Great River Road Network of Interpretive Centers Visit Checklist
State Commissioner visits annually or bi-annually by making an appointment with the I.C. Director or appropriate personnel.
The goal is to develop a stronger relationship between the Interpretive Centers (I.C.) and the MRPC.
During the visit, the commissioner will review the checklist and share new or ongoing information about the MRPC. The talking points should include benefits of being an I.C. (e.g., featured on website, printed maps, social media, itineraries and more.)
- Interpretive Center Visited Upper Mississippi River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge La Crosse District
- Date of VisitAug 25, 2025
- Visiting Commissioner's NameRosalie "Roz" Schnick - [email protected]
- Name, Title, Email and Telephone Number of I.C. Personnel InterviewedHallie Schulz, Visitor Services Manager, [email protected], 608-779-2392
- What are your regular hours?April-October Tue-Sat 9AM-3PM | November-March Tue-Fri 9AM-3PM
- What is your admission pricing?Free
- How many visitors do you see annually?6,000
- Does I.C. have a website?Yes
- Website URLhttps://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river
- Do you have a button on your website with the Great River Road logo and link to the experiencemississipprver.com website?No
- URL to page where button is located
- When will you be adding a logo and link?govt. regulations don't allow us to link to outdoor sites
- Do you have a Facebook page?Yes
- Facebook URLhttps://www.facebook.com/UpperMissNWFR
- Do you carry GRR maps or rack cards for sale, distribution or on display?Yes
- Do you display a GRR banner or other signage?Yes
- Are your frontline personnel knowledgable of the GRR? Do they receive any formal training?Yes
- Do you have photos or video of your I.C. to share for promotional use?Yes
- What other Interpretive Centers do you communicate with regarding GRR activities?Genoa Fish Hatchery
- How could the state or national MRPC help your interpretive center?
- What do you need from us?
- How have you worked with the MRPC in the past?Yes, I have presented at the annual meeting about ways to draw more visitors to your centers and we featured the designation of the FRR I.C. at our 100th annual celebrations.
- How does being affiliated with the Great River Road help your visitation?We have had visitors tell us they stopped in because we were listed as a location on the map.
- Do many people visit your IC because they are travelling the Great River Road?Yes
- Has the status as an All-American Road led to more visitation?Yes
- Do people know about this designation and why it matters?Yes
- How does your organization currently connect visitors to the Mississippi River and the Great River Road?We have an obvious connection to the River, as the Refuge was established over 100 years ago to conserve and protect the 261 mile stretch of River that provides essential habitat and recreational experiences for the public today.
- Are the descriptions for your listing on the National Great River Road website and, if applicable, on your state’s Great River Road website up to date?Yes
- Please send updated information as needed, along with a photo (or photos) that you’d like us to use for promotional purposes.
- What are you doing to engage diverse audiences?We work with various local schools in our community that are predominantly ESL students and our free admission allows lower income families to visit without cost.
- Is the contact information on your website up to date?Yes
- Please send updated information as needed, include a phone number and email contact?
- COVID-19 Impacts
- How has Covid affected your staff and visitation at your IC over the past two years?
- How are you planning to adjust or how have you adjusted in 2022?
- What do you see as the long-term impacts?
- How can MRPC help with regard to the impacts of Covid?
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