New Faces at RRF

RRF is excited to introduce 2 new staff...Bill Nimke and Marisa Hernandez. Read on to learn a little bit more about them.

We are so excited to have Bill Nimke as our Interpretation and Education Specialist. His first project over the coming months will be to expand and market the Quest Hiking program in the Milwaukee River Valley. This will include the development of a curriculum and activities to encourage groups, families, and individuals to explore the trail loops on the east and west banks of the river.

Before joining RRF, Bill was the Founder and Executive Director of Learn the Seas – America, Inc., a Wisconsin non-profit educational community established for the academic and character development of urban youth through freshwater and marine education activities. LSA’s primary programs included a charter high school, the Inland Seas School of Expeditionary Learning and RAFT (Real Apprenticeships For Teens), an after-school and summer jobs readiness program. "I am excited to be working for the River Revitalization Foundation, a great organization with an important mission to steward our city's river corridors," says Bill.

Another wonderful addition to our RRF team is Marisa Hernandez! Marisa is a Public Alley in Milwaukee and will be spending the next 10 months with us, splitting her time between Gathering Waters Conservancy and RRF.

Marisa was born and raised in Milwaukee where she attended and graduated from Milwaukee High School of the Arts with a specialty in Creative Writing/Journalism. While in high school she was involved with many youth leadership programs including the ACLU of WI and the Urban Ecology Center. Through her work with UEC she traveled to Wyoming and spent time in the Tetons researching the ecosystem and creating a bond with the outdoors. She also started volunteering every summer at a youth diversity camp administered by the Youth and Womens Center of America, Camp Everytown, where she is now head camp counselor. After graduating she traveled and studied abroad in Argentina for one year where she studied Political Science and developed a passion for speaking Spanish and discovering new paths and cultures.

"I am very excited and hopeful for my opportunity to be working with River Revitalization Foundation; the service and exposure they give to youth and community members of Milwaukee is exactly what I love doing. This is a great chance to learn, interact, grow and discover new ways of exploring and educating myself on the city I love and am proud to represent. I am so happy to help an organization create leaders and help them have a long life here in Milwaukee as a staple of youth services and environmental awareness."

Public Allies’ mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation.Public Allies is changing the face and practice of leadership in communities across the country by demonstrating our conviction that everyone can lead, and that lasting social change results when citizens of all backgrounds step up, take responsibility, and work together.

Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee Pledges $100,000 to RRF's Greenway Gateway Project!

Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee recently presented a check to RRF in the amount of $100,000 for the naming of the soon-to-be improved canoe launch, Kiwanis Landing, on the Greenway Gateway property. The $100,000 will go towards the acquisition of the property. RRF continues to restore the property, which provides public access to additional greenspace in the heart of Milwaukee.

The Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee, a "flagship club", in a worldwide service organization is committed to improve the Greater Milwaukee community, especially for youth, through volunteer resources and action. Their commitment to projects, such as the Greenway Gateway, is key to creating a healthy, vibrant community for Milwaukee residents.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Kiwanis Club for your generous support of the Greenway Gateway restoration project.

Thank You MillerCoors Volunteers!

A huge THANK YOU goes out to the MillerCoors volunteers who came out not once, but TWICE, to help RRF staff install a pollinator garden on the Greenway Gateway Property earlier this week!

It was a beautiful fall afternoon to plant some native flowers, grasses, and trees in the Greenway Gateway. Site prep, materials, and plants were paid for using the funds we received as part of the MillerCoors River Network grant. The garden will help reduce stormwater run-off, improve soil conditions, and improve the aesthetics of the area. Check out more pics from the afternoon below.......

TA-DA!!!!

