Greenway Network

Big Muddy Speaker Series August 2025
2025-08-13 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Bike Stop Cafe, 701 S. Riverside Dr, Saint Charles, MO, 63301, United States
Islands of Life: How Urban Parks Support Birds Along the Mississippi Flyway – Presentation by Jodi Devonshire PhD, 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
Every spring and fall, millions of birds travel the Mississippi Flyway—a vast migratory corridor formed by the Mississippi River, its tributaries, and connected wetlands. These birds depend on habitat along this ancient pathway for food, rest, and shelter during their long journeys. But as our cities grow, development fragments this critical habitat into small “islands” of green space surrounded by buildings, roads, and concrete. The connections between these habitat patches become increasingly broken, creating challenges for the wildlife that depend on them.
Dr. Jodi Devonshire will present findings from her 2011 study conducted with researchers at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Her team examined bird diversity and abundance in restored and remnant parks throughout the Greater St. Louis area. Their data reveals just how vital these urban oases are to the millions of birds traveling the Mississippi Flyway—and why protecting these spaces matters more than ever.
Dr. Devonshire specializes in environmental education and its impact in urban areas. She has taught various science courses, community enrichment programs and science methods classes at both St. Charles Community College and the University of Missouri- St. Louis. Currently she, with her husband Tony, manages the Bike Stop Cafe, a restaurant, bike rental, Katy trail tour and service company they founded in St. Charles, MO.

Race for the Rivers 2025
2025-08-23 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 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://greenwaynetwork.org/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://greenwaynetwork.org/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.
