Events

MDC will provide a staffed archery range and equipment for youth and families to experience the joy of archery during the Kids Fishing Day at Maramec Spring Hatchery & Park. No registration required.

Sporting Clays is a challenging, yet fun shotgun shooting game that can likely be best described as playing golf with a shotgun. Shooters move from station to station and shoot at clay targets presented in a dizzying array of angles. It is some of the best practice for shooting at gamebirds. Bring your shotgun and enjoy an evening sampler of what this game entails. Non-Toxic shot is required. We can provide any gear needed to participate.

Walk-in (all ages) Plants are flourishing after the bare winter. Spring is finally here, and gardening is back in full gear. Whether you're an experienced gardener or someone who can't keep a houseplant alive, all are welcome to come and try out their sculpting while making a seedball. Then, you'll take your newly made seedball home to place outside to create a native pollinator garden! If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

This Scouting event is free and will offer Scouts and their families the opportunities to test their outdoor skills, work toward a number of conservation-related merit badges* and explore the diversity of career opportunities with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Found throughout the grounds at PVCNC, activity stations will help Scouts and their families appreciate nature and acquire valuable skills they can use in the future. Activities include:

· Fire Building

· Outdoor Cooking

· Compass and Orienteering

· MO Plant and Animal ID

· Crafts

· and more!

Activity stations will be both indoors and outdoors. Participants may want to bring a refillable water bottle and wear sturdy shoes. Registration is required. To secure your spots, register everyone who will be attending this event (including children).

*Scout leaders should note that MDC will offer activities that may be applied towards merit badges, but the department is not authorized to sign off on badges. It’s recommended that participants working toward badges bring their own counselors to certify them.

Come learn how to shoot archery! Archery is a safe and fun sport for everyone. All levels of abilities welcome but these events are geared for novices, 8-year-old to adults. Class Size is limited to provide for one-on-one instruction.

All equipment will be supplied. Please show up in sturdy, closed toe shoes. We will meet at the Static Archery Range on J. Thad Ray Conservation Area. Park at the parking lot and follow the mowed trail around to the left.

Come out and learn how to identify Missouri native trees. We will explore different shapes, sizes, colors and textures of trees and what they have to offer to people and animals. Presentation in the auditorium followed by a walk down the Missouri Tree trail.

What better way to announce summer than wading in a crystal-clear Ozark stream and fishing for smallmouth! Join the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center as we wade upstream to find some smallmouth bass ponds along the Whitewater River to fish. Pause briefly to enjoy the water or the early summer sun shining on your face. Bring watershoes, shorts that can get wet, and a change of clothes. The nature center will provide all fishing gear, but teens may bring their own fishing pole if they prefer. Further details will be provided closer to the date.

Join us as we explore the Nature Center grounds in search of the stuff animals leave behind. We'll start in the classroom to learn about tracks and scat before hitting the trails. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, bug spray is also suggested. Ages 12-17. Registration required.

Explore and learn about the unique and diverse ecosystems of Valley View Glades Natural Area with an MDC naturalist. Valley View Glades Trail is a marked loop trail that runs 2.6 miles through the glade and an oak-hickory forest. Terrain is moderate and has several uphill and downhill stretches. Trail is unpaved and not ADA accessible. Please dress for the weather. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots, water, a hat, and sunscreen, socks that cover the ankles, and bug spray are recommended. Trekking poles would be useful, and extra trekking poles will be available to use if desired. There are no restrooms at the trailhead, and closest public restrooms are in the town of Hillsboro about 10 minutes away. For the comfort and safety of all participants, dogs will not be welcome on this guided hike.

Children are welcome at guardian’s discretion. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by trusted adult.

Please register each person attending separately.

This class is a series of 12 programs that meets once each month, all year long. You will learn simple, but beautiful, embroidery techniques as we explore some iconic, as well as secretive wildflowers in Missouri. These flowers will range from our Ozark mountain glades to our lowland swamps. Attending each class will acquaint you with each flower’s habitat needs, bloom period, and light requirements. In addition, you will learn more about who pollinates the plant and who might depend on the plant for food. Come learn about pollinators such as monarch butterflies, bumble bees, moths and even gnats!

By signing up you will have the opportunity to complete 17 blocks. Which will allow you to create a large quilt with enough extras for pillows or wall art.

Programs will typically be held on the third Monday of each month at 5:00 pm via the online WebEx platform.

Links to the WebEx and thread colors for that program will be sent to the registration email prior to the meeting time. Patterns for tracing, information cards, and photos of examples will be sent to that same email after the completion of each program. You will need to supply your own fabric, embroidery hoop, needle, and thread.