At Missouri River Relief, we believe in the power of hands-on learning and place-based experiences to connect people—especially young people—to the Missouri River in deep, lasting ways. That’s why we created Missouri River Days, a field trip program that invites every 4th-grade student to experience the river not just as a body of water, but as a living, breathing part of their community.
For the past eight years, we’ve partnered with Columbia Public Schools to bring this program to life. This spring, we proudly expanded Missouri River Days to Jefferson City School District, piloting a brand-new experience with students from Thorpe Gordon STEM Academy. And what a launch it was! Over 150 students explored the river through boat rides, watercolor journaling, guided nature hikes, and science stations—many seeing the Missouri River up close for the very first time.
It wasn’t just a lesson about the river—it was an invitation to feel connected to what we like to call the Mountains of the Midwest.
With support from passionate educators, expert volunteers, and inspiring partners like Lincoln University and the Jefferson City News Tribune, we helped students reflect on their experiences through storytelling, art, and science. It’s this blend of curiosity, connection, and creativity that makes Missouri River Days so powerful.
Want to bring the Missouri River into your classroom?
While we aren’t currently expanding our in-person Missouri River Days program, we do offer a Virtual Missouri River Field Trip—a free, interactive online experience that brings the sights, sounds, and science of the Missouri River straight to your students. It’s a great way to introduce river concepts, connect with local ecology, and inspire curiosity from wherever you are.
🔗 Explore the Virtual Missouri River Field Trip
Missouri River Days is more than a field trip. It’s a chance to foster a sense of place, inspire lifelong care, and remind students that they are a part of the story of this incredible river.
Together, let’s grow the next generation of river stewards—one boat ride, one journal page, and one river moment at a time.