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In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic River Act, there were 520 sixth graders from several school districts invited to the St. Croix River's edge to enjoy music and education experiences Friday, April 18.

Students from St. Croix Falls, Chisago Lakes Middle School, Clayton, Clear Lake and Osceola, Wi. gathered for the day.

The event was coordinated by National Parks Service Park Ranger Dale Cox and Festival Theatre's Amy Klein.

The students attended the Big Top Chautauqua performance at Festival Theatre in St. Croix Falls to start their day. The concert included a performance centered around the "Wild Woods and Waters" theme.

The groups then hiked to the National Park Service's new St. Croix Riverway headquarters a few blocks away. At the facility, students enjoyed a 25-minute film about the St. Croix River and participated in educational sessions, including learning about the lumber industry that was a big part of life on the river and other historical information about the area.

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