Events

Basic Youth archery class utilizing the methodologies and protocols promoted by NASP Ar chery. (All equipment is provided: please do not bring personal bow unless it is a Genesis) Please arrive 15-30 minutes early for registration each session. You are not required to attend all sessions. Youth 17 years or younger without a parent/guardian present are required to leave emergency contact information during registration. Questions? Contact MDC Lieutenant Jason Braunecker at (816)-262-3506

Agents of Discovery is back at Powder Valley! In Powder Valley's new mission, you must complete challenges about the changes that the spring season brings to nature center!

From March 14th - May 11th you can play more missions around Missouri for a chance to win fun prizes and a Mission Conservation lanyard, pins, and a Missouri Explorer badge, how cool!

Agents of Discovery is a free to play mobile game that aims to educate and lets you show off your nature knowledge to win prizes!

Our nature center Nature Needlers participants will exhibit their quilting blocks in our lobby in April 2025.

Nature Needlers is a class that meets once each month, all year long. Come check out the beautiful, embroidery techniques of Missouri wildflowers and other designs.

Root head decoys were early duck decoys made from driftwood or dead tree logs for the body, and tree roots and limbs for the head. Jim Barksdale's carvings, located in the Runge west hallway, demonstrate his efforts to simulate these historic and creative works of art. The exhibit is on view through June 30. No registration required. All ages

Agents of Discovery is a mobile game app that lets you explore nature in a new way. Our new game at Runge is a scavenger hunt you play on your phone. Find QR codes in our exhibit gallery and learn how birds use their beaks and bills like people use tools. Answer all the questions to win. Come to the front desk to claim your prize! No registration required although you do need to download the Agents of Discovery app to your phone. All ages

Runge is pleased to present an exhibition of works by Missouri artist Terry Martin.

"I was fortunate to grow up in Missouri where there were lakes, streams, and rivers to explore. I had a bicycle and a fishing rod (a fortunate son)! As a boy, I was up at daylight each day and home when it got dark. I developed more and more of an interest in the wildlife and geography of my surroundings."

Terry Martin's art can be viewed in the main lobby of the nature center through April 30. No registration required. All ages

Discover what’s for dinner at Burr Oak Woods as the nature center’s amphibians, fish, and turtles enjoy their feast every Tuesday and Friday. The snakes are fed on the second and fourth Wednesday (April 9 & 23).

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is excited to announce the launch of its 2025 Urban Nature Photo Contest, inviting community members of all ages to capture the beauty of Missouri’s native plants, trees, and wildlife—right here on the scenic grounds of Powder Valley. This contest celebrates the diversity of the natural world found in our own backyard and encourages participants to explore, observe, and appreciate the environment around them.

All photos submitted must be taken on-site at Powder Valley and should highlight native Missouri species. Participants are asked to follow area regulations, treat nature with care, maintain a respectful distance from wildlife, and avoid harming any plants or habitats while photographing. The contest is open to everyone, and entries will be divided into two categories: Youth (ages 17 and under) and Adult (ages 18 and up).

To enter, please submit your photographs to Lauren Baker at Lauren.Baker@mdc.mo.gov by April 30, 2025. Beginning May 3, all eligible entries will be on public display in the nature center’s art gallery, where visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite photographs in person. Winners from each category will receive prizes and may have their work featured in future Powder Valley exhibits and across the Missouri Department of Conservation’s social media platforms.

MDC photographers offer the following tips to help create the best photos:

• Photograph during the early morning, or later into the evening. The light is usually much better during these times than the harsher, midday sun. Soft, cloudy days can also make for some pleasing light.

• Fill the frame with the subject—close-up photos tend to be much more engaging than subjects seen from a distance.

• Consider using a macro or closeup lens. There are amazing details to be discovered in native plants, and a host of tiny and fascinating insects and pollinators.

• Be creative and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Photographers can also consult MDC’s online Field Guide at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z9d for more information about native wildlife and their habitats and behaviors.

Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this is a great opportunity to showcase your creativity, explore the trails, and connect with nature.

The online "Official Missouri Prescribed Burn Course" must be completed before attending this event.

You can register for the online portion here: https://www.hunter-ed.com/prescribedburn

The online course has a $25 charge to a third-party host (not MDC) and can be completed in approximately 2 – 4 hours. Please bring your certificate of completion and mileage sheet to the Demonstration Field Day. We will be conducting a prescribed burn 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. If inclement weather, you will be notified by the instructor by email of any changes.

Learn embroidery techniques while also exploring "Wildflowers" by stitching quilt blocks based on that theme.