Events

Missouri’s “creepy” animals all have “jobs” to do in nature and the more we know about them hopefully the less scary they will seem. We will read a short picture book, play with puppets and meet a live snake, toad and tarantula!

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

Fall is coming and with the cooler weather and leaves beginning to change color, now is a great time to get out and hike. Our conservation areas have miles of hiking trails, and we will discuss areas where throughout the state where you can great hike and see our wonderful outdoors.

Upon registration, participants will be emailed a link to the virtual/online portion of the prescribed burn course. The online course is a mandatory prerequisite which requires a $25.00 fee to a third-party host. Registrants will need to successfully complete the online course and quiz to attend the field day event. Please bring your certificate of completion to the demonstration burn. We will be conducting a prescribed burn on a nearby property, so please dress accordingly with leather boots, leather gloves, cotton pants, cotton long sleeve shirt, and safety glasses. Participants will learn about burn equipment, burn line installation, safe weather parameters, ignition operations, and other techniques to safely conduct a prescribed burn.

Curious about native plants and how to get them in your yard? Wondering how to get started? This quick virtual class will be an overview of the information for the hands-on gardening class (10-14) where we will walk you through the process of dealing with unwanted turf grass, preparing the space, and thoughtful planting. The virtual class will cover the basic WHY'S | WHEN'S | HOW'S of naturescaping and the backyard national park that everyone wants! If you sign up for this, don't forget to sign up for the hands-on portion where we will have native plant enthusiasts, books, and field guides for a thoughtful discussion about the benefits of your own backyard oasis and micro meadow.

A link will be provided before the class.

Fall is the best time of year, in Ms. Sarah’s opinion! Let’s take a hike around Runge to explore the sights, sounds, and smells of the season while we learn more about what’s happening in the natural world during this time of change. Registration required. Ages 0-2. NOTE: Because this is an age-restricted program, children must have their own profile in our database in order to register. If you need assistance setting up profiles and/or creating a family group to make registration easier, Runge staff are happy to help you.

Discover the importance of Missouri reptiles and amphibians and see what it takes to keep our education animals happy and healthy. Bring your family and watch as we introduce and feed several different reptiles and amphibians. Youth and adult organizations welcome.

*Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 is required before attending this program*

Lesson 3: Participants will learn about aquatic habitats, food webs, and the basic biology of common Missouri fish species.

Lesson 4: Participants will learn about various fishing lures techniques, as well as identify and understand Missouri fishing regulations.

All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen.

This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family.

To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account. You can also make you child their own, separate account.

A deeper look at seasonal transitions reminds us of interesting paradoxes in nature. The colorful fullness of autumn seemingly shifts to the waning emptiness of winter, but looking deeper, we see that in winter’s void there is a fullness of life and promise. Just as nature inspires these perspective shifts, we will explore the paradox further in our yoga practice. At the end of the program, we will create a reed himmeli to remind us of this magic of space, motion, and time. Registration required. Ages 16+

Come join the boardgame club for nature lovers! This monthly program will begin with a short program highlighting a different nature-themed board game, and how it relates to Missouri’s mission to have world class fish, forests, and wildlife. After the intro…let the games begin! There will be games available for all experience levels, though on average these games have a higher complexity level than family board game players may be used to, these games are most appropriate for ages 12 and up. You are welcome to bring any snacks and non-alcoholic beverages you wish, as well as nature-themed board games to share from your collection.