RIP Donald

Sometimes I find the weirdest things on my trash walks. RIP Donald. Cause of death unknown.  Perhaps if I could have looked at the contents of its stomach I would find that it had consumed too many cigarettes and plastic debris. I left the remains and marker along the beach where I found it just north of the Plymouth Bridge just in case folks want to bring flowers and cards.

Last week I participated in an educational event for elementary school kids called Big River Journey.  About 125 fifth graders boarded one of the Johnathan Padelford River Boats at Harriet Island (in St. Paul) in the morning and from there we traveled up the Mississippi River to Snelling State Park landing at Steamboat Point, the same place that boats would have landed in the 1800's.  The kids could choose to participate in three of the six learning stations available as we cruised the river.  They could learn about river otters, look for eagles, learn about the disappearing waterfalls of the river, look at river invertebrates under microscopes, visit with the boat captain....or they could come to my station called CSI.  That stands for Crime Scene Investigation. Our training was provided by folks from Project WET (water education training) through the DNR. After a brief explanation of the sewer system, the storm drain system, and watersheds the kids were divided up into smaller groups where they were given a bag of litter that had been found in the river.

 After selecting one item they discussed what it was, how does it harm the environment, and how can it be prevented.  Of course, the kids were all interested in how litter harms birds and animals that live in the river. Perhaps Donald died from toxic litter like paint chips or lead casings or really moldy food left by someone taking a lunch time break from work.  Donald may have consumed something that eventually blocked the passage of good food and died from starvation.  What if it was a piece of glass that he tried to swallow. Stupid duck, don't you know you can't eat glass!

We dropped the kids off at Snelling State Park where they had more fun activities to do with Park Rangers. We picked up another 125 kids and headed back toward St. Paul.  Repeat the same activities and dock at 2pm.  Clean up our stations, catch a bus back to Minneapolis, have a nap, have a glass of wine, repeat same activity in the fall.