Events

Finals are almost over! Come take a brain break at Fellows Lake! Stretch your legs with a guided hike on the Uncle Frank Trail at Fellows Lake. Meet at the Uncle Frank Trailhead (Gate 1) at 2:45 pm. This out-and-back hike is 3.5 miles and rated moderate in difficulty. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and pack water and snacks. Carpooling is recommended due to limited parking. Ages 18 and up. Registration is required.

Let’s dig in and discover our edible outdoors! Join us for a free, virtual program and learn how to forage for Missouri’s edible plants! We will go over common plants you can eat, how they benefit us, and the areas where they can be found.

This program is perfect for those who are just starting their foraging hobby, or for those who just want to find out more about Missouri’s plants. Learn while you're curled up and cozy at home, then you'll be ready to go outside and explore for yourself!

Registration is required by May 5th. When registering, please provide an active email address to receive a program link the day before the program. (If you do not receive a link, please check your junk/spam email.) This virtual program will use the Webex platform and will not be recorded.

This program blends plant ID, soundscape listening, and seasonal photography - perfect for beginners, photographers, nature lovers, dreamers, and doers. As the sun sets on the prairie, the sights and sounds grow in the glo. When prairies flourish, wildlife returns and people thrive - cleaner air, chatty nights, and the simple, restorative joy of being in nature. Join our passionate team, including Jeff Cantrell and Mike Skinner, for a relaxed stroll through Shelton L. Cook meadow as the sun sets. We’ll look for emerging native plants, enjoy perfect golden-hour light for pictures (cell phone or fancy camera), and settle in to listen for the Prairie Mole Cricket’s steady, rhythmic call. The Prairie Mole Cricket is a species of conservation concern in Missouri that calls around dusk at Cook Meadow.

What to bring (optional):

Layers and sturdy shoes

Small red-light flashlight or headlamp (use only before/after listening)

Paper and pencil for notes

Phone or recorder to capture calls (optional)

Camera for golden-hour photos

Binoculars for dusk birding

We will meet at Golden City High School parking lot for a caravan to Shelton Cook Meadow.

Please use a working email address as this will be how we contact you if anything changes and/or we update the waiting list.

Trap shooting is a fun and exciting way to further your shotgun shooting knowledge. We will spend time talking about the game of trap, how to mount the gun, hold points, break points, forward allowance, and many more mechanics as it pertains to trap shooting. This program is not for the beginning shotgun shooter as it is an intermediate level program so unless you are beyond the basics in shotgunning this program is not for you. We will provide 20-gauge shotguns and ammunition for those who do not have one. If you plan to use your own, bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition for your firearm. Make sure all firearms are unloaded before arriving at the range. There should be no live ammunition, or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Please leave all firearms in the vehicle until the class is dismissed including all concealed carry handguns and magazines.

Watch ancestral skills specialist Don Brink transform simple rocks into artistic and functional points similar to the ones used by early humans. Learn the basics and try your hand at this age-old skill. Ages 10 and up. Registration required.

Parents, grandparents, and adult mentors bring your youngster(s) to learn a new skill and spend time practicing. You don’t have to be a hunter to become a skilled archer. No experience is necessary and archery equipment will be provided We will teach and practice the basics and help you perfect your stance to shoot more consistently and accurately.

Join Ms. Ladybug as she reads a nature story and shares activities with your child. Ages 2 to 6. No registration required.

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.