Spend an afternoon kayaking in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway with a ranger this summer/NPS

Looking for a good summer outing? Rangers at St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in the Upper Midwest will be leading some kayak trips on the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers this summer.

The St. Croix and Namekagon compose the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, one of America's first wild and scenic rivers. This year's "Paddle with a Ranger" programs will help you discover the significance of a place protected as part of the National Park System while exploring the river in a kayak.

Here's this summer's lineup:

Cecilia's Journey
Sunday, July 12, 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
CCC Landing to Riverside Landing, St. Croix River
Discover what life was like for an Ojibwe woman in the 1800s along the St. Croix River. Join a park ranger as you learn about Cecilia Connor, an amazing Ojibwe woman who travelled the river extensively during her lifetime. 6 miles, 3.5 hours.

Words Over Water
Thursday, July 30, 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wisconsin Interstate State Park to Osceola Landing, St. Croix River
Rivers have served as metaphors for poets and writers for hundreds of years. Spend an evening paddling the St. Croix River and listening to words that skip like stones through time. 6 miles, 3.5 hours.

Full Moon Paddle
Saturday, August 29, 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wild River State Park Sunrise River Landing to Wild River State Park Main Landing, St. Croix River
Accompany a park ranger, move with the pace of the river and enjoy the last full moon of the summer. 9 miles, 5 hours.

Ghost Town of the Namekagon
Sunday, September 6, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Earl Park Landing to Lakeside Road Landing, Namekagon River
Paddle down the Namekagon and learn about Veazie, a historic town that once existed along the river. See the site of an old dam and learn the stories of the characters that called Veazie home. 4 miles, 2.5 hours.

For all programs, kayaks and related equipment, including a life jacket, will be provided. A 30-minute paddling instruction and safety session will occur prior to departure and must be attended by all participants. Participants must be 18 or older. The cost is $40 per person and space is limited to eight people. Due to limited space and number of programs, participants will only be allowed to register for one "Paddle with a Ranger" program.

For more information and to register, visit this site or call (715) 483-3300.

About the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, a unit of the National Park System, was established by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968. It is one of a group of eight rivers in the country which first received this recognition. For 255 miles, the St. Croix and its tributary, the Namekagon, flow through some of the most scenic and least developed country in the Upper Midwest. Learn more at www.nps.gov/sacn.

About the St. Croix River Association
The St. Croix River Association is a nonprofit organization that protects, restores and celebrates the St. Croix River and its watershed. It partners with the National Park Service as the Riverway's Friends Group and others so that the St. Croix is a place where

Waters run free and clean
Habitat remains plentiful to sustain our unique and diverse flora and fauna
People have access to our National Park and the park flourishes.
Towns throughout the basin thrive and people celebrate the river
Learn more at www.stcroixriverassociation.org