Race for the Rivers 2025
2025-08-23 08:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Blanchette Landing, 100 Olive Street, St. Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Whether you’re an avid paddler looking to get in on a competitive river race, or simply in search of laid-back family fun, Race for the Rivers is the event you’ve been searching for! With water education, restoration, and recreation as the focus, Greenway Network stages this fun Missouri River paddling event every year. Choose 20 or 30 miles, both finishing at Blanchette Landing in Saint Charles’ Historic Frenchtown District.
Registration is available at https://www.racefortherivers.org/

River Soundings 2025
2025-09-10 09:00 - 2025-09-11 17:00 | Beyond Housing, 6506 Wright Way, St. Louis, MO, 63121, United States
River Soundings is a conference for people who live near, work on, rely on, and love the Missouri River. This annual event includes panel discussions on issues related to big rivers and the Missouri River in particular, with 2025’s theme being Urban Watersheds. Each year speakers and panelists who are experts from around the country gather to share and discuss challenges and success stories. Our goal is to bring together people from up and down the river to look for common goals and active strategies to get there.
Register now at https://greenwaynetwor.wpenginepowered.com/river-soundings/ to join us for a variety of presentations and panel discussions on Wednesday, Sept. 10 and Thursday, Sept. 11. Our keynote speaker will be Zuri Carter, Deputy Chief Natural Resources Officer with Metroparks Toledo, followed by dinner and reception at the Rose Room above Carter Commons, 6746 Page Ave, St. Louis, MO 63133, prepared by Chef Tiarra Adams of Viva La Vegan. It will also include water-inspired art by special guest artists Daily Chambers and David Hultz. **Bring your own reusable table service, including a plate and bowl or mug (for soup) plus flatware.** A $12-15 donation is requested for each day’s lunch.
Wednesday’s Keynote Address – Promises Kept: How Metroparks Toledo is Revitalizing East Toledo to Create a World Class Riverwalk
Through the restoration of natural areas, creation of wetlands that improve the health of the Maumee River, and the planting of thousands of trees within the urban environment, Metroparks Toledo is spearheading efforts to connect six neighborhoods in Downtown Toledo. With conservation as a core pillar of Metroparks Toledo, this transformational riverfront project also provides a diverse array of recreational opportunities along the Maumee River to revitalize Downtown Toledo.
Zurijanne Carter is the Chief Natural Resources Officer for Metroparks Toledo, where they lead the natural resources division in guiding strategic planning, conservation initiatives, and land acquisition efforts across Lucas County. With a strong focus on ecological restoration and sustainability, they pursue grant opportunities to support large-scale habitat management and restoration projects, ensuring the protection and enhancement of vital natural areas.
Zuri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University and a Master’s in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Michigan State University where she focused on the human dimensions of wildlife management. Her career has been dedicated to the stewardship of natural resources, balancing conservation with community engagement and sustainable land management practices.
With a deep passion for preserving and restoring ecosystems, Zuri brings a wealth of experience in environmental leadership, strategic planning, and collaborative conservation efforts. Her work continues to shape the future of natural resource management, fostering resilient landscapes for both wildlife and people in northwest Ohio.

Big Muddy Speaker Series Oct 2025
2025-10-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Whitewater on the Mississippi: A St. Louis Kayaker’s Story, presentation by Joe Sartori, Missouri Whitewater Association, for Missouri River Relief’s Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St Charles by Greenway Network. Hear how to get started in whitewater kayaking and what the MWA hopes to accomplish with a “paddle park.”7 p.m. presentation (6 p.m. Social Hour)Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301

24:1 Community Conservation Days
2025-10-09 - 2025-10-11 | MO
Join your neighbors and lend a hand for a community cleanup, honeysuckle hack, and tree planting across the Normandy Schools footprint Oct. 9, 10, and 11. Register at https://our241.com/events/ccd/ Then celebrate on Oct. 12 with free family fishing and BBQ.

