Events

Come and see this months Hallway Artist, Geoff Anderson's bird photography! Born and raised in south county St. Louis, he grew up camping, fishing, and exploring the outdoors. Professionally, he works in the construction industry, but makes it a point to get out into the outdoors as much as possible. In college, he started to pursue photography with birds being his main focus. After finally seeing a sora in Alabama during 2014, he decided that it was time to really commit to bird photography. Since then, he has logged many hours sitting in the woods, standing in grass, wading in mud all in the pursuit of that perfect image of birds. Everything ( but 1 ) that's on display this month is an image taken in his backyard at my home in South County. He moved into this house 6 years ago and has worked to create wildlife habitat in the space we share with all the wildlife. Since then, he has recorded 107 species of birds here, as well as dozens of species of butterfly, moth and bees.

In partnership with Spotlight on the Arts and JARICK Productions, the Runge Nature Center is exhibiting over 40 guest artists with various art mediums during the months of September and October. View the exhibit and vote for your favorite work of art. All ages. No registration required.

The Lake City Shooting Range wants to help you sight in your hunting rifle...for FREE! The instructors will help you ready to hunt, fine-tune your scope or improve on your shooting skills. If you are preparing for a hunt, bring the rifle and ammunition you plan to use during the hunt. THIS CLASS IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! Please call 816-249-3194 to make an appointment.

Have you just bought a new pistol and want to become more familiar with it? Do you need some help getting started as a new shooter or haven’t shot for a while and want to get back into it? Is there a technique that you want to learn or improve upon? This One-on-One instruction is for you! THIS CLASS IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! Participants must provide their own pistol and 100 rounds of ammunition. For more information or to make an appointment, call 816-249-3194.

This Clinic is designed for individuals who would like to catfish on Truman Lake, particularly with juglines and trotlines, but need assistance getting started. Each participant will be provided with the materials to make a jugline. Participants will learn about the management of catfish on Truman Lake, how to build juglines and trotlines, get hands-on experience setting and running juglines and trotlines, learn how to clean catfish and get a basic overview of techniques for rod and reel fishing Truman Lake. This clinic will be completed by noon on Saturday, participants are encouraged to use the rest of the weekend to catfish on their own. Materials to make additional juglines and trotlines can be purchased in Warsaw, we will assist participants who wish to build additional juglines or trotlines at the conclusion of the clinic.

Participants will be fishing from MDC boats. Everyone attending must possess a valid Missouri fishing license. Personal flotation devices will be provided and must be worn while on the boats.

Chris Brooke 660-885-6981

Mark Miller 660 530 5500

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites women to fish for free Saturday Sept. 24 at Bennett Spring State Park’s Women’s Free Fishing Day event.

At Women’s Free’ Fishing Day, which will run from 7:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., There is no license or daily tag fee. Female anglers can pick up their free daily trout tag at the park store on the evening of Sept. 23 or any time during the day of the event on Sept. 24. During the event, a part of the park’s Zone 2 and Zone 3 fishing areas will be reserved for female anglers. Volunteers will be available to help anglers throughout the day, along with members of the Bennett Spring Fly Tying Group who will be hosting live fly-tying demonstrations. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment.

This event is sponsored by Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Bennett Spring State Park Store, and the Bennett Spring Fly Tying group. For more information about the event, call the Bennett Spring Hatchery at 417-532-4418 or e-mail Hatchery Manager Ben Havens at Ben.Havens@mdc.mo.gov .

Put on your hiking shoes and join us for a guided hike LaBarque Creek Conservation Area (Jefferson County); 5 miles – moderate. Meet at the Runge Nature Center or the trailhead. Some transportation is provided, but carpooling may be necessary. Hike leaders will contact participants before the hike to give directions if needed. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and pack a lunch/snack. Registration required. Ages 18+

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

Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 2

Participants will learn intermediate fishing techniques and skills. Participants will be taught how to tie an improved clinch knot and how to properly secure a variety of baits to various types of hooks.

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.

Please meet at Forest Park Hatchery in Forest Park

Join a Conservation Educator for a morning experiencing local butterflies and potentially contribute to the Citizen Science of tagging monarchs. Participants will learn about local butterflies, their lifecycles, role as pollinators, and monarchs’ unique journey to Mexico. Participants will use butterfly safe nets to capture butterflies they encounter. Monarchs will receive small tags with ID numbers. Tags helps scientists track monarch movements and population numbers. Dress for the weather. Insect repellent and long pants is recommended. Registration is required to participate.

Join us to discuss how to select the right optic, options for mounting and how to mount. Then we’ll discuss how to bore sight and zero in your new scope. If you plan to use your own, bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition for your firearm. Make sure all firearms are unloaded before arriving at the range. There should be no live ammunition, or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Please leave all firearms in the vehicle until the class is dismissed including all concealed carry handguns and magazines.

Join us for a 3 mile hike thru the forests of the LaBarque Creek Conservation Area.

This area is known for its unique natural beauty and undisturbed habitat.

This hike is rated as moderate to difficult due to elevation change.

Please dress for the weather. Bring water, snacks, and binoculars for bird viewing.

