Discover Nature–Schools
Based on the notion that the best place to learn about nature is the outdoors, our Discover Nature–Schools grants and curricula help your school get students outside and into conservation.
Missouri Archery in the Schools Program
Whether you’re a parent, educator, or school administrator, MoNASP can help you build stronger, more confident and accomplished kids. It’s modeled on the National Archery in the Schools Program, which began as a simple idea--teach kids the basics of archery as a part of school curriculum.
Conservation education experts
Not sure how conservation education connects with your topic, curriculum or youth organization? Outdoor Skills Specialists and Conservation Education Consultants can help. They can help you choose the conservation workshop, program or resource that’s right for your situation. They can also help you plan and use an outdoor classroom or recommend field trip sites and special events.
Annual student contests
The Arbor Day Poster Contest and the Missouri Endangered Species Postcard Contest both challenge students to learn about Missouri species and respond creatively to a new theme each year.
Instructional resources
Even the best curriculum or lesson plan can be enhanced with a high quality poster, video, booklet or activity. The Department offers lots of instructional resources and teaching aids on a variety of conservation topics and skills. These free materials and posters are available only to Missouri educators. Whether you teach preschool or senior high, home school or work with youth groups, you’re sure to find educational resources that will enhance your program. Here is a sampling.
Teacher guides and outdoor skills modules
Developed for specific age levels, each guide includes teaching strategies, content background and activities. Titles on the Department’s conservation education materials list include Conservation Seeds (pre-school to grade 2), Rivers and Stream Habitat Pack (grades 3 and 4), and Wildlife Management in Missouri (junior and senior high). Hone your students’ outdoor skills with training modules on various skills such as fishing, map and compass, and backpacking.
Discovery Trunks
These tool chests help you teach the magic of conservation. Available for free loan to Missouri educators, Discovery trunks include curriculum booklets, books, audiovisuals aids, games, hands-on activities and equipment. Choose from topics including Lewis & Clark, mammals, insects and habitats. Consult with your education contact for a list of trunks available in your area.
Student activity books
Challenge students with conservation activity books. Crawdad, Conservation I Can Do!, and Missouri Wildlife Trails are examples of activity book titles that are available in student quantities. Use our conservation education materials list request form to order your classroom set today.
Posters
Display the wonders of rivers and stream habitats or intrigue students with conservation consonants, birds, forests, wetlands, prairies, snakes and much more. Many of our color posters include lesson plans and activities. See the complete list on our conservation education materials list request form.
Films and videos
Our Media Loan Library contains more than 150 film and video productions on numerous conservation topics for various ages. The media loan list provides a short description of each title and indicates recommended audience and play length. Some movies are designed specifically for children ages 4-9, some for upper elementary to adults and others for junior high students to adults.
Other conservation publications
The Department offers an extensive list of free publications and materials that make great references for educators and older students. Sample titles include Bluebirds in Missouri, Mammals, Missouri Toads and Frogs, Missouri Trees and Common Roadside Wildflowers.
Conservation Education Grants
Designed to promote stewardship of our fish, forest and wildlife resources, the Department's conservation education grants provide schools with financial assistance so students can experience nature directly through field trips, outdoor classrooms and wildlife habitat projects.
Teachers and students share conservation resources
Nevada Middle School's Water Conservation and Perservation Links
Peggy Pennington's eighth graders have collected online resources for teachers to use in water conservation lessons. These online resources are very visual and interactive. They include videos, interactive sites, games and articles.
Browse by Subject
- Classroom resources
- Resources to help teach conservation in the classroom
- Youth group resources
- Resources to help teach conservation to a youth group
- Outdoor skills
- Learn how to hunt, fish and a variety of other skills
- Grants and training
- Find what grants and training are offered by MDC
- Adult education
- Section dedicated for adult learning
- Hunter education
- Find out about MDC's hunter education courses
- Forestry educational resources
- Find resources on programs that help teach about forests
- Aquatic resource education
- A variety of educational tools for aquatic life and the water its found in
