July 28, 2012, Saturday - 9th Annual Mississippi River Challenge (2 days)

The Mississippi River Challenge is a 2-day, 39-mile paddling event to raise funds and awareness for a cleaner, healthier river.  (There are also half-day and One-day options.)

The dates for the 9th annual Mississippi River Challenge are July 28th & 29th, 2012. This is the premier event for Friends of the Mississippi River and all funds raised support the organization’s work to protect Mississippi River and its watershed the Twin Cities region. Each paddler over 18 is required to raise a minimum of $200 (half-day paddlers) or $250 (one and two day paddlers) in pledges to participate in this event. Paddlers ages 16-18 are asked to raise a minimum of $50 in pledges, but there is no minimum for those 15 and under.

Over the course of this event, you will experience a new view of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers and the Twin Cities that includes:

 •Stretches of seemingly near pristine wilderness right in the core of the urban area
•Camping in a historic fort
•Live music and great food
•The opportunity to learn about the history, the ecology, and the culture of these great rivers
•A chance to connect with other local paddlers and river enthusiasts, and more!
There are a variety of options for participation in the Mississippi River Challenge. You can:

•canoe, kayak, or paddleboard (other paddlecraft are also welcome, just nothing with a motor)
•paddle a half day, one day or two days (half day is 11 miles, one day is 17 miles, and two days is 39 miles)
•camp overnight at Historic Fort Snelling (or make other arrangements)
•paddle solo or with a partner
•volunteer
•sponsor a stop, a paddler, or a team (contact Marlis Schmidt at mschmidt@fmr.org for details)
This event is fully supported, which means a shuttle is provided from your car (parked at the end point) to the starting point, your camping gear is transported for you (no need to bring it in your boat!), all meals, snacks, and beverages are provided, and SAG (safety and gear) support is available at all rest stops along the route. There are some additional perks for paddlers, including online registration and a personal fundraising page, a Mississippi River Challenge t-shirt, a rare opportunity to camp at Historic Fort Snelling, and a Saturday night celebration complete with live music from The Roe Family Singers and cold beverages. This is a family-friendly event and we encourage people of all ages and skill levels to participate!

There are several stopping points along the route where paddlers are required to take a break. Each day has rest stops and a lunch stop to allow paddlers to re-hydrate and re-energize. This is important to successfully completing the Mississippi River Challenge.