Discover Nature Events

Bring baby for a fun day outdoors as we wander a short trail to look at the spring flowers. Don’t forget your baby-carrying device or rugged, trail-ready stroller. We begin at 9 am but you and baby can leave whenever you need. This program will be canceled if the weather is bad. Ages 0–2. Registration required.

Everyone loves a good story, and we have plenty of them here at the nature center! Cozy up with your little one as Susan, the nature librarian, shares wild tales of wonder and fun. After the stories, stick around for a fun craft or activity.

Registration required by visiting www.deeproots.org/get-involved (adults) It's one thing to read about native plants and another to get your hands dirty. Learn seasonal skills, feel empowered and enjoy camaraderie alongside native gardening experts and enthusiasts! This program is in partnership with Deep Roots KC. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

Registration required (ages 16+) End your day with a 60-minute evening yoga session led by a trained AimWell Yoga Studio instructor followed by a relaxing stroll through the native plant gardens with Discovery Center staff. You are sure to walk away refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of your week. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Registration required (adults) Grab your bike and a friend for this one-of-a-kind birding adventure! Forest Hill Cemetery will be the setting for a fabulous evening of birding by bike. No prior knowledge of birds is needed and Missouri River Bird Observatory staff will be providing bike friendly binoculars for the program. After a short how-to-session, we will set off on a leisurely ride on the cemetery roads to try and spot enough birds to fill our bird bingo cards. This program is in partnership with the Missouri River Bird Observatory. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Registration required (adults) Today's sophisticated phone cameras have presented a whole new way to shoot and enjoy nature photography and there is no better time to capture wildflower images than the middle of May when across Missouri, prairies are bursting with color. Learn about tallgrass prairie plants while making great images as we explore the Discovery Center's native landscape. We will teach you three basic photography skills that will instantly make you a better nature photographer using your phone. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Peep-Peep-Peep. Click-Click-Click. When the whole pond can sound like a chorus of confused drummers, learn how to distinguish between a variety of frogs found in Missouri. Participants will enjoy a program about frog species found in Southeast Missouri followed by a short stroll down to Wood Duck Swamp to listen to frogs and test new skills. The trail utilized is not ADA accessible and surfaces include gravel and steep grades of over 25%.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Squeak! Missouri is home to many rodents from small to large. Learn about these animals and their curious lives at our monthly program. Conservation Kids is designed for children between the ages of 7–12 and their adult caregivers. Registration required.

Explore the hidden world beneath our feet as we learn about caves. Learn about how caves are made, bat emergence in the spring, and other unique animals thriving in these mysterious underground environments. This program is virtual, a link will be emailed to the account associated with your registration. This program will not be recorded. All ages. Registration required.

Interested in fishing but don't know where to start? Join us at Chesapeake Fish Hatchery, where we will learn how to tie on lures, bait hooks, and cast. Then we will try to catch some feisty bluegill and bass in the stocked fishing pond. Bring a water bottle, a hat, and a fishing permit if you are 16 years of age or older. Equipment, bait, insect repellent, sunscreen, and drinking water will be provided. Ages 12–17. Registration required.