Big River Love and Season’s Greetings to All! Paddles Up! You are invited:
*Sat Dec 10, 7-10pm, Mighty Quapaw Winter Solstice Celebration. On the banks of Sunflower River behind our home base, 3rd & Sunflower in downtown Clarksdale, MS. BYOB. Join us 7-10pm around the bonfire behind Quapaw Canoe Company for an evening of stories, music, dreams and visions. Hosted by our legendary Mighty Quapaw team — “Osa Negra” Blackie Bear — “Smooth” Ellis Coleman — Mark “River” Peoples — “Water Possum” Layne Logue — “Mississippi” Matthew Burdine — “Red River Otter” Heather Crosse — and the old turtle “Driftwood Johnnie” John Ruskey. (Note: This is the closest open date we could find to winter solstice - Dec 21)
*Sat Dec 24, 6-9pm, Christmas Eve Community Canoe Caroling - Sunflower River. Meet at 6pm behind Quapaw Canoe Company to load the big canoe and set off paddling into the magic night, filling downtown Clarksdale with the music of the season! No previous experience necessary. But must be willing to paddle (and sing a song or two!) This is our final community canoe trip of 2022. PS: We’ll keep you posted for monthly community canoe trips coming up in 2023!
Lower Mississippi River Foundation: Summer Canoe Camps and Community Canoe trips 2023: Working together we create a better, healthier world. We see it reflecting clearly through our children’s eyes over the face of the big muddy river.
The Lower Mississippi River Foundation is committed to creating deep stewardship for our youth on one of the world's major river systems. The Mississippi swells over in size, cultural diversity, habitat diversity and biological productivity. We create life-changing connections through our week-long Summer Canoe Camps, through our Community Canoe trips, and through other exciting activities designed for beginner to advanced skill levels.
We are now planning programming for 2023 — and we are inspired and incredibly excited! We are aiming to deepen our impact and need you to help us accomplish that.
This letter is an end-of-the-year reminder inviting you to renew your participation in our uniquely important role in creating, developing, improving, protecting, and promoting a clean, safe, and thriving Lower Mississippi River for the benefit, enjoyment, education, and general welfare of the public. Again, we cannot do this without your help.
To date the LMRF remains the only organization on the last 1,154 miles of the Mississippi River (from St. Louis down to the Gulf of Mexico) that creates realtime experiences for kids and communities closest to the river, primarily through canoeing learning adventures. Since 2011 we have consistently overseen projects and activities that bring this to life! This is a historic low water year for the Mississippi. But the river never runs dry of opportunities for kids, adults and canoes.
On behalf of the board, staff, and volunteers of the Lower Mississippi River Foundation, please help us move forward in 2023 with continued support. We believe that working together we can create a better, healthier world — and we see it reflecting clearly through our children’s eyes over the face of the big muddy river.
You can send your 2023 donation by check made out to Lower Mississippi River Foundation, P.O. Box 127, Helena, AR 72343. You can also make a donation online at our website www.lowermsfoundation.org. Lastly, if you prefer, go to our Facebook Fundraiser -- good this week only (ends Dec 14th). The LMRF is a certified 501(c)3 — all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
We remain yours, in service of our river, and our communities, Board Members: Kevin Smith, Shannon McMulkin, Scott Shirey, Jennifer Mohead, Erin Lee and Charity Hallman Advisory Board: John Ruskey, Aallyah Wright, “EB” Erickson Blakney, OFJ Staff: Robin Ladner, Les Canty Volunteers: Mark “River” Peoples, Heather Crosse, Ken O’Keefe, Kim Townsend, Irma Hicks ~ and many others!
Have an absolutely fabulous time bringing in the season's joy and merriment beside an open fire and paddling through Clarksdale with your voices bright & cheerful. I am off to Canada Dec 7th for a couple months in the snowy Rocky Mountains. But sure wish I could join you all along the Mighy River for some joy & celebration. A very Merry Christmas to you John, Heather, all the Quapaws & the wonderful river people of Clarksdale. May 2023 bring you all you wish for with good health, much love in your lives and joy in every smile .
Jillian (paddler at heart!)