Missouri National Recreational River

05/28/2026

Join us for a kayak float on the Missouri River!

It’s National Trails Day June 6, 2026! The Missouri National Recreational River has a National Water Trail that you can help this National Trails Day by joining us for a Paddle with a Purpose! The Paddle with a Purpose is a guided kayak float and litter cleanup event. Get out on the water, learn from rangers, explore Green Island, and help keep trash out of the river.

WHEN: Saturday, June 6th from 8am to 12pm

WHERE: Volunteers will meet NPS Staff at Riverside Park in Yankton, SD. From there, we will shuttle volunteers to Lake Yankton where we will collect trash and then start our paddle. We’ll float roughly 5 river miles and stop on Green Island Recreation Area. We will end at Riverside Park, where we’ll pick up trash and wrap up for the day.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER: Volunteers must be 16 years old or older, have experience kayaking, and be able to swim.

WHAT TO BRING: Yourself, water, snacks, sunscreen, and insect repellant. MNRR will provide the kayaks, paddles, lifejackets, and litter cleanup equipment (gloves, trash bags, grabbers, etc.)

Registration is REQUIRED. Please call MNRR at 605-665-0209 Ext. 21. You must speak with a ranger to confirm your registration and to be briefed on details of the event. If a ranger is not available, please leave a message and we will get back to you. REGISTRATION WILL CAP AT 10 VOLUNTEERS, so call early to secure your spot!

If you have any questions, please call us at 605-665-0209 Ext. 21 or email Hannah Ringquist at [email protected].

05/01/2026

It’s only one day away! The 20th Missouri River Cleanup! Come aboard before we take off to Keep Our River Clean!

The weather is currently looking a little chilly to start the morning but will otherwise it should be nice and sunny. Please dress in layers, especially to keep you warm in the morning. If there are any changes we’ll issue updates through our social media.

If you plan to be one of our amazing VIPs, Volunteers in Parks:
-Please arrive at Riverside Park by 8am.
-Remember, the cleanup is open to people of all ages! Though, anyone under the age of 18 should have a parent or legal guardian present with them.
-Volunteers will check in at the shelter east of the boat ramp. This is where you’ll pick up your t-shirt. Donuts and refreshments (while supplies last) will be located there too!
-Dress for the weather and the activity! We recommend a jacket, long pants, and close-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also consider bringing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a reuseable water bottle.
-We will provide the life jackets, gloves, trash bags, and water to refill your water bottles.
-After the cleanup, please join us for lunch where we’ll have brats grilling for our VIPs to enjoy!

See you all bright and early Saturday morning!

04/22/2026

Come together for the 20th Missouri River Cleanup on May 2nd from 8am to 12 pm here in Yankton, SD! We’ll be meeting at the Riverside Park Boat Launch Shelter to Keep Our River Clean! Since 2005 volunteers have removed over 100 tons of trash and debris from the Missouri River.

What to expect:

Volunteers will be able to collect litter and debris from shorelines and islands along the Missouri River. To do so volunteers can choose either to stay on land or be taken to cleanup locations by boat. Tools and refreshments will be provided. Volunteers can enjoy free coffee and doughnuts, lunch, and spend time with friends and family while helping to Keep Our River Clean.

You can sign up early by going to volunteer.gov. Search for “Missouri River Cleanup” and click “Apply Now,” or follow the link below. Of course, there will be the option to register and fill out your volunteer form the day of or before the event at our Headquarters Building of 508 E 2nd St in Yankton, SD. Interested? Have questions? Contact us! You can reach us by emailing [email protected] or by calling 605-464-7645.

04/15/2026

Did you know it’s going to be the 20th Missouri River Cleanup? Come join Missouri National Recreational River staff and community members as we come together to Keep Our River Clean for the 20th time on May 2nd!

Enjoy a free t-shirt, free coffee and doughnuts, a boat ride, lunch, and spend time with friends and family while helping to keep our Missouri River beautiful!

You can sign up early by going to volunteer.gov. Search for “Missouri River Cleanup” and click “Apply Now,” or follow the link below. Otherwise reach out to us by email at [email protected] or by calling in at 605-464-7645 to let us know you’re interested. Of course, you also have the options to register and fill out your volunteer form the day of or before the event at our Headquarters Building of 508 E 2nd St in Yankton, SD.

