Events

State Forest Nursery staff are calling for your assistance.

Since 1947, George O. White State Forest Nursery has provided residents of MO seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife habitat. The nursery also provides plants to the department for use in conservation activities. They grow more than 70 different species of trees and shrubs, mostly native, and each year process more than 10,000 orders and ship about 2 million seedlings. It takes about 2,000 bushels of walnuts, 6,000 pounds of white oak acorns, 500 pounds of hazelnuts and 500 pounds of plum seed just to establish seedlings for these four species.

The nursery is currently purchasing seed from the public for a variety of species such as wild plum, willow oak, cherrybark oak, eastern wahoo, and bald cypress. Please contact MDC's Southeast Regional Office, Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, or State Forest Nursery for this year's complete seed list.

Seed can be brought to MDC's Southeast Regional Office at 2302 County Park Dr Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center at 2289 County Park Dr Tues-Sat 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

The nursery reserves the right to stop buying seed once needs are met. The nursery also reserves the right to reject seed that is poor quality, is not mature, or is mixed with refuse such as leaves and twigs. People in southeast Missouri who have questions about tree species or how to check to see if the seed is good can contact MDC Community Forester Jennifer Behnken. People can also get information from George O. White Nursery Manager Mike Fiaoni at Michael.Fiaoni@mdc.mo.gov.

Hey Agents! Are you ready for an action-packed Missouri Explorer 3.0 Campaign? There are brand new missions, cool prizes, and much fun to be had. There are 22 missions across the state of Missouri, complete your first mission and pick up your Agent in Training player card and lanyard.

Download the free Agents of Discovery app and search the names of the Missions from the list below. Each Mission is a series of interactive challenges to learn and explore. If you’re logged in and play more Missions, you’ll be entered to win more cool prizes!

Runge is pleased to present an exhibition of works by Missouri artist Cheryl Coen.

Runge is pleased to present an exhibition of works by Missouri photographer Jeni Carter.

Agents of Discovery is a mobile app game that takes your visit to another dimension! Become an Agent and play along with our very own Field Agent Oscar using your senses to discover and engage with nature. Great fun for the whole family!

The mission at Runge Nature Center is designed for you to have sensory experiences as you walk our beautiful Raccoon Run trail. To get started, download the free Agents of Discovery app. Play and earn prizes! No registration required. All ages.

Discover what’s for dinner at Burr Oak Woods as the captive amphibians, fish, and turtles enjoy their feast every Tuesday and Friday. The snakes are fed on the second and fourth Wednesday (September 13 & 27).

Discover what’s for dinner at Burr Oak Woods as the captive amphibians, fish and turtles enjoy their feast every Tuesday and Friday. The snakes are fed on the second and fourth Wednesday (Sept 13th & 27th).

Missouri Trees

This class is a series of 12 programs that meets once each month all year long, though you may join at any time. You will learn to use simple, but beautiful embroidery techniques to stitch quilt blocks of some of the iconic trees of southeast Missouri - such as the bald cypress and white oak; as well as lesser known trees like the cucumber magnolia and Ozark chinquapin native to the Southeast part of the state.

Each block will feature a leaf with its fruit and/or flower. At each class you will discover a new tree’s secret life history, habitat preferences, importance to wildlife and the myriad uses by people through the ages.

Classes will be held on either the third or fourth Monday of each month at 5:00 pm via WebEx.

A link will be emailed to the participants' registered email prior to the meeting time, along with the thread colors needed that month. Block templates and information cards will be sent out after the class meets.

It is encouraged to download the application ahead of time to prevent technical issues.

This class is a series of 12 program that meets once each month all year long. You will learn simple, but beautiful, embroidery techniques as we explore some of the most iconic trees of southeast Missouri such as the bald cypress and white oak; as well as lesser known trees like the cucumber magnolia, Ozark chestnut, and trees native to our specific part of the state. Each block will feature a leaf with either its fruit or flower. At each class you will discover a new tree’s secret life history, habitat preferences, importance to wildlife and the myriad uses by people through the ages.

By signing up, you are committing to attend all 12 monthly sessions, with the opportunity to complete all 16 blocks for an entire quilt.

Classes will be held on either the third or fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Gaylord Laboratory Library.

You will need to supply your own embroidery hoop and needle. We will have patterns, thread, light boards, and Frixion pens available for tracing the patterns.

Beginning Handgun

(Ages 16 and up)

Our Beginning Handgun program includes handgun fundamentals, operation, safety, maintenance, and safe storage. We start with classroom instruction then move to the range for a live-fire session. Firearms, ammunition, and safety equipment are provided however, you may bring your own handgun and ammunition to the live-fire session. Firearms and ammunition are not allowed in the Education Center. (An adult must accompany Ages 16-18)