Friends of the Kaw’s Annual Dinner & Silent – RSVP Deadline TODAY!

Friends of the Kaw is holding its 18th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from 6 to 9pm at the Bass Pro Shop in Olathe (just SW of I-35 and 119th Street.)

Our guest speaker is Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office.  He will speak about the 50-year vision for the future of water in Kansas.

Enjoy a buffet dinner, cash bar, informative presentation and the opportunity to do some holiday shopping. The cost is $45/person and RSVPs with a check or credit card need to be made by today.  Call 785 312 7200.

MORE INFORMATION on the event and how to make a reservation.

We also need items for the Silent Auction so if you have a donation please let us know!

De Soto Ramp Cleanup Rescheduled – New Date is November 8th

Friends of the Kaw is working with the City of De Soto, Westar Green Team, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Waste Management to clean up an area on the Kaw just below the De Soto access ramp and we need some volunteer assistance.  The cleanup will start at 9:00am and end once the job is done or at 4pm, so you can come for the morning, the afternoon or both.  The Green Team will be using a line truck to lift objects over to the ramp where a skid loader will transport heavy items up the ramp to a dumpster. Because we are using heavy equipment, the activity on the ramp is not appropriate for kids under 18 years old.  Younger folks are welcome to come and will be able to help do some maintenance on the demonstration rain garden near the access ramp or pick up litter in Riverfest Park.

Area below the De Soto Access

Many of Friends of the Kaw’s group float trips start at the De Soto ramp so cleaning up this area will give float participants a better first impression of the river.  We are grateful for the efforts of the City of De Soto, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and Westar Green Team and also a grant from REI to accomplish this effort.

Please wear long pants, gloves and sturdy shoes that can get wet.  We will do a hot dog roast for lunch at 12:30pm for volunteers.

It would help us get a count for the hot dog roast if folks would RSVP with the Kansas Riverkeeper – also contact us for more information!

Kids About Water (KAW) Project at Lexington Trails Middle School

On October 22, 23, 24, 26 and 27 Friends of the Kaw held our first Kids About Water (KAW) classes with seventh grade students in Mr. Jim Brabac’s science class.  The KAW class is a five-lesson water quality issues and actions curriculum that targets students in grades 6-12. The class informs  students about stormwater issues and problems and actions they can take to be part of the solution.  Pictured to the right are students doing water testing at a small pond adjacent to the school in De Soto.  This activity is funded by Johnson County Stormwater Education Grant.  We want to thank all the volunteers who helped the kids test water last Thursday and Friday.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and most likely learned something!

Cleanup at the De Soto Ramp – Oct. 18

Friends of the Kaw is working with the City of De Soto and Westar Green Team to clean up an area on the Kaw just below the De Soto access ramp (see photo below) and we need some volunteer assistance. The clean up will start at 9:00am and end once the job is done or at 4pm so you can come for the morning or afternoon or both. The Green Team will be using a line truck to lift objects over to the ramp where a skid loader will transport heavy items up the ramp to a dumpster. Because we are using heavy equipment the activity on the ramp is not appropriate for kids under 18 years old. Younger folks are welcome to come and will be able to help do some maintenance on the demonstration rain garden near the access ramp or pick up litter in Riverfest Park.

Many of Friends of the Kaw’s group float trips start at the De Soto ramp and cleaning up this area will give float participants a better first impression of the river. We are grateful for the efforts of the City of De Soto and Westar Green Team and also a grant from REI to accomplish this clean up.

Please wear long pants, gloves and sturdy shoes that can get wet. We will do a hot dog roast for lunch at 12:30pm for volunteers.

It would help us get a count for the hot dog roast if folks would RSVP with the Kansas Riverkeeper – also contact us for more information!

Volunteer Water Monitoring Training

Friends of the Kaw is hosting a second 3 hour, hands-on, super fun volunteer training session on Saturday, October 18 from 1 to 4pm at the De Soto Access Ramp. In this training, you will conduct both chemical and non-chemical water monitoring tests. You will seine for macroinvertebrates and learn to identify them. You will measure impervious surface area and determine runoff volumes. You”ll have lots of fun and you might even accidentally learn something! Most of the training will be outside at a water site so please dress appropriately and wear shoes that can get wet! Lunch will be provided at 12:30pm.

We are training volunteers to help us with our new Kids About Water (KAW) project that we will implement in middle school and high school classes this year. We had six people attend the session on Oct. 7 and all had a great time.

For more information or to RSVP contact the Kansas Riverkeeper!

Tonight’s the night!

Please join us for the Catfish Fry fundraiser at Abe & Jakes Landing at 8 E. 6th St. in Lawrence, KS starting at 6pm on Thursday evening, September 25. You will receive a delicious catfish dinner prepared by Terrabonne Cafe. The cost is $10 in advance and tickets can be purchased HERE, or pay $12 at the door. As well as a yummy dinner, you will enjoy a blue grass band, a great exhibit on the Kansas Riverkings, a cash bar, and lots of fun and conversation about the Kaw!

You will also have the opportunity to bid on some fabulous items from Lawrence merchants in our silent auction.

We would like to thank our sponsors:
Abe & Jakes
Westar’s Green Team
Cromwell Solar
Thompson Financial Group
Cottin’s Hardware & Rental
Landmark National Bank
LawrenceHits.com
KLWN
Downtown Lawrence

Float on the Kaw – Wednesday, October 1^st

You and your family are invited to join us for an exciting 11-mile float trip on the Kansas River.
This float is sponsored by Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and is at no charge to participants.  What a deal – come experience the Kansas River National Water Trail!

Date:  Wednesday October 1, 2014

Time:  Meet at 8:30 a.m.; the float will start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m.

Starting Point:  Eudora River Access in Eudora, KS

Ending Point:  De Soto River Access in De Soto, KS

Along the way, we’ll stop at a sandbar for a break and stretch. Lunch will be provided at the DeSoto take out.

RSVP: Please RSVP to Roger Wolfe (roger.wolfe@ksoutdoors.com) if you plan to float with us so he can plan for lunch. IMPORTANT: Indicate if you’ll need a canoe or kayak and which you prefer. If a canoe is your preference, you’ll either have your partner or you can be paired with a partner. If you will bring your own canoe or kayak please tell Roger that, as well.

Community Forum on Kansas Environmental Issues

Thursday, October 2, 2014
Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208
Hosted by Environmental Action Committee of Village Presbyterian Church

Environmental Policy and Politics in Kansas: Which One Needs More Help?
A Conversation with Joshua and Kimberly Svaty

5:30 p.m.                  Appetizers & Exhibits by Kansas Environmental Organizations
6:00 p.m.                  Dinner of Locally Grown Foods Catered by Blue Bird Bistro
7:00 p.m.                  Program: Zack Pistora, Vice-President, KNRC; Josh Svaty, Vice-President of The Kansas Land Institute, former Kansas State Representative & Secretary of Agriculture; Kimberly Svaty, Owner of Gencur Svaty Public Affairs; Moderator Burke Griggs, Assistant Attorney for Kansas, Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford
8:30 p.m.                  Adjourn

Advance reservations advised by Friday, September 26. $20 donation covers dinner and program. $10 covers program only ($5 for students). Payable on-line @ www.knrc.ws or by check mailed to KNRC/Community Forum, 7301 Mission Road, Suite 248, Prairie Village, KS, 66208. Receipt of on-line payment or check confirms your reservation.