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Jeff Corwin to speak at MCCC during new trail dedication

Animal Planet star Jeff Corwin will be helping Monroe dedicate the new River Raisin Heritage Trail during a full day of events scheduled June 25.

Corwin is the host of Animal Planet’s “The Jeff Corwin Experience,” an Emmy Award-winning program that mainly centers on tropical animals.

Corwin will be the featured guest at the dedication of the Heritage Trail, taking  place at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 25. The ceremony will take place at the corner of East Elm and Detroit Avenues. The event is free and open to the public.

The trail, which is envisioned to become a greenways route, will link Sterling State Park to the new River Raisin National Battlefield Park and the City of Monroe.

It will eventually link Sterling State Park to MCCC.

The full schedule of events for the Heritage Trail celebration is provided on the River Raisin Heritage Trail dedication Web site, and includes the following events.

From 3-5 p.m., a living history encampment will take place in front of the River Raisin Battlefield Museum. The LaCroi’x Company will present the lifestyle during the War of 1812. It will include cooking and medicine displays, military demonstrations of musket and artillery firing, and marching and drilling.

At 7 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center, Corwin will speak to Monroe about the importance of saving endangered species. He will also discuss his latest book, “100 Heartbeats,” which focuses on wildlife species that are nearing extinction. The performance will not include live animals.

A book-signing session will follow the presentation.

On June 26, the celebration continues.

From 9-11 a.m., a Race for the Raisin 5-mile Run and Walk will occur on the Corner of East Elm and Detroit Avenues. Pre-Registration by June 11 is $25. The cost is $30 for late registration, including the day of the race.

Riverside Kayak will offer kayak trips along the trail from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the same location as the race. The cost is $10.

Small group tours of the trail will be led by local experts from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.

 Local experts will show how the marshland is important for migrating birds, bald eagles, and other mammals.

A two-mile walk along the trail will take place from 1-3 p.m., and will raise funds to support Project Second Chance Monroe and the Community Foundation of Monroe. Project Second Chance pairs youths with abandoned dogs.

A bicycle event will take place from 3-5 p.m., and the Monroe Community Players will show participants the ‘Mysteries of the Marsh’ ghost tour from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the ghost tour.

Visit www.rrtrail.com for extra information about the events that will take place.