OUTDOOR LESSONS IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

About Winter River

Students enjoy lessons about winter adaptation within the beautiful surroundings of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area at Fort Snelling State Park! This educational field trip aiming to foster a positive outdoor connection about the winter season and how species adapt to the cold. The program is led by a robust team of educators from the National Park Service, Mississippi Park Connection, the Minnesota DNR, and Wilderness Inquiry.

This four station program offers engaging outdoor activities centered around the theme of adaptation. Students will understand characteristics of floodplain forest trees, know about animal habitats within the park and how animals survive the winter, experience snowshoeing, eat a lunch around a campfire, and hear an interpretive talk by a park ranger. Through these hands-on experiences, students not only learn about different species, they understand more about human adaptations to cold weather in Minnesota's great outdoors.

For more program information, see the field trips page on the Mississippi Park Connection website.

Grade Levels

Winter River is open to grades 4-6

Program Dates

February 12-14, 19-21, 26-28

Note: No makeup dates due to weather-related cancellations are available. Schools will be able to receive a refund.

Program Time

10:30AM - 12:30PM Program Length: 2 hours

Pricing

Per Student: $2 Adults: Free (up to 12)

Note: Title I schools receive a 50% discount using a code given at time of registration Note: Payment is by card

Restrictions

• Maximum available student slots per date: 90 (groups with over 90 students will have to register for more than one date) • Minimum number of student slots per date: 30 (groups with fewer students than the minimum will be charged for the minimum of 30 students)

Note: Registration for each date option will remain open until the maximum available slots (90) have been filled OR will close automatically two weeks prior to the event date.

• Maximum number of adults: 12 • Minimum number of adults: 4

Safety Note

It is a matter of safety that students dress appropriately for winter weather. Teachers should address proper winter clothing and footwear options with their students far in advance of the trip. Encouraging students and parents now to gather their own clothing and to dress accordingly is the best practice.

Location

Fort Snelling State Park, Picnic Island 101 Snelling Lake Rd, Saint Paul, MN 55145

Bus Driver Directions: Please inform bus drivers to go to Fort Snelling State Park at the above listed address, and NOT to Historic Fort Snelling. This is sometimes confusing for drivers and could cause significant delays.

Additional Information

• Bus Stipends: Stipends are available to Title I schools to help offset busing costs! Each school is able to receive a stipend of $250/bus for up to two buses. Stipends are automatically sent upon completion of the field trip. • Lunch: Please plan to have students bring and eat lunch at the park as this time is planned into the field trip at the sheltered campfire station.

Contact

If you have questions or considerations about the program and its requirements, please contact us prior to your registration so we can assist.

David Kappelhoff

Education Coordinator and Engagement Specialist Mississippi Park Connection (MPC) dkappelhoff@parkconnection.org MPC Education Web Page (651) 301-8033‬