TriDistrict CAPS Students Dive into Learning at the Mississippi River Institute
Students from the TriDistrict CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program spent a day exploring one of Minnesota’s greatest natural resources, the Mississippi River, during a hands-on learning experience with the Mississippi River Institute (MRI) in St. Paul.
Hosted on MRI’s floating classroom barge, the field trip offered an immersive look at how the river connects to nearly every industry and career field, from environmental science to transportation, business, and sustainability.
Each TriDistrict CAPS pathway had a unique opportunity to explore the river from a different perspective:
Business & Entrepreneurship students examined how waterways impact daily life and the economy. They also participated in a career inventory activity to learn about the wide range of professions tied to the river, from logistics and policy to environmental management.
Healthcare Careers students explored how the Mississippi River connects to public health, learning about careers in water quality, emergency management, and outdoor recreation. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health and a local kayak guide shared how clean water, disaster preparedness, and access to outdoor spaces all play vital roles in community well-being.
Transportation & Trades students took a deep dive into the industries that keep goods and resources moving. Representatives from MnDOT discussed the economic and environmental differences between transporting goods by semi-truck versus barge. With the St. Paul Port Authority, they learned what a port authority does and how to get involved in the industry. The highlight of the day came with Upper River Services, where students toured a towboat and enjoyed a quick ride on the river.
Sustainability & Food Systems students explored the ecological and cultural importance of the Mississippi River through hands-on learning. They heard how the Mississippi River Institute began as one man’s clean-up effort and grew into an educational hub, identified aquatic plants and macroinvertebrates with the DNR, and learned about native fish species from Native Fish 4 Tomorrow and a local commercial fisherman—ending the day with a bigmouth buffalo fish fry.
The day combined career exploration, environmental education, and real-world connections, all core elements of the TriDistrict CAPS experience. By engaging with local experts and industries, students gained a deeper understanding of how their future professions can impact both the economy and the environment.
About the Mississippi River Institute
The Mississippi River Institute (MRI) is a floating classroom and educational initiative run by Living Lands & Waters that travels along the Mississippi River to expose students to the many ecological, technical, and career opportunities the river supports. Through free workforce-development workshops, MRI brings students aboard a barge outfitted as a classroom and connects them with industry professionals, guest speakers, and hands-on activities such as water quality testing and species identification.
About TriDistrict CAPS
TriDistrict CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) is an innovative, career-focused initiative that connects high school students with professional experiences in fields like healthcare, business, education, and Information Technology. Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and partnerships with local industries, students develop essential skills, earn college credit, and gain a clearer vision for their future careers. This program is in partnership between South St. Paul, Simley, and Two Rivers High Schools. By sharing resources our districts are able to offer our students more career and college readiness programming and opportunities.