Sun setting over a river with surrounding greenery and hills in the distance.

youth connecting with the Mississippi & eachother

Give to the max 2025

Give Now!

The WILL DILG CHAPTER in Winona, Minnesota of the IWLA is working hard to inspire the next generation to be stewards of clean water, air, and soil in our community within the Mississippi River Watershed around Winona.

People planting flowers and working in a garden or flower bed outdoors.
Group of children and adults sitting on the grass during an outdoor activity in a wooded area. One woman with purple hair and glasses is speaking or leading the group, while the others sit on blankets or directly on the grass, listening attentively."

With your help, we can continue mentoring youth leaders in conservation work and community engagement. A keystone program of the IWLA, Save Our Streams, gets folks into lakes, streams, and rivers of our region to learn what health looks like and how to know if a system is at risk.

With the SOS program, Chapter volunteers have been monitoring 7-sites along cold water streams, rivers, and lakes, and uploading that data to the Clean Water Hub since 2018. In 2026, we are planning to grow the program to 18-sites in the Winona area and beyond! These efforts will be made possible through collaboration with local schools, other environmental organizations, and support from the IWLA National Endowment Grant program for our Youth Green Crew.

Three girls are conducting a science experiment outdoors at a table, with one holding a dropper and another using a tool near a small container. In the background, there are people sitting and chatting at picnic tables, with parked cars and a person walking a dog nearby.

 Discovering & sorting macroinvertebrates!

Swamp Oak Wanderers program offers community science projects that uplift and protect local ecosystems, exploring understanding of nature through art, foraging activities, engaging efforts in conservation like invasive species removal, and native plant restoration.

Through the Prairie Island Adventure Club, we engage elementary aged youth in building community, through experiential social emotional learning opportunities in nature and on adventures.

Youth Green Crew engages middle and high school aged youth in becoming leaders in stewardship through connecting with core stewardship values, learning about how to take action in conservation, and being part of engaging community in that process.

Four children wearing yellow life jackets fishing off a dock on a lake, with one child holding a small fish.
Group of children and adults gathered around a small white goat with large curved horns outdoors on a grassy field.
A young girl with braided hair looks at a woman in a red hoodie serving food at a table. The woman is scooping food from a pot, and there are plates and bowls on the table. The background shows a decorated classroom with children.

The Crooked Slough Sugar Bush invites the community, families, and school groups to be in the floodplain forest towards the end of winter and enjoy one of the sweetest gifts, maple syrup. Knowing that many hands make for light work, the community is invited to be part of the whole process - from tree tapping to syrup finishing.

A girl watering plants in a garden with green plants, sunflowers, and trees in the background.