Participants will meet at the LaBarque Creek Conservation Area parking lot.

Join us to discuss how to select the right optic, options for mounting and how to mount. Then we’ll discuss how to bore sight and zero in your new scope. If you plan to use your own, bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition for your firearm. Make sure all firearms are unloaded before arriving at the range. There should be no live ammunition, or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Please leave all firearms in the vehicle until the class is dismissed including all concealed carry handguns and magazines.

Registration required (ages 8+) As fall approaches, learn why birds migrate, where they are headed and how they find what they need to survive. Young and young-at-heart birders of any experience level will practice bird watching with a naturalist. We will discover which birds may be leaving the area, which will stay for winter and which may just be passing through! Binoculars will be provided for program use, but feel free to bring your own if you have them. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Discover what the river has to offer you! Hands-on activities will teach you the importance of the Mississippi River and surrounding wetlands. This event is fun for the entire family featuring live river animals and free boat rides on the Mississippi River with Missouri Department of Conservation river scientists. Boat rides take place every 30 minutes with the first boat departing at 10 am and the last boat departing at 1:30 pm. Boat access is via the riprap shoreline and there is not a dock available. This event is located at Riverfront Park, activities and boat rides depend on river levels.

If you are participating in Cape Nature Center’s “A Year in Color” this program earns a blue aquatics bead.

This event is the stream-side certification to become an Intro and Level 1 water quality monitor with Missouri Stream Team.

**You must complete the Intro to VWQM, Part 1 (virtual) AND Level 1 VWQM, Part 1 (virtual) prior to attending this event**

The virtual presentations are available as live events and are recorded for watching on-demand.

For more information on the VWQM program, please visit www.mostreamteam.org/water-quality-monitoring.html

For any questions, please email StreamTeam@mdc.mo.gov

Spend a morning with local photographer and staff volunteer, Dan Bernskoetter, to learn tips and tricks on capturing the best outdoor photos with both a digital camera and a smartphone. This program will have both an indoor and outdoor component. Dress for the weather and bring your own devices/equipment. Registration required. Ages 18+

FREE SHOOTING! The Lake City Range is happy to open our doors to the public with a FREE day of shooting in celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day! Everyone is welcome! Come hone your skills on the trap or skeet fields, archery fields, or on the rifle or pistol ranges. All shooters must provide their own firearm and ammunition. We'll see you on the range!

Walk-in (all ages) What you plant matters! Add beauty and function to your garden with plants that support pollinators, birds, butterflies and more! A portion of the proceeds will benefit Deep Roots. Participating nurseries include City Roots Native Plant Nursery and Landscape, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, Sow Wild Natives and Parson's Gardens. Preorders are NOT required but may be made by contacting the nurseries. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

Join us in the Runge lobby to meet one of Runge’s resident animals. Learn about its species and what makes this animal unique! Staff and volunteers will have ongoing crafts and activities, including feeding the featured animal at 11 am. No registration required. All ages invited.

Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day with Missouri Department of Conservation and Ducks Unlimited at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area. Learn how to fish, practice archery and air rifle skills, touch real animal furs, test your wildlife identification skills, and much more. All ages are welcome. Activities are free. No reservations needed; just follow the signs when you arrive to register and pick up a map. For more information, call 816-622-0900.

Stop by the Nature Center to purchase plants from Missouri plant vendors, learn about pollinators, get tips from our local exhibitors, and watch a short gardening demonstration or two. All ages. No registration required.

Bring the whole family as EcoTones Concerts transforms Emmenegger Nature Park’s fields and trailside spaces into enchanting and unusual concert venues! Over 17 world-class professional musicians from the St. Louis Region perform in small ensembles and bands all day from 10:30-5:00 on various "natural stages." The music is inspired by the unique features right there at Emmenegger Nature Park, adjacent to the Meramec River and the very special resident chimney swifts. Musicians include members of the SLSO and some of St. Louis' top jazz, blues, and folk artists. Each morning a family event (appropriate for children ages 10 & under) runs from 10:30-12:00 with musical stories, a short hike, and bug catching nets with MDC naturalists! The all-ages event runs on Sat. & Sun from 12:00-5:00.

Emmenegger is a rustic facility so BYO-everything! Audience members are encouraged to bring their own easy to carry camp chairs, picnic blankets, water, food, and appropriate walking/hiking footwear. The trail is paved and is stroller and wheelchair-friendly.

Directions to Emmenegger Nature Park: 11991 Stoneywood Dr, Saint Louis, MO 63122.

From Geyer Road in Kirkwood, turn onto Cragwold Road.

Turn left onto Stoneywood Drive.

You will arrive at your destination on the right after 1/4 mile.

Join us for a story hour as we lead you on fantastic nature adventures! We will meet butterflies, birds, mammals and all sorts of magnificent creatures! Our imaginations are the only limits.

National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF)- Each year on the forth Saturday in September we celebrate NHF day by providing one free hour of shooting on the rifle/pistol range, shotgun patterning range, or the archery range and for shotgun shooters we allow one free round of trap or skeet. Bring your own firearms and ammunition to participate and regular check in, hours, and fees apply for other hours/rounds needed.