Big River Journey is a premier field trip program that takes place on the Mississippi River within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area! Students view and learn about the river through onboard educational activities while cruising on a modern Padelford riverboat. Students participate in three of five hands-on activity stations. Activities include:

Using mapping skills to navigate locations on the river
Studying river geology using samples of sandstone, limestone, and shale
Learning about bird adaptations, migration, and habitat. And looking for birds with binoculars.
Examining different types of mussels and getting to touch live mussels
Exploring the habitats of river otters along the floodplain

Each of these interactive stations allow students to connect with the river through science and real-world observations. The program is led by a National Park Service and Mississippi Park Connection partnership education team.

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Grades

3-5

Dates

Spring 2026: May 5-7, 12-14, 19-21
Fall 2026: TBD

Program Duration

90 minutes
Boat departs at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM each day.

Cost

Per Student: $12
Adults: Free (limited to a maximum of 10)

Note: Title I Schools receive a 30% Discount Code at the time of registration
Note: Payment is by card on a first come, first serve basis and is due at time of registration
Note: Bus scholarships are available to Title I schools ($250 per bus, up to two buses per trip); more information upon registration

Location
Padelford Riverboats, Harriet Island Regional Park, 205 Dr Justus Ohage Blvd, St Paul, MN 55107

Pre-and-Post Lessons

Contacts

Stephen Walker, Education Coordinator, Mississippi Park Connection, swalker@parkconnection.org
Jim Ford, Education Program Manager, National Park Service, jim_ford@nps.gov

Big River Journey is coordinated by the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (National Park Service) and Mississippi Park Connection in cooperation with the Padelford Riverboats. Field trip program partners include staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Mississippi River Educators, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Saint Paul Bird Alliance.