UWM Service Learning Info

UWM Service Learning – Fall 2011

River Revitalization Foundation (RRF)

Office: 1845 N. Farwell Ave. in MEC (Milwaukee Environmental Consortium) Offices

             Suite 100, Milwaukee  WI 53202 (but we don’t meet here!)

www.milwaukeerrf.org    414-271-8000 (office phone)

Agency contacts:

Vince Bushell, Program Manager/Land Steward

vbushell@gmail.com

cell: 414-588-7281

Ellie Kirkwood, Field Assistant/Intern

kirkwoo2@uwm.edu

cell: 414-630-6311

Theresa Morgan, Conservation Specialist

Kimberly Gleffe, Executive Director

Our Mission:

The mission of the RRF is to establish a parkway for public access, walkways, recreation and education, bordering the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers; to use the rivers to revitalize surrounding neighborhoods; and to improve water quality.

From the past to the future, we are committed to the return of this vital natural resource for all as Milwaukee’s urban rivers land trust.

Our Vision:

The RRF advocates environmental conservation, public access and sensitive recreation in metro Milwaukee’s river watersheds.

To address critical land use issues and further the greenway concept, our primary focus includes ensuring:

• Public Access
• Preservation of the river valley
• Preservation of green space in a dense urban environment
• Riparian buffers against encroaching development
• Links with neighborhoods on both sides of the river
• Conservation of critical habitat and wildlife areas

By convening partners with shared vision, values and mission, we can influence planning decisions made along this corridor.

Our Organizational Goals:

Our long-term goal is to recreate the urban landscape using the river as a focal point. As a land trust, we will impact the quality of life through neighborhood restoration, economic vitality, conservation of natural areas, and creation of public access to these natural areas and open spaces. “Green infrastructure” addresses this concept; by incorporating open space in urban planning, we have relief, through access to these spaces, from the intensity and pace of a dense urban environment. The community would be enhanced in many ways.

Partner/Course: UWM CES 210 or GEOG 125

Project Details:

1. Introductory Hike = 2 hours
1. Each student is required to take an introductory hike led by Vince and/or Ellie through the Milwaukee River valley. Meet at Riverview dorms. This hike must be completed by Oct. 16.
2. Invasive Species Removal
1. The remainder of your hours may be spent removing invasive species like buckthorn and Japanese knotweed. This work is somewhat labor intensive – be ready to get dirty.
3. Other Project
1. If you have a creative idea (you like writing, drawing, making movies, etc) please do not hesitate to tell Vince and Ellie. Artistic promotion is desirable for us.
4. Major Events – throughout the semester there are a few large volunteer events that you can help supervise. Below are a few in September – look for email updates with new potential opportunities.
1. Fri 9/16 – Wild and Scenic Film Festival at Bayshore (at dusk)
2. Tues 9/20 – Days of Caring at Gateway Park (1-4pm)
3. Sat 9/24 – National Public Lands Day at Gordon Park (9am-12pm)

Important Info: READ THIS

1. You are required to complete 10 hours of volunteer work with RRF. 2 hours will be the intro hike, 8 hours will be your other projects.
2. You must have your intro hike done by Sunday October 16. Failure to do so will result in being dropped from the program
3. You must have at least 6 hours (intro hike + 4hrs) completed by Sunday November 6. Failure to do so will result in being dropped from the program.
4. You can contact Vince by phone call and email. You can contact Ellie by phone call, text, and email. Please be specific and brief when leaving messages.
5. YOU tell US when you can work. Messages with “When can I work?…” will not be responded to.
6. Please schedule days to work in advance – don’t expect to be able to schedule and work that same day.
7. If you must cancel a time you have scheduled, do so ASAP (at least 3 hours in advance).

If you will be late to a time you have scheduled, just call! Have our numbers on hand and let us know you will be running late. Don’t leave us waiting around.

Gathering Waters Conservancy Highlights RRF Wheelhouse Project

Gathering Waters Conservancy , Wisconsin's statewide service center for the land trust community, is highlighting RRF's Greenway Gateway restoration project as part of their "Land Trust Stories" series. Check out the story here!

Thank you to all the GWC folks who put this together!

Quest Clues #7 to #12

Click on Quest Clue Then Click on Image

Quest Clues #1 to #6

Click #1

then click on images.