ST. PAUL — Back-to-school time of the year may seem a funny time for a canoe trip, but not for a group of Augsburg College students.

They’re about to spend an entire semester traveling the Mississippi River, a nearly 2,000-mile journey to study and research the great river.

And when they leave this morning from Kelley’s Landing in St. Paul, they’ll do it in 24-foot voyageur canoes.

Sixteen students are undertaking what’s called the River Semester, a hands-on program in which they’ll earn up to 16 credits studying biology, environmental science, political organizing and more.

Their journey won’t end until they reach New Orleans.