The 13th annual series of River Quest educational cruises for area sixth grade students will be held Wednesday through Friday (May 11-13) aboard the harbor excursion vessel Vista Star.

St. Louis River Quest, created in 1993, is an educational program designed to instill environmental stewardship in area sixth graders, while helping them understand industrial, commercial and recreational activities in the St. Louis River estuary.

The two-hour boat trips offer hands-on-learning experiences that foster in student participants a sense of awareness of river ecosystems and connection with the river and harbor environment. Through interactive learning stations, students organized into cooperative groups learn first hand about use and preservation of the St. Louis Harbor.

More than 40 local organizations sponsor the program. This year the six cruises held onboard the Vista Star will accommodate about 700 students from Hermantown, Holy Rosary, Lincoln Park, Marshall, North Shore, Ordean, Proctor, Superior Middle School, Washburn Edison and Woodland.

Learning stations provided will include hands-on lessons in water quality, pollution prevention, surface water runoff, dredge material use, boating safety, maritime commerce and environment “habitattitude.”