Between the months of April and August 2021, Missouri River Relief offered boat rides to those who enthusiastically registered for the Big Muddy Boat Ride Series. Based out of Cooper's Landing Campgrounds & Marina, we put aside one weekend each month to operate this program.
During these weekends, registered participants had the opportunity to be aboard one of eight trips. Despite cancelations due to weather, we were able to take 154 adventurous participants on a 2-hour interactive experience. On this trip we introduced them to our treasured natural resource by giving them an up close and personal tour.
For many participants, this was their first time experiencing the Missouri River by boat. Time and time again we heard stories of people who have spent years, sometimes decades, growing up alongside the Missouri River but never having the time or chance to immerse themselves in it from the perspective of a boat. We were thrilled to be a part of these brand new experiences.
We would not have been able to run this program without the help of our wonderful volunteers. Across the four months, 8 volunteers offered their time as deckhands and boat captains.
Thank you to those volunteers who jumped at the chance to share their love of the Big Muddy with their community.