DATE	2005 -2006 NATIONAL GREAT RIVERS MUSEUM EVENTS
April 28 & 29, 2006	Wings of Spring Migratory Bird Festival at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
May 13, 2006	2006 Junior Girl Scout Extravaganza will be held at Southwestern Illinois College from 9:30 - 4:00. Park Rangers and Volunteers help “Seamoor” the robotic sea serpent teach the rules of water safety. Seamoor will lead the group on a sing-a-long to his favorite song “PFD”. Park Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers highlight their agency’s mission and show how we can all work together to make a difference in conservation of our natural resources. Volunteer Leonard Hoffman teaches a hands on fishing activity. For more information contact Carolyn Carl at (618)692-0692.
May 20, 2006	On May 20th from 1:00-5:00 the Mid America River Expo kicks off the upcoming summer recreation boating season with a safety celebration, hosted by the St. Louis Coast Guard Auxiliary. Activities include: Coast Guard Cutter boat tours, Family fun bike ride, Outdoor camping program, Musical entertainment by the Collinsville Barbershoppers, Boating classes, Water safety programs for kids along with an appearance by Seamoor, the water safety sea serpent, Mock rescue demonstration, Photo opportunities with search and rescue dogs. Special guest appearances by the Rams Cheerleaders!! Pre-registration required by April 20 for the boating class. Free.
June 10, 2006	Fishing Fair at Pere Marquette State Park. This annual event will be held at Pere Marquette State Park. For more information, call 618-786-3323.
June 11, 2006	On June 11th at 2:00 p.m., Discovery Garden will host a backyard wildlife workshop. Learn how to attract butterflies to a garden, prevent rabbits and deer from eating plants, find species beneficial to a garden. Bring the kids along for a craft activity. Pre-registration required before June 4th. Free.
June 25, 2006	On June 25 at 2:00 p.m. the National Great Rivers Museum will host an Outdoor Photography Class. Whether you’re out hiking in the backcountry or sightseeing from your car, having a chance encounter with wildlife is a magnificent and treasured moment. Bring your camera and let Eric Bloemker teach you how to photograph these encounters. Check out his website at www.geocities.com/eric_bloemker/. Free.
July 2, 2006	Alton Fireworks Festival. Carnival, games, fireworks, and much more.
July 9, 2006	On July 9th at 2:00 p.m. the National Great Rivers Museum will host Webelos/Boy Scout Day. Strange things will happen here! Come and check out the demonstrations on scientific principles. Learn what causes an airplane to fly, why a baseball curves, and how to make rock candy. Take a locks and dam tour. Participate and earn your scientist badge. Pre-registration required before July 2nd. Free.
July 16, 2006	On July 16th from 1:00—5:00 the National Great Rivers Museum will host the Summerdays River Travelfest. Get a first hand look at radio controlled tugboats, submarines, ships, and sailboats. At 2:00 p.m., learn about a solo journey down the Mississippi by Michael Gewin. Bring your model boat and let the craftsmen from the St. Louis Model Boat Club show you the skilled intricacies, details and secrets of model boat building. Free.
July 23, 2006	On July 23rd from 1:00—4:00 the National Great Rivers Museum will host Girl Scout Day. Wetlands are more productive per square foot than any other type of ecosystem. Nearly 1,000 species of plants and animals make wetlands their home. These wetland citizens are also amazing, from bullfrogs that can jump 20 times their body length to ducks that fly faster than cars on the highway, to beavers that can fell a tree in the time it takes to brush one's teeth. Learn about wetlands, earn your water drop patch. Free. Registration required before July 16th. Free.
August 13, 2006	On August 13th at 2:00 p.m. the National Great Rivers Museum will host a program titled "Wild Women of the West". Here’s your family’s opportunity for some summer fun, wild western style. This program, performed by Edwardsville native, Karen Stoeber, is a real hootenanny. Check out the unique clothing and lifestyle of pioneer women such as Clamity Jane, Belle Starr, and Anne Oakley. Free.
August 20, 2006	On August 20th at 2:00 p.m. the National Great Rivers Museum will host a Honey Bee program. Ever wonder why bees make honey? Did you know that on average it takes the nectar from 10 million flowers to make one liter of honey? That a worker bee can carry half his weight in nectar and pollen and still fly? Beguile yourself with these and other fascinating facts about bees. Free.
September 16 & 17, 2006	On September 16 & 17, Big River Days will be held in Clarksville, Mo. They will host a celebration of river history through modern-day activities, tours, demonstrations and re-enactments. Wildlife and food fill the park. For more information call the Riverfront Park at 573-242-3132.
September 10-16, 2006	On September 10-16, Illinois Great Rivers Ride Riders start in Rockford, Il on September 10 and pedal 400 miles to Alton, IL where they finish on September 16. Riders enjoy a dinner at the National Great Rivers Museum on September 17. Entry Fee Required. For more info contact Joe Butcher at 877-477-7007 x217.

