RK Update

Hello all!

Incredible weekend!  I spent Saturday on the Jack's Fork near Eminence, MO...if you're ever in the mood to drive three hours to paddle, I highly recommend visiting the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.  Fall colors are just around the corner!

Great kickoff meeting Friday!  We spent some time getting to know each other and what it means to be a River Kid.  Then we visited the green roof, where the Board presented some of the big ideas they'd like the organization to pursue.  This is not an all-inclusive or must-do list, but it gives us an idea of what might be in store.  Here are the projects/ideas the RK Board set afloat Friday:

• Mural Project - seeking location for design
• Herbie, Jr. - interested in finally finding a home for the VW
• Paddling Trips with Mike Clark and/or Land for Learning
• 2-day Camping Trip
• Host 3rd Annual Polar Bear Pickup
• Possible Trip to DC to clean the Potomac in 2012
• River Quotes on the pump stations along the RdP
• River Quotes along the trail by the RdP
• Build a Dugout Canoe at NCS
• RK Lock-in as fundraiser
• Earth Day Participation in 2011
• Big Party for Ben's Birthday

Thanks to the Board for latching on to some older projects and coming up with some wonderful new ideas.  Okay, I added the last one...can't blame a guy for trying.  New RK members will have their shot at adding to the list soon.

MO River Relief Trip this Friday - Please let me know who is planning on coming along with MO River Relief for a day out and about Friday.  I've heard from 5 or 6 people.  I'd LOVE to get a bunch more going! (Bueller?....Bueller?....)  How about this - If you join us, you're exempt from buying me a huge birthday present at the big party.  Of course little ones will still be expected.

Living Lands and Waters Cleanup - 37 signed up! Yahoooooo... we'll make up more than 10% of the crowd at this rate.  And if history repeats, we'll about 20% of the food...gotta feed those growing kids!

Attached you'll find an updated copy of the RK Meeting Dates for the year...we'll have lots of optional events hit the calendar as the year continues.  I know you were worried your calendar wouldn't fill up...have no fear...

As always, send me new email addresses to add to my list...or let me know if you are no longer interested in receiving emails about River Kids.

See you soon!

Ben

View the attached document here.

RK Board Meeting

I apologize for the late notice!

We're going to have a River Kids Board Meeting TONIGHT!

We'll meet in the Library (or my room if that's taken) from 5pm - 5:45.

I'll order pizza and drinks, to make it a little easier to get everything in tonight.

If you have a River Kid who has already served one year as a member, they may attend as a Board Member.

We also have our first regular River Kids meeting of the year TOMORROW from 4 - 5pm in the Library... kids should all go to Extended Day first for snack. They will be sent to me at 4pm.

Thanks!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Ben

Me Again...

Fingers don't fail me now...I've got another opportunity to throw out there at all you River Warriors...I just got off the phone with Steve Schnarr with MO River Relief.  You know that Confluence Watershed Festival we were invited to participate in on September 17 (No School Day at NCS)?  Well, it's been cancelled...booooooo!

Apparently there were some serious issues within the Hazelwood School District and they decided to pull out...That left them without any students to which they might present.

I know...sounds sad.  But wipe away the tears...one school district's political firestorm is another River Kids' incredible opportunity.  You see, Steve called to see if River Kids would like to throw aside our plans to operate a booth and, instead, join them for a day of adventures on and around the rivers.  They already have presenters from around the state booked and boats ready to roll.  They have connections to all kinds of folks who want nothing more than to share some river time with the River Kids.

If we want to join them, we could spend the day boating the MO, touring a water plant, touching live river animals, cleaning up a section of the river, and on and on...Bottom line is, we'd get our own personal watershed festival of sorts.

Here's the topper, Chad Pregracke and Living Lands and Waters are already in town for a cleanup that weekend in Alton, so we are going to try to get them involved in whatever we do as well.  And if they come along, so might the Discovery Channel crew that films them in action...and it's all about face time on the DC.. oh, wait... it's actually all about the rivers, but it's sure fun to be on TV.

So what I need from you all is to check the calendars...see if you can throw everything out for the day and commit to spending the day on the river.  It will definitely be worth your while!

Yes, parents are welcome...yes, kids may come without parents as well. You'll just have to sign one of those awesome RK waivers and we'll arrange transportation/supervision.  We'll work out those details as necessary.

