The Education & Discovery Delivered to You (EDDY) van will bring on-the-go education to events and places around the watershed. Photos: Wild Rivers Conservancy
The mobile visitor experience will launch at this year’s Wild Rivers Fest.
Wild Rivers Conservancy and the National Park Service have turned years of planning into a first-of-its-kind reality. On May 2, the organizations will launch a new way for local communities to experience the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The Education & Discovery Delivered to You (EDDY) van will drive throughout the watershed, bringing interactive exhibits, river education and hands-on programming to community festivals, libraries, parks, schools and more.
“The St. Croix and Namekagon rivers span more than 250 miles, but access to the national park experience has been limited,” says Matt Poppleton, executive director of Wild Rivers Conservancy. “EDDY is a new way forward, bringing the Riverway directly to people and inviting them into a deeper connection. Launching it at Wild Rivers Fest, with the community that made it possible, feels exactly right.”
EDDY is a collaboration between Wild Rivers Conservancy and the National Park Service.
The all-electric sprinter van—decked out in a colorful mural depicting the convergence of the St. Croix and Namekagon Riverways—is making its debut at Wild Rivers Fest from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on May 2 at 45th Parallel Distillery. The third annual festival will also feature educational opportunities, live music, local food, a silent auction and more.
