Speaker Series - National Rivers Month Register

Date and Time:
Tue, Jun 9, 2026; 6:30 PM (Central)

Organized By: Piasa Palisades Group

Location: Old Bakery Beer Co., 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, IL 62002, USA

Map | Directions

Event Organizers:
Craig Heaton
   cheatoc@gmail.com
   (618) 345-4822

Come hear about National Rivers Month celebrated during June 2026 with a focus on celebrating, protecting, and restoring the rivers in the United States. The month long event highlights the importance of freshwater ecosystems encouraging activities in and around our 3 rivers area. 
How can you get involved?  Join us and find out!

Our speaker will be Perry Whitaker.  Perry left the healthcare industry to do more satisfying work...

Perry volunteers with several outdoor-related organizations, and serves on many nonprofit boards. His favorite activity is kayaking, and he is the former Missouri State Director for the American Canoe Association.  Since the pandemic, he has paddled the entire Mississippi River (most of it multiple times), the whole Illinois River, the whole Meramec River, and about ⅓ of the Missouri.  He also hikes and backpacks frequently. He thru hiked the Ozark Trail, the River-to-River Trail in Illinois, the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim (both ways), Hadrian’s Wall, and section-hiked the northernmost route of the Trail of Tears (about 800 miles). 

He is a Missouri Master Naturalist, a Wilderness First Responder, and he teaches Wilderness First Aid, Pet First Aid, kayaking, backpacking, Leave No Trace, and other classes.

In his free time, he "works" at the Alpine Shop in Kirkwood Missouri.

Contact Chris Krusa 410-490-5024 with any questions about this event.

Cost: FREE

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