Fall 2025 Dardenne Creek Monitoring
2025-10-25 - 2025-10-26 | MO
Join Greenway Network on this twice-a-year adventure to monitor Dardenne Creek. Experienced Stream Team volunteers can go out to one or more sites and do a complete water quality monitoring protocol. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is new to Stream Team and wants to test their skills with some experienced backup. People who are interested in learning more about Stream Team or water quality monitoring are also invited to participate on Saturday and/or Sunday. Register for this important and fun event at https://greenwaynetwor.wpenginepowered.com/participate/dardenne-creek-monitoring-days/

Kinloch Community Cleanup & Revitalization
2025-11-08 08:00 - 13:00 | MO
Clean Up, Build Up Kinloch: a powerful effort to restore pride, beauty, and unity!
November 6th & 8th, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Meet at: Oguinn Boyd Park, 8018 School Way, Kinloch, MO
Parking: Kinloch City Hall, 5825 Martin Luther King Blvd https://kinlochmo.org/
Come out and lend a hand! This is a great opportunity for students to earn community service or volunteer hours while making a real difference. Bring your gloves, safety vests, and tools if you have them — rakes, shovels, weed trimmers, wheel barrows, trash bags, grabbers, or brooms — and let’s work together to clean up and build up Kinloch! Presented by the City of Kinloch, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, STL Partnership, and the Regional Business Council, with support from amazing community partners.

Big Muddy Speaker Series Nov 2025
2025-11-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
A Community Conversation on Data Centers – Presentation by Natalie Johnson, Executive Director, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, for Missouri River Relief’s Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St Charles by Greenway Network.
7 p.m. presentation (6 p.m. Social Hour)
Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301
Across Missouri, data centers are rapidly expanding – bringing with them big questions about water use, energy demand, and environmental impact. These developments are reshaping our landscape and our policies faster than most communities can keep up.
Join Natalie Johnson, Executive Director of Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, for a conversation about what this growth means for our shared environment, our big rivers, and the people who call it home. While this isn’t a topic we have all the answers to yet, Natalie brings years of experience advocating for communities and the environment, helping translate complex issues into collective action.
This dialogue marks an important step in understanding and responding to one of Missouri’s most pressing emerging challenges—ensuring that innovation and economic development move forward with transparency, accountability, and care for our natural resources.
Natalie Johnson is the Executive Director of Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, Missouri’s only nonprofit public-interest environmental law firm. With more than 20 years of experience advancing environmental protection and community-driven advocacy across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, Natalie leads the Center’s work to safeguard the region’s air, water, land, and communities through strategic legal action and deep partnership with the people most impacted by environmental decisions. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign.

Annual Meeting 2025
2026-01-06 18:30 - 20:00 | MO
Annual Meeting at Shamrocks Pub & Grill to review 2025 and plan 2026. https://www.shamrocks-pubandgrill.com/

Big Muddy Speaker Series Jan. 2026
2026-01-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Presentation by Emily Young, Advocacy Outreach Coordinator, Stream Teams United, for Missouri River Relief’s Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St Charles by Greenway Network.7 p.m. presentation (6 p.m. Social Hour)Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301

Did you know that more than 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced each year—and about 40% of it is designed for single use? Despite decades of recycling efforts, only 9% of all plastic has ever been effectively recycled. The rest ends up in landfills (49%), is incinerated (19%), or escapes into our environment (22%). This presentation will explore how we got to this point, the far-reaching impacts of plastic on our environment, health, climate, and global equity, and how community organizing can drive real, source-based solutions to reduce plastic use and waste.

Emily is a Pennsylvania native who attended Juniata College and received a BS in Environmental Chemistry in 2022. During her time at Juniata, she completed an immersive learning semester focused on Aquatic Ecology at the Raystown Field Station and wrote an undergraduate thesis investigating total phosphorus sequestration in Raystown Lake, a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir located in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Following graduation, Emily worked as a Watershed Specialist at the Franklin County Conservation District in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where she coordinated watershed restoration projects in the county and organized several conservation education programs and events for children and adults. In this role, Emily also worked closely with local, state, and federal partners and stakeholders to implement Franklin County’s Chesapeake Bay Countywide Action Plan. Emily served in this role for just over two years before moving to Waynesville, Missouri in 2024. She joined Stream Teams United as an Advocacy Outreach Coordinator in August 2024 to work on the Show-Me Less Plastic project, which aims to reduce plastic pollution in the waterways of the Great Rivers State. To get a Facebook reminder, RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/2267295920415185

MLK Day of Service Clean-up CANCELED
2026-01-19 08:30 - 12:00 | MO
THIS EVENT IS CANCELED due to extreme temperature …was to assist the residents of the Academy – Sherman Park community in St Louis with continued tornado and trash clean up. We are facilitating a grant provided to the community, so it is a little different from what you may be used to. Dumpsters will be placed along the Hodiamont Tracks Alley starting on Friday January 16. We will be assisting residents with trash pick up and dumpster loading on both Saturday, 10am-noon (check in 9:30) and Monday, 9am-11am (check in 8:30). But if you can come late and/or stay late, we will need help until probably 1 pm. For details and to register, CLICK HERE. We are working to reschedule, possibly in mid-March.

