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River Education

Our Education Philosophy

Missouri River Education engages participants’ innate sense of wonder and natural curiosity to explore the Missouri River through place-based programs that are interdisciplinary in nature and experiential in character. We seek to build participants’ knowledge and understanding of the Missouri River through hands-on experiences that will deepen their connection and sense of responsibility for its care and stewardship.

Informed by our research and experience working with communities along the Missouri River, we believe this approach inspires community engagement, academic achievement and a sense of stewardship.

200+
Educational River Trips
30,874
Students and Teachers
25
Educator Workshops
177
Learning Festivals
9
Summer Camps

Education Programs

Professional DevelopmentField Trips & PresentationsSummer CampsPast Education ProgramsBig Muddy Speaker Series

Resources

Missouri River Information PacketsMissouri River Virtual Field Trip 

Volunteer with Our Education Programs

Our education programs provide a variety of opportunities for volunteers to connect to the Missouri River. Are you interested in volunteering? E-mail our Education Director, Kristen Schulte

Equity, Inclusion and Cultural Relevance

Missouri River Relief believes in the importance of equity, inclusion and cultural relevance in our community. That is why we embrace our responsibility to work towards equity and inclusion throughout our programs. Together we rise to address the cultural factors that drive inequity and exclusion so that we have the ability to effectively reach and connect students to the Missouri River.

We work to ensure that every student, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation has the opportunity to have a safe, fun, and enriching experience with us.

“Not only did I love the experience with my child and being able to watch him enjoy something new, but I was able to keep my phone and all the distractions away and just enjoy the quiet beauty and breathe. I think he and I both needed this day. Thank you!"
                                                                                                                                                                 -Parent at City Garden Montessori School

Our Core Competencies

Missouri River Education focuses on the development of three core competencies that are integrated into each program. These core competencies serve as targets for participant’s growth, points of participant’s dialogue and criteria for program assessment.

Knowledgeable Ecologist

Participants will understand:

  • Missouri River’s abiotic and biotic factors are interconnected through networks of relationships.
  • Missouri River’s diverse ecological community provides resiliency in the face of ecological change.
  • Environmental variations are an essential aspect of the Missouri River’s ecological community.

Participants will be able to:

  • Describe how Missouri River abiotic and biotic factors interact with one another through networks.
  • Explain that the diversity of species in Missouri River maintains the balance of its ecological community.
  • Identify that there are limits to how much stress can be tolerated by the Missouri River ecological community.
  • Identify the difference between environmental variations that can be tolerated and can be harmful. 

Insightful Historian

Participants will understand:

  • Missouri River has been and remains a lifeline for people and commerce.
  • Humans have impacted the Missouri River in both positive and negative ways. 
  • Different historical perspectives of the Missouri River. 

Participants will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast people’s use of the river over time.
  • Describe how management practices have changed the ecology and geography of the Missouri River.
  • Imagine what life was like for all the cultures that have lived on and used the Missouri River.

Conscientious Community Member

Participants will understand:

  • They have the ability to positively impact the Missouri River, their community and themselves.
  • Complexities and interactions of economic, environmental and social systems on the Missouri River. 
  • The Missouri River is a shared resource for communities across its watershed and for future generations.

Participants will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge and stewardship skills in a variety of setting.
  • Analyze the Missouri River using a systems thinking approach. 
  • Explain how our actions can have an immediate impact that can be both cumulative and long-lasting. 

Ready for Action?

This website is created and maintained by Missouri River Relief, P.O. Box 463, Columbia, MO 65205
MRR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Federal Tax ID (EIN) 03-0425187
© 2023 Missouri River Relief | Website development and design by Pixel Jam Digital
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