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Xplor reconnects kids to nature and helps them find adventure in their own backyard. Free to residents of Missouri.
A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
ST. CHARLES, Mo.—– You can call them water filters, or flood buffers, but many unique plants and animals call wetlands home. But on April 2, you’ll definitely call them fun.
The annual Wetlands for Kids Day celebration is set for Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. Wetlands for Kids Day is hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Ducks Unlimited (DU). The event, supported by grants from MasterCard, Enterprise Foundation, and the Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters Association, is free for both kids and adults.
Wetlands for Kids Day is designed to help families have fun discovering nature while also learning about the importance of these vital habitats in Missouri.
The activities include more than 20 education stations where visitors can learn about wetland wildlife firsthand. There will be a chance to see live birds of prey, courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary. A live reptile and amphibian station will provide a close-up look at these wetland inhabitants. Kids can explore the Duck Wing Maze while learning to identify ducks by wings and plumage along the way. They can also crawl through a simulated beaver den.
Retriever demonstrations are popular with visitors who enjoy watching the dogs perform on land and water. Other stations include fish tasting, air rifle shooting, archery, DU Laser Shot, and a rod and reel casting station for the little ones. The Discover Nature Fishing Program will also offer fishing for real fish on Lake 15.
Each child who attends gets a free subscription to the MDC Xplor: Adventures in Nature Magazine for kids. They will also receive a DU Greenwing membership and a subscription to Puddler Magazine. There will also be free tree seedling giveaways, while supplies last, courtesy of MDC forestry staff.
In keeping with its watery theme, Wetlands for Kids Day will be held rain or shine. Participants are encouraged to come no matter the weather as there will be activities both indoors and out. Food will also be available for purchase during the event.
To learn more about Wetlands for Kids Day on April 2, call 636-441-4554. The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is located in St. Charles on Route D, about two miles west of Highway 94. For more information on other upcoming events, go to www.mdc.mo.gov/events.