Big Muddy Speaker Series Feb. 2026
2026-02-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Big Medicine: York Outdoors, for Missouri River Relief’s Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St Charles County by Greenway Network.7 p.m. presentation (6 p.m. Social Hour)Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301

View then discuss Big Medicine: York Outdoors. This 25-minute film is a collaborative effort between the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and NEW Multimedia, as part of Big Medicine: The York Project, an initiative to bring York’s legacy to the foreground. It follows eight Black educators and environmental stewards as they retrace the steps of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, reflecting on York’s legacy and the importance of outdoor recreation on a four-day river trip through Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. A frontiersman, hunter, and likely the first African American to cross the continent, York was an American explorer who made important contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He was enslaved by Captain William Clark and after the expedition’s return was denied his payment and his freedom. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/lecl/york.htm

Team Leader Academy Feb. 2026
2026-02-28 09:00 - 16:00 | Beyond Housing, 6506 Wright Way, St. Louis, MO, 63121, United States
Greenway Network’s 2026 Team Leader Academy will be hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Stream Team at the Beyond Housing Headquarters in North St Louis County on February 28, 9am-4pm. The goal is to train leaders to head up stewardship activities within the Missouri Stream Team program, along with anyone who leads groups of volunteers on outdoor clean ups or adventures. It provides trip leaders with the knowledge necessary to host a safe and organized experience for volunteers. Both trainings are offered free of charge, with the second half as a hands-on large-scale cleanup event where the newly trained trip leaders can get practical experience working with volunteers on a project. The cleanup part of 2026’s training is scheduled for March 21.
Register here- https://greenwaynetwor.wpenginepowered.com/team-leader-academy/

Big Muddy Speaker Series - Mar. 2026
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Big Trails, Big Rivers, presentation by Brett Dufur, Author, for Missouri River Relief’s Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St Charles County by Greenway Network.7 p.m. presentation (6 p.m. Social Hour)Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301

Guidebook author Brett Dufur will explore the possibilities of having the Katy and the upcoming Rock Island Trails create a 450-mile trail loop destination through unique, picturesque, and historic towns and countryside around mid-Missouri. He will also explore adventures on the Missouri River, namely local paddling adventures and the MR340, which he has completed 8 times. He will be signing his Katy Trail Guidebooks and Rock Island Trail Guidebooks as well as his collection of poetry, Endless River.
Brett loves exploring Missouri and writing about our trails and rivers. His most recent books include a guidebook to the Rock Island Trail and a book of river poetry entitled Endless River. His Katy Trail Guidebook is now in its 11th edition. He is a former writer and editor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. He operated Mighty Mo Canoe Rentals on the Missouri River for 15 years and also the Katy Trail Bed & Breakfast in Rocheport.

Academy Sherman Park Cleanup March 14
2026-03-14 08:30 - 13:30 | MO
Join the community of Academy Sherman Park to continue working on the clean up they started in January. We will gather on Hodiamont Tracks between Clarendon and Kingshighway. Check-in starts at 8:30. Bags and gloves will be provided. Dress for the weather including sturdy shoes. Bring a water bottle. A community celebration will start at noon, so plan to stay and join us for hot dogs, snacks, and prizes. Register HERE.

MOPadCo cross-post: Al-Pint Night
2026-03-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Alpine Shop, 440 N Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO, 63122, United States
Join the Missouri Paddling Coalition on Tuesday, March 24, 6-8pm, at Alpine Shop Kirkwood for Al-Pint Night. Al-Pint Nights are a monthly happy hour series where good beer meets good causes. For $10, you receive a limited-edition Alpine Shop pint glass and two pours from 4 Hands Brewing Company. Non-alcoholic options are always available. All proceeds from the evening go directly back to that night’s featured cause. We’ll serve up brews and information about all things paddling in Missouri. To volunteer, CLICK HERE.

Big Muddy Speaker Series - April 2026
2026-04-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
TIRES! presented by Kent Schmidt and Cathysue Smick for the Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St. Charles County by Greenway Network — 7:00p.m. presentation (6:00p.m. social hour) at Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
(Ken Kamper’s presentation about Daniel Boone will be rescheduled.) Please join us to hear from Kent Schmidt and Cathysue Smick about tire clean-ups. We find a lot of things during trash clean-ups. But tires are probably the most difficult to deal with. It is illegal to put a whole tire in a landfill. You have pay a tire shredder operation for proper disposal. But there are some alternatives. Tonight we will hear from the tire experts of Stream Team 4922. They’ll tell us what can and cannot be done with tires, including a demonstration of one disposal technique for large scale clean-ups and individual tires.

