National Park Service – Enhancing Teacher Training and Education with Local School Districts

The St. Croix River is a national treasure, offering clean water to the Mississippi River, high quality natural ecosystems, beautiful scenery, unique cultural resources, abundant recreation opportunities and striking geologic features.

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, which includes the St. Croix and its tributary, the Namekagon, was established by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968; it is one of a group of eight rives in the country which first received this recognition. For 255 miles, the St. Croix and Namekagon flow through some of the most scenic and least developed country in the Upper Midwest. Visitor’s canoe, boat, camp, fish, hike, and view wildlife in the area, renowned for spectacular scenery. There are approximately 92,749 acres (40,533 federal and 52,216 non-federal) within the Riveway’s authorized boundary. Management is divided between a federal zone managed by the National Park Service and a state zone where the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin mange the lower 25 miles of the St. Croix River to its confluence with the Mississippi River.

The St. Croix River Association (SCRA) was founded in 1911 to encourage stewardship of the St. Croix River. It is a 501 (c)3 private, non-profit organization, incorporated in Minnesota and doing business under the laws of the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin. SCRA has a headquarters office in St. Croix falls, Wisconsin. For its first 98 years, SCRA functioned as a volunteer-run association. In 2008, with threats to the St. Croix increasing, key leaders, including former Vice President Walter Mondale, came together to call for increased work to protect the St. Croix before it is lost to future generations. SCRA has risen to the challenge and has greatly expanded its work, enlarging its Board of Directors, hiring its first staff and working to become the “go to” group for the St. Croix River and its watershed. SCRA currently has approximately 800 members and annual budget of $750,000.00.

SCRA’s mission is to protect, restore and celebrate the St. Croix River and its watershed. Its core functions are to:

• Focus on protecting and improving water resources, recognizing their interconnection with land use throughout the watershed
• Protect and restore important natural and scenic areas along the river throughout the watershed
• Engage people in educational, recreational and volunteer stewardship activities that give them the understanding and motivation to advocate at the local, state and national levels
• Celebrate the unique values of the St. Croix watershed.
Principles guiding SCRA’s work including a commitment to:
• Recognize that the health of the watershed is critically important to the health of the St. Croix River.
• Act with thoughtful urgency
• Take strategic action, focusing on and achieving measurable results that make a difference
• Collaborate with and empower other organizations and individuals instead of working alone.
• Respect, engage and leverage the passion of local people in their communities
• Conduct work in a spirit of respect, transparency and openness
• Celebrate natural and Cultural diversity within the watershed
SCRA became the Friends Group for the Riverway through an agreement signed in May 2011. Since that time, the NPS and SCRA have partnered on a variety of projects and initiatives, including:
• An internship program for college students
• Recruitment of new volunteers
• Strategic planning, public awareness and community engagement efforts related to aquatic invasive species
• Land protection
• Healthy Parks, Healthy People programming
• Water quality protection and improvement
Through this Agreement, the NPS and SCRA will collaborate to provide teacher training and educational programming for school districts in communities that neighbor the Riverway. This project will expand the use of the park as a place of learning and increase the amount of programming provided to local students. This project specifically targets fourth graders and is in alignment with the, ”Every Kid in a Park” initiative of the NPS Centennial.

In 2014, SCRA transitioned to a leadership role in providing teacher training in the St. Croix watershed by assuming responsibility for the Earth Partnership for Schools Water Stewardship Institutes from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. These teacher trainings sessions continue that work and expand the reach to included programming for students. SCRA’s engagement strategy will utilize existing working relationships with schools and other partners, including community organizations and informal educators, with are integral to the successful implementation f this effort.

NPS will be fully involved in developing the project goals and implementation strategy. NPS will provide training to SCRA staff, contractors, interns and/or volunteers. NPS will present information or facilitate sessions at teacher events and, as staffing allows, will assist with school programming.

STATEMENT OF WORK

RECIPIENT AGREES TO:
1. Collaborate with NPS on the development of goals an strategies for successful teacher training and educational programming for school districts in communities near the Riverway.
2. Provide three one-day training sessions, or an equivalent alternative, to reach a minimum of 30 teachers working in school districts in communities near the Riverway.
3. Coordinate “Rivers are Alive” programming for fourth graders in six school districts along the lower St. Croix River during the 2015-2017 school years. The school districts are subject to NPS approval.
4. Coordinate with NPS on scheduling teacher training and school programs.
5. Provide logistical support, as required, to the six school districts participating in programs.
6. Attend all meetings and participate in all communications related to project planning and implementation.
7. Participate in all required training sessions.
8. Provide in all required training sessions.
9. Provide on-site supervision of SCRA staff, interns or volunteers at all times.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO:
1. Provide information about existing NPS efforts related to teacher training and school programming, including copies of curriculum guides and student materials.
2. Collaborate with SCRA on the development of goals and strategies for successful teacher training and educational programming for school districts in communities near the Riverway.
3. Conduct training for SCRA staff, contractors, interns, and/or volunteers.
4. Present information or facilitate sessions at teacher training events.
5. Assist with school programming, as staffing allows.
6. Coordinate with SCRA on scheduling teacher training and school programs.
7. Attend all meetings and participate in all communications related to project planning and implementation
8. Provide access to NPS equipment, supplies, and materials that will enhance teacher training and school programs, when these items are not otherwise being used.