Missouri Conservationist online

May 2004 - Vol. 65 No. 5

Click to Enlarge The paved Naturescape Trail (bottom right) allows all visitors to see a wildflower meadow and a garden pond. Natural habitats, including a glade, are scattered through the area. Fish-feeding time at the Runge aquarium (bottom left) is always exciting.

It's a Capital Idea

by Kathy Cavender
photos by Cliff White

Runge Conservation Nature Center tops the list of places to visit in Jefferson City.

Where can you go in the Capital City to see a tallgrass prairie, a marsh or a glade? You can experience all of these wild habitats and much more at Runge Conservation Nature Center.

Since the Runge Conservation Nature Center opened in 1993, more than a million people have visited Jefferson City's urban oasis. According to the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Runge is the most visited attraction in Jefferson City.

Runge Conservation Nature Center occupies 112 acres and includes a 27,000 square-foot nature center building. You will feel right at home as you walk through the front doors of the nature center into the spacious lobby. There you can sit and enjoy a crackling fire or marvel at the display of animal mounts, including the world-record, nontypical deer antlers that came from a Missouri deer.

Every other month you will see a new conservation-related exhibit on display in the nature center lobby.

The lobby leads to a 3,000 square-foot exhibit space. Here you can learn about a wide variety of natural habitats in Missouri and how the Missouri Department of Conservation manages them for forest, fish and wildlife resources. You might see a timber rattlesnake, track a deer, listen to the booming sound of a prairie chicken, come nose to nose with a giant bullfrog, and learn how to determine the age of a fish by one of its scales.

Your adventure through the exhibits culminates with a full view of a 3,580-gallon freshwater fish aquarium that contains some of Missouri's freshwater fish species. Inhabitants of the aquarium include largemouth bass, channel catfish and some huge crappie and sunfish.

Across from the aquarium is the "Critter Corner. " It features a living beehive, live animals, a puppet theatre, a magnetic wall and other hands-on activities for children.

At the wildlife viewing area you can enjoy the sights and sounds of squirrels, chipmunks, deer, chickadees and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Native Missouri plants and various feeders attract wildlife. There's also a mini-stream that winds through the area and is fed by runoff from the roof, which is covered with wooden shingles.

Other features inside the nature center building include a gift shop stocked with a wide selection of books, videos and nature-related items, a nature library with books for children and adults, a 200-seat auditorium and three classrooms.

Outside are five nature trails. Walk amid indigo buntings and a variety of butterflies as you venture down Raccoon Run. This trail is the longest of the five and winds past savanna, prairie, marsh and woodland habitats. You can enjoy a grand vista of the entire Runge area atop a fire tower located near the beginning of the trail.

Bluestem Ridge is a trail of intermediate length and difficulty. It winds along the edge of the prairie and then dives into a woodland habitat. In spring, a trip along Bluestem Ridge will likely reward you with the resonant sounds of spring peepers and chorus frogs as they try to attract mates.

Moss Rock Trace will calm your anxieties with its shady feel and the sounds of water trickling through a wet-weather stream. Look for bluebells, spicebush and pawpaw trees as you cross the 180-foot boardwalk. Continue through a small glade, which is home to numerous wildflowers, including Indian paintbrush, coreopsis, coneflowers and blazing stars.

Stepping onto Towering Oak Trail brings a sense of timelessness as you discover 200-year-old white oak trees. On your Towering Oak venture you will cross several wooden bridges and trek under a canopy of oak, hickory, walnut and other spectacular trees of Missouri.

Along the Naturescape Trail you will find several examples of backyard wildlife habitat, such as a decked area with planters, a rock garden, a wildflower meadow and a garden pond. This trail is the shortest and easiest trail and is accessible to people in wheelchairs.

In addition to the building, facilities, exhibits and trails, Runge Nature Center also offers a variety of special events and activities for people of all ages. The staff often travels to community events and sets up activities for children, as well as educational exhibits for all ages. Teachers and civic leaders can contact the nature center to schedule interpretive programs for their groups. During the summer and winter, nature center programs travel to schools or other locations for people who are unable to visit the center. Special general public programs are scheduled continually throughout the year.

Since its grand opening on July 10, 1993, Runge Conservation Nature Center staff have worked hard to find new and innovative ways to connect Missourians with the outdoors.

Interpretive programs such as Frog Frenzy, AcroBats, and Reptile Rap help children have fun as they develop a healthy understanding of Missouri's natural resources. Special events such as Naturescape Symposium, Eagle Days, and Haunted Habitats provide exciting adventures for people of all ages. General public programs focus on everything from otters, to deer processing and fly-fishing, to nature quilting and hiking. They are available throughout the year.

Runge Conservation Nature Center is located on Highway 179 just minutes from the Missouri State Capitol. The Nature Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5p.m. The area is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days.

When you are in Jefferson City, make it a point to come and enjoy time at Runge. It's a CAPITAL idea!