This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
‘It was a great opportunity for self-discovery and vocational


discernment as students explored their own passions, strengths and weaknesses.’


including environmental politics and a lab course study- ing ecology of the river. Many students also had independent projects or


research, which ranged from art projects analyzing relationships between industry and wilderness to study- ing how sediment deposition affects Cajun culture in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of the independent projects included government and nonprofit partnerships. Sophomore Blair Stewig worked with the National


Park Service to create a brochure about hypoxia (oxy- gen deficiency) in the Gulf of Mexico. Hannah Arvold, sophomore, partnered with a Montessori school in Minneapolis to provide materials for environmental education. Junior Noah Cameron used a hydrophone to record


the river’s underwater noises to learn how people relate to it in different areas. “We could be learning about these places and things in a classroom, but out here makes it much more memorable,” he said. For his independent project, junior Ricky Taylor


served as the group’s photographer and videographer. He spent his days “shiſting gears” between paddling with his classmates, doing homework and snapping photos. “It wasn’t easy, but through it came some of my most


exciting moments from the trip,” Taylor said. “In those split seconds, I got to capture something beautiful, amazing or just down-right fun.”


Rowing, rowing on a river Te average day consisted of sunrise wake-up calls, breakfast and in the water paddling by 8:30 a.m. Tey would paddle until early evening when they’d set up camp, make dinner and spend the evening around a campfire. Te group made stops at major spots


along the river, including La Crosse, Wis.; Dubuque, Iowa; Hannibal, Mo.; St. Louis; Memphis, Tenn.; and New Orleans. During these off days, they would have class, work on papers and research, attend site visits or guest lec- tures and, of course, do laundry. Whether it was by learning about the history of Native American communi-


Paddlers pause to take in the Gateway Arch as they travel down the Mississippi past St. Louis.


January 2016 13


John Ruskey (second from right) of Quapaw Canoe Co. shows Augs- burg students his maps of their route on the Lower Mississippi.


Students break for class and discussion during a day off from paddling.


ties, studying Mark Twain and the literature inspired by the river, or seeing how the river plays a role in the cul- ture of the French Quarter, the stops allowed the group to learn just how much the river impacts the communi- ties on its shores. “Over the last decade I have been connecting with researchers, academics and other local experts in build-


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52