Events

Welcome Summertime with a guided public tour of the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery! Join a Naturalist to learn the difference between the Rainbow and Brown Trout raised at the hatchery, then visit the raceways and discover the amazing trout-raising process! And for just a quarter, you can feed the fish, too! Tours will meet at the large trout aquarium inside the Conservation Education Center.

Tours will be held four times daily at 10am, 11am, 1pm, and 2pm on Tuesdays through Fridays, beginning May 26th and continuing through Friday, September 4th. (The Hatchery will be closed for state holidays on June 19th and July 4th.)

All ages are invited, and no registration is required. For questions, call us at 417-334-4865 ext. 0, or email Shepherd@mdc.mo.gov.

Read a picture book as you walk along the Nature Center trails. The StoryWalk®, available June 17-30, is provided in partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Library. All ages. No registration required.

Have you ever noticed rock piles in streams or brightly colored fish? You may have seen signs of breeding activity. Learn about native fish behaviors and breeding patterns in this virtual program. All ages. Registration required. Please include a valid email address when you register so we can send you a virtual program link. This link will be sent the week of the program. This program will not be recorded.

Celebrate Missouri's most magical insect at Phelps Grove Park! Bring your family and make a firefly craft, play games, and learn why fireflies blink. Stop by the pavilion anytime between 5:30 and 9:30 pm. For best firefly viewing, plan to arrive closer to 9 pm.

All ages. No registration required.

You have decided to begin hunting, but don't know who, what or where to start. Let us help you get started with this class. We will explore the correct way to go about selecting the method, the game, and the equipment to have before you step out the front door. We will discuss topics like the safety of private versus public hunting, permits and licenses needed to harvest game animals and even have a question and answer session.

You have decided to begin hunting, but don't know who, what or where to start. Let us help you get started with this class. We will explore the correct way to go about selecting the method, the game, and the equipment to have before you step out the front door. We will discuss topics like the safety of private versus public hunting, permits and licenses needed to harvest game animals and even have a question and answer session.

What do moles, snakes, bats, insects, and badgers have in common? They all spend part of their lives underground! Help us Unearth a Story at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center as we team with the Springfield-Greene County Library during their summer reading program. Bring your entire family and enjoy outdoor/indoor activities, stories, crafts and more. Drop by anytime and plan on spending at least an hour. The Mobile Library will be onsite so bring your library card. All ages. No registration required.

From forests to streams, salamanders can be found all over Missouri! Join us as we explore the wonderful world of these shy amphibians. Through hands-on activities, we will discover where they live, what they eat, and why they are important to our ecosystems!

See a ruby-throated hummingbird up close! Join master hummingbird bander Sarah Driver to learn more about this winged jewel while attempting to capture some birds for banding. Ages 7 and up. Registration required.

Did you know Missouri is home to eels? Learn about this elusive species and their incredible journey from the ocean to Missouri waters. Ages 3 to 6. Registration required.