MDC Nature Centers
Missouri's conservation nature centers offer modern exhibits on nature and the environment. Nature centers can be found in St. Louis, Blue Springs, Springfield, Jefferson City and Cape Girardeau. These centers have hosted millions of visitors.
Visitors to these conservation nature centers connect with nature in a variety of ways, including:
- taking a walk on an interpretative trail or a nature trail
- learning about wildlife through live exhibits
- attending workshops or classes on a multitude of conservation related topics
One of the newest centers, the Discovery Center in Kansas City, enables inner city residents to learn about conservation and stay in touch with nature.
Regardless of your age or interest, your nearby conservation nature center is a great place to reconnect with nature.
| Event and Date | Location | Reserve by: |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Display-Louise Bodenheimer
Wednesday, July 1 – Friday, July 31, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | |
| Nature Movies
Sunday, July 5 – Sunday, July 26, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | |
| A Puppet Show - Boisterous Bugs
Sunday, July 5, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | |
| Wildflowers and Habitats at Burr Oak Woods
Sunday, July 5, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Sunday, July 5 |
| Critters Up Close!
Sunday, July 5, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, July 4 |
| The "Sunday Show"
Sunday, July 5, 2009 |
Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | |
| Tree Pest Clinic
Monday, July 6, 2009 |
Springfield Conservation Nature Center | |
| Discover Nature Families: Hooters
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 7 |
| Go Wild! The Magic of Streams
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 7 |
| Go Wild! Goin' Creekin'!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Monday, July 6 |
| Nature's Niche: Reptiles of Missouri
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Monday, July 6 |
| Little Acorns: Spider Safari
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
Springfield Conservation Nature Center | |
| Little Acorns: Spider Safari
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
Springfield Conservation Nature Center | |
| Conservation Café-Louise Bodenheimer
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 7 |
| Go Wild! Splishin' & Splashin'
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 7 |
| Go Wild! Dazzling Dragonflies
Thursday, July 9, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, July 8 |
| Go Wild! Mammal Mania
Thursday, July 9, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, July 8 |
| Babes in the Woods: Snake Sense
Thursday, July 9, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Thursday, July 9 |
| Go Wild! Herp Hunt
Friday, July 10, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Thursday, July 9 |
| Little Acorns: Snake Sense
Friday, July 10, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Friday, July 10 |
| Discovery Table: Fireflies
Friday, July 10, 2009 |
Springfield Conservation Nature Center | |
| Lovable Ladybugs
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Friday, July 10 |
| Lovable Ladybugs
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Friday, July 10 |
| Nature Nuts
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | Thursday, July 9 |
| Insects of Summer
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Friday, July 10 |
| Mudpuppies-Lucky Ladybugs
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, July 11 |
| Dutch Oven Cooking
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | Thursday, July 9 |
| EYE SPY BUGS
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center | |
| Little Acorns PLUS: Snake Sense
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Saturday, July 11 |
| For Adults Only: Tumbling Creek Cave
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Springfield Conservation Nature Center | |
| Virtual Hunting And Fishing
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Springfield Conservation Nature Center | |
| Summer Sampling
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | |
| Conservation Trails-Silver Mines/Millstream Garden
Saturday, July 11, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, July 11 |
| Tis' the Season for Reptiles!
Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | |
| Adults Only-Surviving the Outdoors
Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Sunday, July 12 |
| Primitive Skills Series: Making Cordage
Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
Springfield Conservation Nature Center | |
| Prairie Hike
Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Consrevation Nature Center | Sunday, July 12 |
Reserve your place for these upcoming events:
| Event and Date | Location | Reserve by: |
|---|---|---|
| Adults Only-Surviving the Outdoors
Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Sunday, July 12 |
| Prairie Hike
Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Consrevation Nature Center | Sunday, July 12 |
| Mudpuppies-Lucky Ladybugs
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 14 |
| Nature Art-Table Leaves
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 14 |
| Discover Nature Families-Canoeing Basics
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, July 15 |
| Art and Nature Series: Nature Journals
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Wednesday, July 15 |
| Little Acorns PLUS: Snake Sense
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Wednesday, July 15 |
| Discover Nature Families-Canoeing Basics
Thursday, July 16, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Thursday, July 16 |
| Nature's Needlers
Thursday, July 16, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Thursday, July 16 |
| Homeschool: It's a Creek Crawl
Thursday, July 16, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, July 15 |
| Little Stinker's Storytime
Thursday, July 16, 2009 |
Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | Tuesday, July 14 |
| Racers-Gone Campin'
Friday, July 17 – Saturday, July 18, 2009 |
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center | Friday, July 17 |
| Firefly Fun
Friday, July 17, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Friday, July 17 |
| If You Care, Leave Them There!
