Children of Earth Day
St. Croix Falls is a beautiful place. It has a long, interesting history, diverse natural resources, and a strong community. The city’s Bench Project helped a group of students appreciate that the place they call home isn’t special by accident.
Seeing their town with fresh eyes was the emphasis for the group of nine students, ranging from third to sixth graders, during an immersive two-week summer school course. They explored the St. Croix River, the people who worked to protect it, and the things that make it unique. Then they created a piece of art that expresses their appreciation – and will for generations to come.
The students toured Franconia Sculpture Park, hiked part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, visited with National Park Service rangers, and after every activity, responded with art, writing and poetry.
The class was led by Amy Klein, a teacher and then-member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
Honoring a local conservation leader
“We were gathering up of ideas, and every experience built on other experiences. We talked a lot about Gaylord Nelson, what he meant, all that he contributed to preserving the St Croix,” Klein said.
It was no coincidence that Nelson, former U.S. Senator and governor of Wisconsin, and considered the “Father of Earth Day,” was on their minds. As the students worked on the bench, the city was developing a new walking trail along the river to honor Nelson, who was born and raised in nearby Clear Lake and championed the 1968 Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, which protected the St. Croix.
Ultimately, the bench would be placed along the Gaylord Nelson Riverwalk, and the dedication ceremony was attended by his daughter, Tia.
After a full first week of exploring the area, the students spent the second week honing down a central idea for the project. The group agreed that they wanted the bench to reflect “the importance of keeping the natural environment intact, the past of the natural environment, the hope for its future and the great beauty of St. Croix Falls.”
Ancient rock, ancient art
When it came time to build the bench, they used big granite slabs donated by Franconia Sculpture Park. To figure out how to arrange the slabs, two groups working independently arranged smaller stones, and came up with strikingly similar designs: two stones flanking one in the middle, which represented the river and bluffs. The students also thought the bench should be circular so people could enjoy the views from several perspectives. Together, the rocks form the shape of a butterfly, a common sight during their explorations along the river.
To adorn the bench with natural images representing their shared beliefs, the students turned to local artist Jim Shoop, a bronze sculptor.
“What’s unique about casting with bronze is it’s an ancient process, going back thousands of years,” says Shoop, who learned the art while working at his family’s foundry in Osceola. “It also is timeless, especially outdoors, and hopefully the kids will be able to bring their kids to see it.”
The students spent a day in Shoop’s studio, working with him and his wife, Kim Murphy. Each student created a clay sculpture, which became a mold and was cast in bronze. The sculptures included everything from eagles to fish, and Murphy helped the kids figure out where to place the pieces on the bench.
“We didn’t want to have it sticking out in the wrong place, that wouldn’t be very comfortable,” says Murphy. “We took the kids down there and talked about where to place them, like putting fish on the lower part, like they’re floating in a stream.”
The bench was dedicated in September 2006, at the same time as the new Gaylord Nelson Riverwalk and headquarters for the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. Not only was Nelson’s daughter there, but Senator, Vice President and St. Croix River champions Walter Mondale and his wife Joan also attended.
Shoop and Murphy and their family visit the bench often. They live nearby and frequently ride their bikes down to enjoy the view, or have lunch. Klein works in the Osceola schools now, where she is involved in a new Bench Project. She too still enjoys the bench, especially on a sunny day.
“What I love about the bench is the view of the river,” Klein says. “It’s a great place to sit in the breeze and you can imagine what has happened over the years. The granite slabs feel great because they gather up heat.”