Paddling with Mike

It's time for another paddling adventure with Mike Clark!  This trip coincides with the Trash Bash at the Confluence.  We will be leaving from Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area this time and paddling across to Duck Island where we will spend the morning making piles of trash to be collected later by the large skiffs of MO River Relief.

You do NOT need to paddle to come to the Trash Bash, but if you are interested in paddling, I will need a signed waiver (attached) and an email reply to this permission form indicating you plan to participate.

For all those planning to paddle with Mike Clark on March 27, please read the following:

Details - We will meet at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge by 8:15am where we will register for the Trash Bash event and meet Mike Clark.  We will then travel to our put in at Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area with Mike Clark.

Any River Kids needing transportation to and from the event should contact Ben.

We will take out at Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area around noon and return to Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Parking Lot for lunch.

The event ends at 2pm.

Weather is highly unpredictable in March, thus all participants should watch local weather predictions for the Confluence region and come prepared.  The only thing that will prevent us from paddling will be high water conditions. Mike and Ben will make the decision to cancel if necessary and Ben will send out an email by 6am on Saturday at the latest.

Lunch will be provided.

Paddlers should bring a water bottle, change of clothes, and towel, as well as snacks if so desired - all packed in a dry bag.  (Borrow or buy from Ben.)

I am aware of all the details, and I give permission for ___________________ to attend the paddling trip on March 27 with River Kids and Mike Clark.

E-Signature _________________________

Emergency Phone Number 1 - _______________________ Backup Phone Number - _______________________

Thanks!

Ben

Download attached file here.

Cleanup Season is Upon Us

Hey all,

There will be a number of cleanups that start popping up all spring long...You already know about the one on March 27 at the Old Chain of Rocks, but here are a couple more...attached you'll find some dates from River des Peres Watershed Coalition, with whom we've worked closely these past few years.

Please come join them if you are able!

Ben

View attached file here.

Confluence Trash Bash - March 27

I am aware that some of us will not be around to participate, but if you are and would like to attend the biggest annual river cleanup in the area, see the attached flyer and mark your calendar.

Mike Clark will be taking River Kids families out to Duck Island.  If you're interested in paddling, you can join the fun that day...we'll go rain or shine as long as the river doesn't rise.
If you just want to clean on land, there will be numerous guides taking people out to various locations that have been scouted, including North Riverfront Park again.

I'll send a reminder when we get closer with permission slips and such for paddlers.  Just wanted to give you the chance to consider it now...

Ben

View attached file here.

A Successful Polar Bear Pickup

Well, the weather folks vastly underestimated the River Kids karma...it was a simply amazing day.  The sun stayed out, the temp stayed up, and approximately 75 volunteers worked together over the course of the day to clean up a huge section of North Riverfront Park...Overall, the event was an absolute success.

Thank you to everyone who showed up!  Given our numbers and the amount of trash we were able to pickup, the Polar Bear Pickup has established itself as the 4th biggest annual cleanup in the entire St. Louis Region...an impressive accomplishment no doubt!

Special thanks to Kylar Kennedy and the Polar Bear Pickup Committee for their leadership on this project.  Without their vision and effort, it wouldn't have come together the way it did.

Take care!

Ben

Polar Bear Pickup This Weekend

This is a reminder to some of you and news to others.  The River Kids are hosting a winter river cleanup along the Mississippi River at North Riverfront Park THIS SATURDAY!  You'll find a flyer attached with more of the details.

I've added a few of you to this particular mailing in hopes that at the very least you will find what the River Kids are doing this weekend interesting. And at most, I'm hoping you might want to join in and bring a few friends.

If you do want to attend and eat lunch, please send an email to River Kids at riverkids@newcityschool.org to let them know how many folks you are bringing and how many will be eating lunch.  Catering is by Orlando's and Ces and Judy's.

Spread the word!

See some of you soon!

Ben Griffiths
River Kids