Young nature lovers join interior secretary on Mississippi paddle

Young nature lovers with the national nonprofit group Outdoor Afro joined Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on a canoe outing along the Mississippi River Friday morning.

The morning began with this chant:

When I say Outdoor, you say Afro! Outdoor! Afro!

After the welcome, Alora Jones, a Minnesota leader for Outdoor Afro, a group that focuses on offering African-Americans opportunities to connect with nature, invited everyone into a circle.

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It was an opportunity for strangers and friends to share what they love about the national parks, which include a 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities.

Some teenagers in the group, canoeing for the first time, weren't quite sure how to answer. Jewell, who was on the trip as part of a cross-country celebration of the National Parks Service's centennial, helped put them at ease.

"For our young friends over here, that weren't sure why you loved national parks, we hope that it will be a really easy answer a few years from now when you've had the chance to recognize this is your place, this is your river," she said. "These national parks ... the most beautiful areas in the country, belong to you."

And with that, crews from the Minneapolis non-profit Wilderness Inquiry divided the large group into four, 10 per canoe, and the hour-and-a-half adventure began.

To listen to the full story of the paddle down the river, click the audio player above.

Editor's note: A broadcast version of this story incorrectly identified a speaker. It was John Anfinson, superintendent of the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area. The audio has been corrected.