Dan Peterson, Necedah NWR park ranger, gives a presentation to kids attending River Education Days. -USFWS photo

Ed Lagace, Regional Sign Center, conducts a nature hike and shares his knowledge of a holistic approach with the students. - USFWS photo

On May 9^th and 10^th, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge was crawling with over 800 eager school kids in search of knowledge about the river, fish, wildlife, birds and many other topics. 

For the third year in a row, the River Education Days event has been a huge hit with fifth grade students from both sides of the Upper Mississippi River region.  The limit is capped off at 800 students (400 per day), and this year’s student participation hit the limit.

The event is coordinated similar to a jamboree.  Students rotate through learning stations throughout the refuge every 45 minutes, with a total of 4 stations. 

Presenters from the area and from many agencies covered four target themes: Wildlife, River History, Wetlands, and Prairie/Forest Habitats. 

"Fish of the Mississippi", "Why do turtles cross the road?", "Let’s Build A Refuge", "Leave No Trace", and "Birds of Prey" were some of the day's presentation highlights.  

In addition, well known Naturalist, David Stokes from the Schlitz Audubon Center in Milwaukee provided students with interesting and fun facts about many of our wild creatures, especially those found “providing a chorus of music” right here along the Mississippi River.