To the Tidings Newsletter Index Page The Official Newsletter of the Mississippi Headwaters Board

Volume 12, Number 7

July 17, 1996

Grand Rapids 3rd Graders Meet the Mississippi River Roberta Fahlman, a teacher at Grand Rapids’ Murphy Elementary School, created a Mississippi River workshop following her participation in MHB’s January workshop on using rivers in the classroom. This is her report of the class’s activities: Just a note now that school is over and I can tell you about the Mississippi River study we did in our classroom this spring - all inspired by the January workshop at the Concordia Language Camp. Do you know, it was just what I was ready for, having had this gnawing these last few years of the fact that I was not using this wonderful resource as part of my curriculum in third grade. Well, I now have made a good start and am thrilled with the impact as well as with the possibilities for the coming years. We took the 5 Fridays in May - the 1st was an introduction in the classroom - I used the video on the Headwaters. 2. We walked to a site just south of Blandin Bridge where there are some historical markers where we took notes. We also did a huge rubbing (in Crayon) of the horizontal map of the river - and took it back to school where it hangs in the hallway for the rest of the school to enjoy. 3. We walked to Veteran’s Park where we did a sense scavenger hunt - then wildlife study of the area. 4. A short trip to the federal dam site just west of town where we had a talk on the river wildlife - did a plant walk - and lunch on the high rocks above the river. 5. A trip to Itasca Park and the headwaters, a long bus trip for a short while but I think worth it. Then our school did a Mississippi River week the last week of school. With a kickoff in the gym with two folk singers and story tellers - A river chain on the playground with the path of the river staked out by our 5th graders and the children all holding a long piece of blue fabric representing the river. A large mural with all of the grades participating and whatever each grade chose to do on our own. It was the one activity we’ve had in which everyone chose to take part. I’d call that success! As always, I evaluate units or programs I’ve done in my classroom - I see ways to improve - which I surely try to do. I do know this unit is a keeper. I’m very grateful for the impetus and suggestions given in January. Roberta Fahlman's third grade class visiting Pokegama Dam. Here is what some of the students wrote about their Mississippi River experiences:

Mississippi Mississippi, Mississippi You flow faster and faster. You're all my dreams come true. Crystal body looks beautiful Black hills of rock and sand. Mississippi, Mississippi You shimmer and sparkle Like a blue bottle of ink Split out onto you. - By Melissa Middleton The river waters are slow and wavy. The river has currents in it. The river seems as heavy as a 1000 ton brick when it flows to one end. The river has provided us food for thousands of years and transportation. I learned that shallow spot is warm and the deep is cold. - By Lacy Jenkins The river is silent and graceful. I see the eagle flying over me. The little wren chirps along its jolly little path. The Canada geese are swimming gracefully down the river. There is a tiny island in the middle of the great blue river. I watch the river moving slowly down its path and say, "That's the great and mighty Mississippi River." - By Chelsey Johnson

Mississippi The Mississippi is like the ruffles in my shirt, like shiny blue pearls. It brushes up to the shore and makes it sound like a soft drum. - By Samantha Marie Mentges Wondering about the Mississippi I wonder how a bird flies over it. I wonder how wildlife can live in it. I wonder how the waves are so gentle on the river, yet the current so strong. I wonder how the wind is gentle. I wonder how the river flows faster and faster. I wonder where the river is going. - By Tawnya Herbsleb The Mississippi flows faster every day, I think anyway. I'm not sure. If I had the choice of being anything in the world, it would be the Mississippi River. I would make sure that nobody falls in. - By Ben Meneley Today I'm visiting the Mississippi River and I have seen a snail and a turtle, flowers and even Canada geese. The dam was a dangerous place because the rapids are very mean and can kill people but the walkway is protected. Oh, I almost forgot about the trees. They are so beautiful. Looking at the river is like a dream and I'm glad I'm part of it. - By Danny McCartney

MHB Reports to National Rivers Conference

Seven representatives of the Mississippi Headwaters Board participated in the American Rivers Management Society's biennial conference in Columbus, Ohio June 20 - 24. Board Member Paul Thiede, Director Molly MacGregor and Advisory Committee members Mark Jacobs (chairman), Gail Becher, Roger Boatman, Terry Larson and Bill Stocker presented papers at the conference. The American River Management Society (Arms) is an organization of professional river managers, organized initially by rivers management personnel from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Recently, the Society has extended its membership base to the north and is now affiliated with the Canadian River Management Society and to local and state government. River Federation, an organization for state and local government river managers merged with ARMS at the Columbus conference. The new organization will be known as the River Management Society. Its next meeting is in Anchorage, Alaska, April 29 - May 4, 1998. Gail Becher reported on the MHB's educational initiatives which are designed to provide information about the activities of the Mississippi Headwaters Board; keep people informed about government actions that may affect them; keep people informed about the health of the Mississippi River; suggest ways that river health can be improved; educate people about how to protect the health of the Mississippi River and recognize efforts of volunteers to protect the Mississippi River. Roger Boatman reported on development of a water trail map for the Mississippi Headwaters, designed as educate river users about important river values as well as how to use the river respectfully. Mark Jacobs reported on how the Mississippi Headwaters Board has created an education and assistance program to help private property owners manage woodlots to protect river values such as water quality, aesthetics and biological diversity. Terry Larson reported on how he transformed his personal relationship with the Mississippi River into a role as a public spokesman for protection for river values on behalf of the Mississippi Headwaters Board. He is a river shoreland property owner, a fishing guide by vocation and volunteers his time as a monitor of frogs and toads, and makes presentations to schools and civic groups on river prehistory, including demonstration of how stone tools were made thousands of years ago. Molly MacGregor reported on how the MHB created a data base of property owners on the river corridor, using tax records from eight member counties, recording this information in a common data base. This list was used as the basis for a mail survey, which had a 77 percent response rate and 26 of 500 mailed surveys returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable. Bill Stocker reported on the partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, two electric power utilities, and three wood products processing companies, local and tribal governments to maintain direct and meaningful connections between the operators of reservoirs on the Mississippi River, the managers of the river's shorelands and ecosystem, and the public using the reservoirs. Paul Thiede reported on the perspective of an elected official who sits on a river protection board, which differs from that of an appointed official.

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