For now, please let me know if you are interested in this opportunity. Steve is getting back to me in a couple days...I would like to be able to offer him some numbers.

Thanks!

Ben

Another River Cleanup THIS WEEKEND

Hello all!

Thanks for all the replies to my last email regarding the September 25 cleanup with Living Lands and Waters.  Looks like we'll have at LEAST 25 people there!

Some folks reminded me that there is another cleanup this weekend in St. Charles with an equally impressive organization called Missouri River Relief.  I am planning to be out of town, but I figure a River Kids group could still be arranged.

This cleanup is from 8:30am (signing in) to about noon.  It will be a lot like the LL&W cleanup I described.

If you are interested in the details, check out the following link:

http://www.riverrelief.org/event/st-charles-missouri-river-clean-up-2010/

You can certainly register on your own and attend; however, if you'd like me just to count you in the River Kids number, I'll take care of the registration for you.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW TONIGHT OR TOMORROW if you would like me to count you in the River Kids number as I register.  All I need is the number of folks you'll be bringing.

Thanks!

Ben

Living Lands and Waters Cleanup Info

Hello there RK Families!

If you are planning on joining the River Kids (and about 300+ other good folks) at the Living Lands and Waters Cleanup on the Mississippi September 25, please:

1) Sign up on the sheet hanging just outside the PA room

or

2) Email me (include the number of people in your group)

or

3) Go outside and dance down the street playing air guitar - actually, this won't get you signed up at all, but it will help spread the word about the event when people ask you what the devil you're doing.

I need to hear from you by Wednesday afternoon.  If you do not get your information in by then, you may still be able to join in, but you won't be guaranteed the free parking pass for the riverfront lot, cool t-shirt/water bottle, or lunch) (A/B sponsors, so there's beer/energy drinks/soda as well.)

More details on the cleanup:

We will meet at 8:30am on the riverfront (cobblestone parking lot) in front of the south foot of the Arch.  We will sign waivers and be assigned to groups there.  We may also meet some of the LL&W crew who usually speak at the beginning to get everyone revved up.

The actual cleanup usually lasts from about 9am-12pm.  We will be traveling out onto the Mississippi in motorized plate boats to cleaning locations along the shoreline chosen by LL&W in the days prior.

We will return to the Arch at approximately noon for lunch and celebration of a highly successful outing.

A little advice for the newbies and reminders for the river-wise -

1. Your health and safety should come above and before ANYTHING ELSE! Do not touch or attempt to move anything that makes you nervous.  Do not venture into areas that seem dangerous.
2. Dress in layers so you can adjust to the temp as it changes from morning to midday
3. Know that you will be working physically hard the whole time we're out and about, and you may be walking through wooded areas with mosquitoes, chiggers, and itch-causing plants.
4. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting REALLY dirty.
5. Wear rubber boots that come up calf-high or higher.
6. If you bring a small backpack, you can carry a camera, water bottle, and snack with you - however, water bottles will be available where we are working, so you do not NEED to bring anything.
7. Work gloves are provided.
8. Do not try to do too much - if you've never been on a cleanup, it may shock you to see all the trash.  That can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally.  Some of you may want to get it all in one trip, and that's not realistic or even necessary - we will be back!  Also, bigger items can be moved with machinery that LL&W have.  If we let them know there's something we can't get, they will mark it on GPS and come get it later.
9. Plan on having fun - no mudball fights will break out, but we do like to joke around and have a good time.  We'll have a little contest amongst River Kids to find the most interesting item and (if possible) bring it back!

So, I thought this email wasn't long enough, so I'm adding in this line just to make it even longer.  You don't really need to read it.  There's absolutely no reason to read it.  In fact, it's kinda silly that you still are reading this.  I'm starting to think that you need to get out a bit more if all you do is sit around and read pointless lines in emails like this. Seriously, there's absolutely nothing else of value in this paragraph.  Well since you're still reading, My favorite color is purple; I have a cockapoo named Ollie. My kids are named Gavin, Jackson, and Bella...Two of them think it's really funny that some people might still be reading this.

Really, because of who LL&W is (and who we are), this will undoubtedly be an amazing event.

Oh, and FYI - We are limited to bringing 40 people, and 16 are signed up already!

Looking forward to the first cleanup of the year!!!

Rock on, RK!

Ben