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Eagle Meet and Greets – Come out to the National Great Rivers Museum to get a bird’s eye view of our migrating feathered friends. Use our scopes to spot eagles in their natural habitat from the heights of the Melvin Price Lock and Dam. A live American Bald Eagle will be here from 12 – 4 pm on January 22 and 29 and February 5 and 12. Drop in to see our National Bird up close and personal! No registration required.
Local Authors’ Book Signings – Eddy L. Harris will be at the National Great Rivers Museum on January 22 from 1 – 3 pm. He will read from the widely acclaimed American classic Mississippi Solo and then hold a Question and Answer session at 1 pm. Mr. Harris will be on hand to autograph copies of the memoir. Come out to hear about his amazing canoe journey from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota to the mouth in New Orleans.
Cheryl Eichar Jett, historian and author of the series Images of America, will be at the National Great Rivers Museum on January 29 from 1 – 3 pm. This series “celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country.” She will discuss her Alton installment with a presentation in our Discovery Theater. Ms. Jett will be on hand to autograph copies of her book. Come out to hear how Alton’s distinct and fascinating history has shaped the character of the community today.
Local author Dan Brannan will be at the museum on February 12, 2012 to speak on Boy Giant, based on the tallest man in recorded history, Robert Wadlow. In addition, Brannan is the executive editor of the Alton Telegraph and has led the paper to more than 100 awards during his tenure. He has also published The Courage to Live, Everyday Angels, and Life to the Fullest: Stories of People Coping with Diabetes. Mr. Brannan will present and then sign copies of Boy Giant.
Masters of the Sky – The Masters of the Sky Festival, which is sponsored by the Meeting of the Rivers Foundation and US Army Corps of Engineers, will be open to the public February 18-20, 2012. There will be three raptor shows each day during which attendees will see several birds of prey, many of which will fly over the audience. Shows begin promptly at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Admission to the show is $5 for adults and $3 for kids; tickets are on sale now at www.mtrf.org or can be purchased by calling 618-462-6979.
SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS – Register through Lewis and Clark Community College in the College for Kids Section. Call Amy at 618.468.5715 or Erin at 618.462.6979 for more information!
“River Island Adventure” Camp – Spend the day exploring the great outdoors in Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary! Follow the compass on the GPS receiver to find hidden caches in the prairie. Put on the waders and work as a team to use a seine net to catch fish. Paddle your way through Ellis Bay, a calm backwater area of the Mississippi River. Spot signs of the animals who call Riverlands home. We provide all equipment and lunch. Campers need to bring water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray. Meet at the green pavilion on Riverlands Way in West Alton.
"Are we there yet?" Navigation Camp - We will be exploring different ways of finding your way! Kids will learn how ancient travelers navigated by the stars and how compasses were created. Participants will learn to use a map and compass and then play an orienteering game to practice their new skills. They will learn how to use a hand-held GPS unit and then go geocaching to find caches hidden around Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. We will provide lunch and materials for the program. Campers need to bring water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray. Meet at the Environmental Learning Facility on Riverlands Way.
"Up a Creek" Kayak Camp - Meet at the Piasa Creek Access Area on July 9 at 9 am. Piasa Creek Access is located 6.5 miles north of Alton on the Great River Road. Paddle your kayak in the calm and beautiful backwaters of the Mississippi! Explore the slough and its inhabitants and we move along Piasa Creek. Participants will learn to "Wear it Right", a lesson on how to choose the appropriate life jacket before we get in the boats. Campers will have on land paddling instruction and on water paddling instruction before we are off on our adventure. We will have plenty of trained staff and instructors to supervise all the kids. We provide all equipment and lunch. Kids need to bring water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
“So, You Want to be an Engineer?” Camp – Engineering is all about problem solving! Learn to survey an area, draw project plans, build and test a bridge, design an egg container that can protect your egg from an 80 foot drop! This week-long camp is packed full of fun! We provide materials. Campers need to bring a water bottle and a snack. Meet at the National Great Rivers Museum.
FAMILY CAMPOUT
Join us for some healthy and dynamic outdoor fun at the Third Annual Family Campout! Meet out at the pavilion on Lock and Dam Way at 4 pm on May 19, 2012. Families will have a blast competing in the kid-friendly events during our own 2012 Summer Olympics. Relax and enjoy dinner and dessert prepared by Park Rangers. Star gaze and sit back by the campfire. Roast mallows for gooey S’mores. Paddle a kayak or canoe in Ellis Bay on Sunday. We will provide all equipment, materials, and food for the event. Families must bring their own camping equipment (tent camping only) including tents, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, camp chairs. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, and water bottles too! The campout costs $50 for a family of four and $10 per additional person. You must pre-register for the event by calling Erin at 618.462.6979.
RIVERLANDS PADDLE FESTIVAL
Come out to Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary on May 20, 2012 from 11 am to 4 pm to take part in this amazing opportunity! Canoes, kayaks, and Stand Up Paddleboards will be available for you to try in the calm backwaters of Ellis Bay. We will supply all the equipment and have safety boaters in the water. Forecast says it’s going to be “Oarsome”!
GIRL SCOUTS
Bridges Program - Delve into engineering as you earn parts of your Building Bridges IP and explore the science behind the beautiful Clark Bridge. Complete the requirements by volunteering to help assist rangers at one of the Building Bridges Try It or badge sessions. Limit adults to Girl Scout ratios. Contact Emily Stanley at estanley@gsofsi.org to register.
Night at the Museum - Girl Scouts are 100 and the Night at the Museum program is 5! Time to celebrate as only the US Army Corps of Engineers and museum staff can. The crazy cast of characters once again animates the exhibits as girls try to be night guards and restore some order. Watch out for that Piasa Bird! Please indicate girl and adult t-shirt size on your registration form next to each participant's name. Contact Emily Stanley at estanley@gsofsi.org to register.
CUB SCOUTS
“Scouts Care” Conservation Day – On May 26, 2012 scouts give back to their community by participating in a conservation program. Previous projects include building nest boxes, constructing fishing line recycling containers, sprucing up hiking trails, or cleaning up trash along the river. Learn why it’s important to take care of our natural areas and get your hands dirty doing your part! Contact Brandon at 618.462.6979 to register.
“So, You Want to be an Engineer?” Day – On June 16, scouts will learn how engineering is all about problem solving! Learn how to survey an area, draw project plans, and build a model bridge. Test your bridge to determine who’s design is the strongest. Contact Brandon at 618.462.6979 to register.
Fish Finatics Day – On July 7, scouts spend the day outdoors in Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary learning to cast, identify your catch, and perfect your technique. We provide the bait and poles. Anyone older than 15 must have a valid fishing license. Contact Brandon at 618.462.6979 to register.
Eagle Events Flyer
The Foundation, in partnership with others who share our vision, conducts many educational and outreach programs both in the museum and offsite. Some examples of these programs include:
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