Columbia elementary students experience the 'Big Muddy'

COLUMBIA — The sun reflected off the Missouri River on Wednesday as 250 Columbia fourth graders were able to experience it firsthand.

Fourth-graders from Columbia’s 21 elementary schools got to take on the Big Muddy for Missouri River Relief’s fifth annual Missouri River Days.

Each education station provided a different one-of-a-kind learning experience about the Missouri River.

At the first station, “Experience the River” using one of Missouri River Relief’s motorboats as a classroom, students learned about the history of the Missouri River on the water. The second station, “Through the Eyes of an Explorer” connects science and art, gave students the opportunity to create watercolor paintings of the river. The third station is a hike through a forest in the Missouri River bottom where students learned to identify trees. For the fourth station, students got to learn about conservation efforts firsthand and meet fisheries biologists from different agencies, such as the Missouri Department of Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Geological Survey.

Missouri River Relief Education Director Kristen Schulte said the goal is to connect the river into the classroom.

“Our goal is to connect people to the Missouri River and so we teach a lot about the ecology and history and how to be better stewards of the Missouri River,” Schulte said.

Schulte said they want students to leave Missouri River days feeling empowered.

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“The Missouri River is the longest river in North America. It’s an important water source for the people that live in the state of Missouri, it’s also a great place to recreate and go on canoe trips and paddling and it’s a spot where a lot of wildlife call home,” she said.