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St. Louis River Quest

ABOUT US

Students are enrolled in the St. Louis River Quest each year to explore the Duluth-Superior estuary and learn about the waterfront industries and the people who work there.

St. Louis RiverQuest Binoculars
  • In 1993, a pivotal conversation between Kurt Soderberg, at-the-time Executive Director of the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) and John Goldfine, whose family owned/operated Vista Fleet and Southern Belle Riverboat in Chattanooga, Tenn, led to the idea of getting kids from the region to see how important the river is to this region.
  • May 1993, nearly 20 waterfront-related industries including the Duluth Seaway Port Authority sponsored what would become St. Louis River Quest. Ray Skelton, Port Authority Special Projects/Environmental and Government Relations Director was key in shepherding the program until his death in 2006.
  • Almost 800 sixth graders from Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor and Superior participated in the inaugural excursions onboard the two Vista Fleet boats.
  • River Quest champion Ray Skelton's memory lives on in an annual Captain Ray Skelton River Quest Writing Contest. Begun in 2008, student essays and poems highlight lessons learned during their River Quest experience.

Our
HISTORY

River Quest tours gave us the chance to show the science behind cleaning up contamination and keeping the river clean for future generations.
Kurt Soderberg
Former Exec. Director, WLSSD
Duluth-Superior harbor had a great story to tell about the commercial shipping industry — that millions of tons of coal, iron ore, limestone, grain and other commodities moved in and out of this port each year. We wanted students to know where those items were coming from and where they were headed, why the 1,000-foot ore carriers could not go through the St. Lawrence Seaway, and how the Soo Locks worked.
Jerry Fryberger
Hallett Dock Company
St. Louis RiverQuest Workshop

River Quest provides students with hands-on learning experiences that enhance awareness and understanding of the St. Louis River ecosystem and interrelated commercial, industrial and recreational activities.

Our
MISSION

 

2025

BOARD OF DIRECTORS​

Video

RIVER QUEST

River Quest provides students with hands-on learning experiences that enhance awareness and understanding of the St. Louis River ecosystem and interrelated commercial, industrial, and recreational activities.

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St. Louis RiverQuest prepared this website using Federal funds, award NA19NOS4190063, from the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, administered by the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce provided to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the DNR.

© St. Louis River Quest 2025
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