Hey Kids! Check out the River Art Camp offered June 5-9 and the Junior Ranger Camp offered June 26-30. We also offer boy and girl scout programs. Visit with or call the museum staff for more information. Check out the camp at http://www2.lc.edu/ContinuingEducation/Fitness&Adventure.html

Movie Matinee at the National Great Rivers Museum

The National Great Rivers Museum will be hosting special presentations in the theater each month during the summer. The movie presentations will include the NOVA specials on the Flood of 1993, and Super Bridge (the building of the Clark Bridge ). If you have seen these movies before, but want to see them on the big screen, this is your chance.

“Flood” – Travel with NOVA along the Mississippi River and experience the flood of the century. The Great Flood of 1993 drowned America ’s heartland beneath inescapably rising waters. Unlike the fast moving devastation cause by a hurricane or earthquake, a flood unfolds as if in slow motion as it moves along a river. “A leisurely disaster,” according to one survivor, “Torture that wouldn’t quit.”

Approximate Running Time: 60 minutes.

Showing: June 10, July 8, and Aug 12 (show starts at 2pm)

“Super Bridge” – Take a look at “the bridge of the future:” sturdy and stunningly graceful, the new Clark Bridge spans the Mississippi at Alton, Illinois, linking the old river town with the promise of prosperity. You can see how they did it. This is one of the world’s most remarkable and risky bridge projects – a rare example of what is known as cable-stayed design, an innovative variation of the suspension bridge.

Approximate Running Time: 120 Minutes

Showing: June 24, July 22, and Aug 26 (show starts at 2pm)

Eagle Events 2007

Eagle Days - Jan 27 and 28, 2007 – Clarksville, Missouri: This event is hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation, in cooperation with the Rivers Project Office. Programs will be held in the Apple Shed in Clarksville every hour from 9 am to 5 pm. Viewing opportunities are available on the riverfront along with bonfires to keep you warm.

Masters of the Sky - February 17, 18, 19th, 2007 – National Great Rivers Museum This special event provides wonderful programs for children as well as adults. The World Bird Sanctuary will bring in several birds of prey, including a live Bald Eagle, and give the natural history and some interesting facts on each of the birds in this free-flight demonstration. Yes, I said free flight! Some of the birds will fly just inches over the top of the audience!

These programs will be held in the National Great Rivers Museum at Alton, IL. The times for the events are 10, 12, and 2 p.m. The admission for each program is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children 12 and under. Children under 3 are free. All proceeds are donated to the World Bird Sanctuary for ongoing rehabilitation and education efforts at their new facilities.

Eagle Viewing Opportunities

EAGLE VIEWING AREAS

Lock & Dam 24 – Clarksville, MO – This area has some of largest eagle populations from mid-Nov thru mid-Mar. Eagles rest in the trees along the Missouri and Illinois shorelines. Visit the Clarksville Riverfront Park or Clarksville Visitor Center and get a birds-eye-view of the river.

Lock & Dam 25 – Winfield, MO – This area offers visitors the chance to get a good view of the eagle. An eagle-viewing platform, constructed by volunteers, allows visitors to view the eagles feeding around the lock and dam structure.

National Great Rivers Museum at the site of Melvin Price Locks and Dam– Alton, IL – Eagles can be viewed in flight and feeding around the massive structure and resting in the trees of Maple Island across the river from the Illinois Esplanade and National Great Rivers Museum. This area is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area/Rivers Project – West Alton, MO – This location is one of the best eagle viewing areas in the St Louis Metro Area. Eagle roost in the trees on Ellis Island and often feed in the open water of Ellis Bay, all viewable from the comfort of the Rivers Project Conference Room. Visitors may drive below the dam and view eagle feeding or resting in the nearby trees of Maple Island. Rangers staff the office on weekends from 8 am – 4pm.