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EDDY: Bringing the St. Croix Riverway to the People

06/15/202606/15/2026

Across the 250+ miles of the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers, access to park resources isn’t always easy. With only two visitor centers, many communities sit far from a physical gateway to the riverway.

This is where EDDY – the mobile visitor center – comes in!

EDDY is a travelling hub designed to meet river-lovers where they are, created through a partnership between the National Park Service and Wild Rivers Conservancy. It brings information about the river with interactive games and activities – including a scavenger hunt kids have been loving! – directly into communities across Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Instead of asking visitors to come to the park – EDDY brings the park to them!

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and Wild Rivers Conservancy are bringing education into community spaces along the watershed – festivals, parks, boat landings, and gathering points along the river.

Each stop is more than an event. It’s a connection, a conversation, a story.

EDDY at Belwin Conservancy’s Bison Festival

A Mobile Space for Education & Discovery

EDDY is more than a vehicle – it’s an experience! Visitors can explore river ecology, learn about aquatic species like freshwater mussels, and engage with interactive activities.

Across events, EDDY has featured:

A macroinvertebrate scavenger hunt hidden in the van’s artwork
“St. Croix, Show Me Your Mussels,” a matching game connecting mussels with their host species
Riverway Trivia
Trip Planning Guides

These activities draw strong engagement, especially from families and those with a passion for the river. Stop by to connect and share stories with other river-lovers.

Outreach

EDDY’s first season of outreach has taken it across festivals, heritage events, school programs, and celebrations of nature throughout the watershed.

Wild Rivers Fest – First Public Event

EDDY made its public debut during Wild Rivers Fest held at the 45th Parallel in New Richmond. Matt Poppleton, Executive Director of Wild Rivers Conservancy, and Craig Hansen, Superintendent of SACN officially announced EDDY’s launch. This event held many different vendors, fun cocktail and food choices, live music, a silent auction and raffle giveaway, a chance to tour inside of EDDY, and a chance to hear from those who made EDDY possible.

Catch EDDY at MuskyFest

EDDY will be attending Hayward’s MuskyFest! Look for us on the corner of Dakota and 2nd Street next to Hayward Fly Fishing Company. Wisconsin’s biggest summer celebration runs through June 26th-28th and is expecting over 20,000 visitors, making it a great opportunity for education through EDDY.

There will be live music, arts and crafts, street dances, a car show, carnival rides, a grand parade, and so much more. There’s something for everybody! We are excited to reach new people through EDDY and share our love for the river.