Mission: Clean Stream on Saturday, April 11, 2026!
2026-04-11 08:30 - 12:30 | MO
Join hundreds of volunteers to work together in picking up tons of litter along our rivers and streams. Greenway Network partners with eight municipalities to host cleanup sites. Use the links below to register for the cleanup event in your area!
St. Charles City

St. Charles County

Lake Saint Louis
City of O’Fallon
City of Dardenne Prairie

City of Cottleville
City of Wentzville
Wright City

.
Before heading out, watch our brief safety video at https://youtu.be/HpD5w5JEmKo Be sure to dress for the weather. Wear sturdy shoes, and bring gloves as well as a water bottle. Be prepared to get outside and have fun while making a difference. Thanks and we hope to see you soon!

O’Fallon Park Tree Planting Apr. 11, 2026
2026-04-11 12:30 - 15:00 | MO
cross-post from Forest ReLeaf: O’Fallon Park, once known for its mature trees and rolling hills, was hit hard by the May 16 tornado and lost 350 trees in the storm. Replanting in O’Fallon Park represents an essential layer of the broader recovery effort, restoring environmental infrastructure and community pride in a historic and culturally significant space. In partnership with residents and local organizations, 350 trees will be planted Saturday, April 11, from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM, so join in after Mission: Clean Stream! Details and registration link are at https://moreleaf.org/event/ofallon-park-tree-planting-2-0/

Spring 2026 Dardenne Creek Monitoring
2026-05-16 00:00 | MO
Join Greenway Network on this twice-a-year adventure to monitor Dardenne Creek on Saturday, May 16. Experienced Stream Team volunteers can go out to one or more sites and do a complete water quality monitoring protocol. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is new to Stream Team and wants to test their skills with some experienced backup. Those interested in learning more about Stream Team or water quality monitoring are also invited to participate.
Please email greenwaynetwork@gmail.com to get details for this important and fun event, and register at https://greenwaynetwor.wpenginepowered.com/participate/dardenne-creek-monitoring-days/

Big Muddy Speaker Series May 2026
2026-05-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Missouri’s Natural Heroes presented by Alex Primm for the Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St. Charles County by Greenway Network — 7:00p.m. presentation (6:00p.m. social hour) at Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
Which Missourians do we consider heroic? What does it mean to be a hero now? This presentation will describe little heralded Missouri heroes. It will also ask the audience to describe their heroes. We live in a time where we need heroes, especially in rural areas. This program’s particular heroes are conservationists. Thanks in part to several state agencies, Missouri has been a renowned pioneer in restoring wildlife and protecting our environment. Many private citizens have helped establish a tradition of appreciating our natural heritage. Among individual conservation heroes: Thomas Hart Benton, artist; Daniel Boone, early explorer and friend to native people; George Washington Carver, agricultural pioneer, Leonard Hall, conservationist and farmer, Lloyd Stark, governor and nurseryman; Laura Ingalls Wilder, agricultural journalist and novelist. We will also explore Missouri’s natural areas inspiring these conservationists. For more details, see https://bigmuddyspeakers.org/event/missouris-natural-heroes/ (Note: this month’s presentation will be on the 3rd Wednesday. Our next BMSS will be on the usual 2nd Wednesday, June 10.)

