Events

Looking for a fun, relaxing outdoor activity? Try bench journaling at the Nature Center! Pick up a nature journal at the trailhead and stop at benches along the trail for guided prompts. Ages 7 and up. No registration required.

They're slimy, slow, and shelled! Come learn what makes snails sensational. Ages 3 to 6. Registration required.

They're slimy, slow, and shelled! Come learn what makes snails sensational. Ages 3 to 6. Registration required.

Join us at Bicentennial Conservation Area for a program on Missouri's bats with MDC’s bat team. The team will set up mist nets, very thin nets designed to gently trap local bats as they fly overhead in search of insects. MDC’s bat team will remove the bats from the net to check on their overall health and then weigh and sex them. This is a great opportunity for you to see some of our flying mammals up close and ask questions of the professionals.

Meet us at the Mort Walker trailhead. Bring your own camp chair or blanket and wear comfortable clothes for being outdoors. A headlamp or flashlight and insect repellent is highly recommended. Registration is required. Best for ages 5 and up.

This event is at Bicentennial Conservation Area located in Neosho, MO. Meet at the Mort Walker Trailhead.

Free Day of Fishing at Roaring River State Park! Kids 15 years old and under can fish all day for free from 6:30AM in the morning until 8:15PM in the evening on 5/16/26. Kids will have a roped off zone that is just for Kids Fishing Only along with free food, outdoor education classes and the chance to win prizes at the end of the day! Kids and Families can pick up their free fishing tag the night before at the hatchery office or at the big tent area the day of the event. For more information contact Roaring River Fish Hatchery at 417-847-2430.

Looking for a fun, relaxing outdoor activity? Try bench journaling at the Nature Center! Pick up a nature journal at the trailhead and stop at benches along the trail for guided prompts. Ages 7 and up. No registration required.

Spring is a great time to gather and enjoy wild teas. We'll collect a few native plants, prepare them, and brew teas to sample. Learn about native plants and enjoy some tasty sips. Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant or have allergies before attending.

Ages 10 and up. Registration required.

Here is your chance to see a ruby-throated hummingbird up close! Join master hummingbird bander Sarah Driver to learn more about these winged jewels while attempting to capture birds for banding. Ages 7 and up. Registration required.

Missouri has over 110,000 miles of streams that provide recreation, wildlife habitat, and drinking water—but they need our help to stay healthy. In this hands-on program, teens will learn about the Missouri Stream Team program and how volunteers protect local waterways. Participants will enter the stream to practice water quality monitoring techniques and discover how they can make a difference for Missouri’s rivers and streams. Ages 12 to 17. Registration required.

Come enjoy the beauty of spring by kayaking Lake Springfield! Join us to learn about Missouri's native wetland habitats and wildlife! Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets will be provided, but please bring water and snacks, and wear weather appropriate clothes. We will meet at the Southwood Canoe Access & Trail of Honor parking lot at 9:30 am. Ages 18 and up. Registration required.