Website: www.nps.gov/mnrr/getinvolved/volunteer.htm

04/10/2026

Missouri National Recreational River is looking for one more person to join our Summer of 2026 Interpretation and Education team! We are looking for a local hire to join us in conducting our summer programming.

If you enjoy working with people, being outside, kayaking, fishing, and having fun, this might be the job for you!

To apply, complete an application here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/864667700

For any questions about the job, please contact Tom Downs at [email protected] or 605-464-4032.

12/31/2025

What a year! 2025 has been a great one for Roscoe the River Otter! His resolutions this year were to...

🎣Do more fishing!
🛶Do more paddling!
👯Make new friends!

Needless to say, with all the fishing clinics, river floats, kayak clinics, and fun community events and new staff members, Roscoe knocked his resolutions out of the park. And he’s ready for more in 2026!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

📸NPS Photos

12/21/2025

Happy Solstice! The shortest days of the year will soon be behind us!

The Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is on December 21st. This marks the official start to winter.

The solstice has been an important occurrence for cultures around the world for thousands of years. The darkness of winter and return of sunlight has influenced yearlong calendars as well as winter customs, rituals, and storytelling. For the Lakota, the winter solstice is a sacred time of reflection, renewal, and celebrating the cycles of life. They celebrate this period with feasts, ceremonies, storytelling, and expressing gratitude.

NPS Photos/B. Jerred and C. Ver Mulm

12/20/2025

Do you love to fish? Are you ready to spend a summer outdoors helping people learn about birding and fishing? We have an exciting opportunity for you! 🎣

Missouri National Recreational River is searching for a talented intern that is ready to engage with our local communities through fishing, birding, and other outdoor recreational activities. Apply TODAY to be our Fish and Feathers Intern for the summer of 2026!

All of the details of the position can be found here: https://environmentamericas.org/job/fish-and-feathers-internship-program-onsite-missouri-national-recreational-river/

If you have any questions about this internship, please contact Abby Schauer by phone at 605-464-7645 or email at: [email protected].

12/19/2025

A single Great Horned Owl can eat up to 4,000 mice per year, which is about 11 per day. That's owl-trageous!!

On top of all those mice, they are also one of the few animals that are brave enough to eat a skunk. Another little-known quirk about great horned owls is that they have modified feathers called bristles that serve as eyelashes to protect their rather large eyes. They can also rotate their heads 270 degrees as their eyeballs cannot move in their sockets.

The great horned owl is a yearlong resident of most of the US. In areas around the river, they can be found in the abandoned nests of bald eagles, squirrels, and other birds as well as tree cavities and the occasional man-made structure.

NPS Photo/Patrick Myers: A great horned owl sits serenely in a cottonwood tree.

12/16/2025

Interested in becoming MNRR's next Community Volunteer Ambassador? APPLY EARLY! Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a final deadline on January 9, 2025.

How to Apply:
Please visit cvainternships.org to review "Member Positions" by region and to find instructions on how to complete the application process. Look for Missouri National Recreational River in the Midwest Region!

We're Hiring!

Do you love working with people? Do you put a high value on building stewardship and community involvement? Do you enjoy being out on the water? 🚣‍♀️ If so, Missouri National Recreational River has an exciting opportunity for you! Here are the details: 👇

We are hiring a Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) to help us coordinate and grow our Volunteer-in-Parks (VIP) program. This position will continue to define volunteer needs, recruit park volunteers, connect with the community at events, and support park partnerships. The CVA position will start on Monday, February 23, 2026 and run until Friday, February 5, 2027.

Benefits include a $600/week living allowance, $150/week housing allowance, eligibility for a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395, networking and training opportunities, and Public Land Corps Hiring Authority.

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent, legal U.S. resident and be 18-30 years old or up to 35 if you are a veteran at the time of service. Applicants must have a High School Diploma/GED; some college, a bachelor's degree, or a higher degree are preferred.

How to Apply:
Please visit cvainternships.org to review "Member Positions" by region and to find instructions on how to complete the application process. Look for Missouri National Recreational River in the Midwest Region!

Application Timeline:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026. For application questions, please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at [email protected].