may be dropped off to work...however, you MUST accompany them to the booth and pick them up from the booth.  The crowds are just too big and security too light for me to trust sending a kid in or out on their own.  I must also be given a current CELL PHONE NUMBER to call in case of emergency.
- RK will have a water cooler on site and cups.  It would be best if kids BRING A WATER BOTTLE, instead of using up several cups.
- If there's a parent willing to bring a cooler or bag of snacks, please let me know.  Not necessary, but can be fun to have around.
- Please plan for your child's lunch by either sending lunch or planning to buy lunch.  (Note - With parent permission, I will send a child with a friend to the food vendors nearby if you send money.  (If I haven't heard from a parent, I will not allow any child to leave the booth area except to go to the bathroom.)
- SUNSCREEN - enough said.
- Kids should WEAR RK T-shirts or NCS Green Roof T-shirts and any other RK gear they would like to wear.
- YOUNGER SIBLINGS ARE WELCOME to come help at the booth.  They can help out at the stream table or beading table or just wave and smile.

PARKING - is often TERRIBLE the day of the event.  Cars are not allowed in after 10am, so You should plan to arrive a half-hour early in order to park and walk to the booth.

A map of the festival is attached...we are in the NATURE NEIGHBORHOOD and will be setting up in sites 10 and 11.  (In general, we are across the circle dive from the front of the MUNY on the large grassy field.)

You may find out more general information on the Festival at
stlouisearthday.org

So after you've read all the details, please stop by the PA room and sign up for a shift.  Though I know there are always lots of other things to do on a Sunday, this is a big deal for RK and we hope every member will show up for at least an hour or two...

Please feel free to email me with any questions you might have about this event.

Thanks a ton!  Rock on River Kids!

Ben

RK Schedule - Latest Edition

Here are the remaining River Kids meetings and events for the year:

General RK Meetings:

April 16 - Dedicated to Preparing for Earth Day
May 7 - Cancelled (I'm in Memphis with 5th Grade)

Board Meetings:

April 30 - Final Board Meeting

Mike Clark Trips

May 1-2 - RK Campout with Mike Clark (for all RK members)

Additional Dates:

April 25 ­ Earth Day in Forest Park
May 22 ­ RK Family Party

If you prefer a linear approach:

Friday, April 16 - General Meeting to prepare for Earth Day
Sunday, April 25 - Earth Day in Forest Park
Friday, April 30 - Final Board Meeting
Saturday-Sun, May 1-2 - RK Campout
May 22 - End of the Year Party at the Cassilly's House


Please keep in mind that there are cleanups that will pop up.  I will
announce those dates as I hear of them.

Also, I will send out additional info on Earth Day as well as the RK Party
soon.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Ben

--
Jack Biggs

Extra Trees

Apparently, though there was a great effort on Saturday to help out at the Trash Bash, there were few volunteers at the U-City tree planting over at Mona Terrace on Sunday.

I'm wondering if there's anyone who might like to go out there this Sunday and put some of the remaining trees in the ground???????????  If so, I'll tell Linda Fried that we'd like to save the day and keep 300 trees from going to waste!  Anyone game?????

Ben


Hi

We've gotten through possibly 1/2 of the 600+ plants we ordered: not many volunteers (other than Theo, Leslie and Suzanne), one washed out Sunday, maybe too many ordered.  At any rate, Theresa is leaving town tomorrow and I just can't give too much more time to this - not before the end of April.  SO:  Any suggestions about what to do with the extra plants?  Could Deer Creek use them? Any other sites you can think of?

I can heel in some of them at the Vernon nursery for a later date.  I can also offer them to the U.City Forestry head, although I'm not sure he can use them.

Please let me know what you think ASAP.

Linda

Results from the Trash Bash

Thanks to all you incredible folks who made it out to the Trash Bash last
weekend!  Attached is an email with all the results of the cleanup...40+
TONS OF TRASH!!!!

Also, sorry I wound up missing out on the fun...Jaime has fully recovered
and I'm hoping that's our last trip to ER for a WHILE! (For those of you who
didn't know, she got dehydrated as the result of having a severe stomach flu
and we spent that day at Barnes...yuck!)

See you all soon!

Ben


Trash Totals: 40.9 tons of trash and scrap.

What a great number!  I am waiting for a tire number from Mitch so this is not the "final" number.  Please review and let me know if what I have is the same as what you reported.  Great job everyone!  I feel like celebrating! Talk to you soon.

Dona