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Wilderness Inquiry

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Mississippi River Day trip for families in Fort Snelling State Park

Resources for Youth

The UWCA program creates great adventures for youth. We provide all the equipment you need. No experience necessary.

Trip Types

We offer both day trips and overnight camping trips. Day trips generally are a four-and-a-half hour guided paddle down the Mississippi River, complete with hands-on activities and interpretation by National Park Service rangers. Overnight trips take place at many regional and state parks in the heart of the Twin Cities Metro Area and include paddling and place-based environmental education.

Trip Logistics

Who:  Everyone! You don’t need to know how to paddle or swim to participate. An experienced Wilderness Inquiry guide or National Park Service ranger will be with you in the boat at all times. We take groups ranging in size from 20- 200.
Activities: Most trips include paddling in Voyageur canoes where students can expand their outdoor skills and build teamwork. Trips also include hands-on applied learning activities.
Location: Most trips take place on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Staff will work with you to decide exactly what route to take depending on your group’s goals and water levels.
What to Bring: A water bottle, close-toed shoes that can get wet, clothes that are appropriate for the weather, and a hat. Electronics are best left at home!
Transportation: On UWCA trips, groups typically arrange transportation to the start and end point of the trip.

Trip Activities

There are many different themes offered on UWCA trips, including topics focused on natural history, cultural history, science, and many more. Hands-on activities may include paddling in a Voyageur canoe, hiking, water quality testing, fishing, seine netting, and more. All UWCA trips provide students with the opportunity to participate in experiential, place-based learning activities to expand their outdoor skills and ethics and build teamwork.

Curriculum Resources

Wilderness Inquiry collaborates with local school districts and teachers to create and refine place-based education curricula.  Many of these resources can be used in combination with UWCA trips.  Curriculum resources are connected to state standards.

Internships

Gain leadership skills and work outdoors this summer! The UWCA offers dozens of internships for high school and college students. Check out our employment page for more information.

Plan A Trip

Our trips transform the lives of youth giving them a lasting connection with the natural world. Plan an adventure today by completing this brief online questionnaire or by contacting Josh Swedberg at (612) 676-9417 or josh@wildernessinquiry.org.