Friday, July 17, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Friday, July 17 |
| Orienteering 101
Saturday, July 18, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Friday, July 17 |
| Story Tree
Saturday, July 18, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Saturday, July 18 |
| Arachniphobia!
Sunday, July 19, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, July 18 |
| Babes in the Woods: Snake Sense
Sunday, July 19, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Sunday, July 19 |
| Glade Hike and Slide Show
Sunday, July 19, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Sunday, July 19 |
| Wild Ones: Purslane & Vegetable Garden Tour
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Monday, July 20 |
| Go Wild! Eco-Explorer
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Monday, July 20 |
| Go Wild! Where am I?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Monday, July 20 |
| Teen Club: Stream Day
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Tuesday, July 21 |
| Go Wild! Flippin' For Frogs
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 21 |
| Go Wild! Robinson Crusoe Eat Your Heart Out!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 21 |
| Midweek Trekker
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Wednesday, July 22 |
| Go Wild! Nature Caught on Film
Thursday, July 23, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, July 22 |
| Ozarks Survivorman
Friday, July 24 – Sunday, July 26, 2009 |
Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | Wednesday, July 22 |
| Discover Nature Women: Prairie Gifts
Saturday, July 25, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Friday, July 24 |
| Shady Woods Micro-Hike
Sunday, July 26, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, July 25 |
| Woodland Hike
Sunday, July 26, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Sunday, July 26 |
| Go Wild! Crusin' a Creek
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Monday, July 27 |
| Go Wild! Wild About Whitetails
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, July 28 |
| Discover Nature: Families--Camp Nature
Thursday, July 30 – Friday, July 31, 2009 |
Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | Tuesday, July 28 |
| Go Wild! Crusty Crayfish
Thursday, July 30, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, July 29 |
| The Magic of Fireflies
Friday, July 31, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Thursday, July 30 |
| Discover Nature-Families:Insects, Show Me the Bugs
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, August 4 |
| Nighty Night at Runge
Friday, August 7, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Friday, August 7 |
| A Stream of Secrets
Saturday, August 8, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Friday, August 7 |
| Little Acorns: Duck, Duck, Goose!
Saturday, August 8, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Saturday, August 8 |
| Sneaky Spider
Saturday, August 8, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Friday, August 7 |
| Story Tree
Sunday, August 9, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Sunday, August 9 |
| Home on the Prairie
Sunday, August 9, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservaiton Nature Center | Saturday, August 8 |
| Bee a Pollinator!
Thursday, August 13, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, August 12 |
| Little Acorns PLUS: Duck, Duck, Goose!
Friday, August 14, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Friday, August 14 |
| Art and Nature Series: Rubbings
Saturday, August 15, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Saturday, August 15 |
| Squirrles in the Attic, Raccoons in the Can
Saturday, August 15, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, August 15 |
| Discover Nature-Women: Soap Making
Saturday, August 15, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Friday, August 14 |
| How Animals Keep Their Cool
Sunday, August 16, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Sunday, August 16 |
| Flashy Fliers
Sunday, August 16, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Sunday, August 16 |
| It's an Arthropod Hunt!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, August 18 |
| Babes In The Woods: Duck, Duck, Goose!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Wednesday, August 19 |
| Nature's Niche: Missouri Mountain Lions and Bears
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Tuesday, August 18 |
| I Like to Move It, Move It!
Thursday, August 20, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, August 19 |
| Nature's Needlers
Thursday, August 20, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Thursday, August 20 |
| Little Acorns PLUS: Duck, Duck, Goose!
Thursday, August 20, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Thursday, August 20 |
| Young Friends of Nature: Aqua Science
Thursday, August 20, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Thursday, August 20 |
| Nature Photography Workshop: Summer Session
Saturday, August 22, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Friday, August 21 |
| Mannal Mania!
Sunday, August 23, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, August 22 |
| Babes In The Woods: Duck, Duck, Goose!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Tuesday, August 25 |
| Little Acorns: Duck, Duck, Goose!
Friday, August 28, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Friday, August 28 |
| Critter Cafe
Saturday, August 29, 2009 |
Runge Nature Center | Saturday, August 29 |
| Prairie - A Place Worth Preserving
Saturday, August 29, 2009 |
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center | Friday, August 28 |
| Monarch Mysteries
Saturday, September 12, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, September 12 |
| Effective Wingshooting, the CONSEP Way...
Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 27, 2009 |
Runge Conservation Nature Center | Wednesday, September 23 |
| The Forest in Fall
Saturday, October 10, 2009 |
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center | Saturday, October 10 |