Davenport, IA / July 20, 2011 - Local residents will have a chance to tour Living Lands and Waters' new floating classroom at LL&W's annual Barge Party Thursday, August 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m at the Lake Davenp or t Sailing Club at Oneida Street Landing on River Drive . The 150-foot long barge features a handicapped-accessible classroom, which can host up to 60 students at a time, as well as sleeping quarters for an 8 person Living Lands and Waters crew. LL&W crews will be providing tours of the new classroom during the annual Barge Party, a celebration and appreciate event for of volunteers and supporters of the environmental group. Chad Pregracke and his Living Lands & Waters' staff and crew will be on hand to celebrate fourteen years of river cleanups, environmental education w or kshops, the Million Trees project and engaging communities in river stewardship.
The menu for this year's Barge Party will feature a catfish fry & shrimp boil. Guests will also have a chance to taste-test various preparations of Asian Carp, an invasive species in the Mississippi that is commonly served in Asia . The Barge Party will also feature live music and a silent art auction, featuring the works of nearly a dozen regional artists who donated river-inspired pieces, including salvage material sculpture, mixed media painting, folk art, driftwood pieces, quilts and glass art. Chad Pregracke will update guests on the progress they've made this year. "We couldn't keep these barges running, making the river a cleaner place, without the support of Quad-Citians who volunteer and support Living Lands & Waters. It all makes a difference and we are so grateful," said Chad Pregracke, Founder & President of Living Lands & Waters. Tickets for the event are $35 per person. Reservations can be made by calling the office at (309) 496-9848 or going to their website www.livinglandsandwaters.org.
Teachers interested in exploring a workshop for their students should contact Tammy Becker at LL&W: tammy@livinglandsandwaters.com or 309-496-9848. "We have had over 1,600 teachers in our Educational Workshops dating back to 2003. This will create an opportunity for thousands of students to experience the river first hand" said LL&W founder Chad Pregracke. Also on display at the barge party, LL&W's new one-thousand horse power tow boat, needed to push the new floating classroom. The floating classroom was made possible by the generous support of five of LL&W's long-term partners: Cargill, ADM, Caterpillar, AEP River Operations and Ingram Barge Company.
The Living Lands & Waters Barge Party is held in appreciation for volunteers, supporters and fans of LL&W's efforts, as a celebration of the power of committed staff, volunteers and sponsors working together to meet an important need. Among the reasons to celebrate this year: LL&W founder Chad Pregracke's endowment with a 'Points of Light Award.' This distinguished honor, established by former U.S. President George H. W. Bush was awarded during a televised ceremony from the Lincoln Center which featured all of the living former presidents. Chad ads this honor to many others he's been given to recognize his achievements since founding LL&W. They include a Jefferson Award, and awards from the American Institute f or Public Service; Heroes of Conservation Nomination and Field & Stream Magazine.
Chad Pregracke started Living Lands & Waters in 1998 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and restoration of America's major rivers and to the education of people about environmental issues. From his single boat beginning, LL&W has grown to an internationally known organization with a fleet of barges and workboats. LL&W engages thousands of volunteers each year in river cleanups, hands-on environmental education workshops, the Great Mississippi River Cleanup, Adopt-a- River-Mile programs and the Million Trees Project.
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