Wild Rivers Conservancy

Give today so that people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can experience the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway through the many outdoor exploration and educational activities offered by Wild Rivers Conservancy.

Our program staff lead discovery activities such as kayaking, birding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, camping, and other experiential activities in a safe, educational, and inclusive environment. Getting people outside in the park builds community and creates bonds with the Riverway that inspire and encourage action to protect our water.

In 2023, the Conservancy is focused on taking these outdoor experiences to groups who have traditionally not visited our national park, and we need your help.

Strong partnerships with groups like Advancement of Hmong Americans, Valley Friendship Club, Indigenous Peoples Task Force, BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, and the Lac Courte Oreilles Boys and Girls Club have given us the chance to share these outdoor activities with a broader audience. Your gift today will help fund outdoor education programs for youth and people with differing abilities, provide trip assistance, and scholarships to bring families to the outdoors together.

 Share a gift with the Conservancy to help fund outdoor education programs.

• $25 helps buy new mucking supplies for youth outdoor discovery adventures
• $50 helps purchase one pair of snowshoes for winter adventures 
• $100 helps provide transportation for 100 kids to explore the Riverway
• $500 helps buy fishing poles for year-round outdoor adventures

About Our National Park

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is a border river between Minnesota and Wisconsin. The St. Croix River and its tributary, the Namekagon River, makeup 255 miles of protected Riverway. 

In 1968, these rivers were established as the nation’s first wild and scenic river national park for their free-flowing character, exceptional water quality, and the recreational, cultural, historic, and aesthetic values present in the Riverway. The park is host to globally unique species and is a rare example of a healthy, intact riverine system. 

Visitors can camp, hike, take photos, and observe wildlife in its natural habitat — or swim, paddle, fish, and more. The Riverway is a true recreation “hot-spot” for the nearby Twin Cities Metro area and upwards of a million visitors from around the world each year.

Who We Are

Wild River Conservancy of the St. Croix & Namekagon is the only nonprofit focused specifically and exclusively on the St. Croix watershed. As the official nonprofit partner for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, the Conservancy actively partners with the National Park Service on education initiatives, land and water protection, invasive species detection and prevention, and public access programs.

What You Can Do Today!

• Donate to support your national park
• Connect with the Conservancy on Facebook and Instagram
• Encourage your friends and family or organization to attend a Wild Rivers activity
• Make a plan to visit the St. Croix

Photo Credit: Nicole Biagi, Amy Carrier, Zoe Deal, & Kate Wright