Big Muddy Speaker Series July 2026
2026-07-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Sugarfire Wentzville, 1101 Lodora Dr, Wentzville, MO, 63385, United States
Peruque Creek Watershed Alliance & Efforts to Improve Local Water Quality, presentation by Kelly Dunlap
Wednesday, July 8th – 6:00PM Social hour/ 7:00PM Presentation
Sugarfire Smokehouse (THIS MONTH ONLY) 1101 Lodora Dr, Wentzville, MO 63385
Join us for a special edition of the Big Muddy Speaker Series as we head to Wentzville to explore the future of the Peruque Creek watershed. (August 12 will be at Bike Stop Cafe as usual.)
If you’ve spent time at Quail Ridge Park, Peruque Valley Park, Foristell City Park, Corwin S. Ruge Memorial Park, or Lake Saint Louis, you’ve likely enjoyed the waters and natural beauty of Peruque Creek. This local watershed provides important habitat, recreation opportunities, and green space for our communities. Today, however, sediment and nutrient pollution are impacting water quality throughout the system, affecting both Peruque Creek and Lake Saint Louis.
The good news is that local residents, businesses, community organizations, and government partners are working together to make a difference. Join Kelly Dunlap, Coordinator of the Peruque Creek Watershed Alliance and City of Wentzville staff member, for a look at the challenges facing the watershed and the collaborative efforts underway to improve water quality. You’ll learn:
How watershed health affects local parks, streams, lakes, wildlife, and communities
What projects, grants, and community initiatives are helping reduce pollution and improve water quality
Practical steps you can take to protect Peruque Creek right in your own backyard
How to get involved with ongoing efforts to restore and care for this important local resource
Whether you’re a resident, paddler, angler, park user, or simply curious about the waterways that connect our communities, this presentation will provide an opportunity to learn how local action can create lasting improvements throughout the watershed.

Big Muddy Speaker Series - August 2026
2026-08-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Archer Alexander and the Underground Railroad, presented by Dorris Keeven-Franke, author, speaker for the Big Muddy Speaker Series, hosted in St. Charles County by Greenway Network. 7:00p.m. presentation (6:00p.m. social hour) at Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S Riverside Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
In 1863, he overheard St. Charles County Confederates plotting to destroy a local railroad bridge that was a vital link for the Union Army. He risked his life to inform the soldiers and saved hundreds of lives. He fled to St. Louis by the Underground Railroad with sixteen other freedom seekers at the Howell’s Ferry Crossing and was later taken in by abolitionist Rev. William G. Eliot. He was given his freedom for his important services to the military on September 24,1863. When President Lincoln was assassinated, in 1865, a drive for a memorial to Lincoln was begun by the formerly enslaved, called the Emancipation Memorial. That monument was dedicated on April 14, 1876, in Lincoln Park in Washington, D.C. Archer Alexander became a nationally recognized icon as the freedom seeker with Lincoln. When Archer Alexander died, he was buried in an unmarked grave in St. Peter’s U.C.C. Cemetery in St. Louis and his burial site is listed on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. He is the great-great-great grandfather of Muhammad Ali. On June 28, 2018, Tributary B in Cottleville and O’Fallon was named Archer Alexander Creek, which runs under Highway 364 and into Dardenne Creek. (Greenway Network has water quality monitoring weekends of the Dardenne every spring and fall.)
Dorris Keeven-Franke is an award-winning author and International speaker. She is a speaker for the Missouri Speakers Bureau, sponsored by the Missouri Humanities, and the State Historical Society of Missouri. Her Program is listed on the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. As a public historian, professional genealogist, and lifelong resident of Missouri, she loves to share the history of her state’s earliest residents. She has authored numerous books, articles, blogs, videos, and her forthcoming book is the biography of Archer Alexander.

Race for the Rivers 2026
2026-08-29 08:00 - 14:30 | Blanchette Landing, 100 Olive Street, St. Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Whether you’re an avid paddler looking to get in on a competitive river race, or simply looking for laid-back family fun, Race for the Rivers is the event you’ve been searching for! With water education, restoration, and recreation as the focus, Greenway Network stages this fun Missouri River paddling event every year, and 2026 is our 20th! Choose 20 or 30 miles, both finishing at Blanchette Landing in Saint Charles’ Historic Frenchtown District.
Registration is available at https://www.racefortherivers.org/

River Soundings 2026
2026-09-16 10:00 - 20:00 | Beyond Housing, 6506 Wright Way, St. Louis, MO, 63121, United States
Join us for a day of learning about the many different ways things travel in and along big rivers. To finish the day, Keynote will be Hasan Davis, in his role of York, leading a discussion after a showing of the short documentary Big Medicine: York Outdoors. [Note: no Big Muddy Speaker Series in September, usually held on 2nd Wednesdays]
Details and registration for River Soundings is at https://greenwaynetwork.org/2026/08/03/river-soundings2026/

Fall 2026 Dardenne Creek Monitoring
2026-10-03 | MO
Join Greenway Network on this twice-a-year adventure to monitor Dardenne Creek on Saturday, October 3. Experienced Stream Team volunteers can go out to one or more sites and do a complete water quality monitoring protocol. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is new to Stream Team and wants to test their skills with some experienced backup. Those interested in learning more about Stream Team or water quality monitoring are also invited to participate.
Please email greenwaynetwork@gmail.com to get details for this important and fun event.
