Events

MDC will provide a staffed atlatl range and equipment for youth and families to experience the joy of atlatl during the Montauk Mill Days at Montauk State Park. No registration required.

Join MDC naturalists and area birders as we discover the avian life that calls Runge home. These short birding walks are for all experience levels. We will gather near the front doors of the nature center. Binoculars and field guides will be provided for those that need them. Registration preferred. Ages 8+

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 log to the workshop.

At this event, the participants will learn about burn equipment, burn line installation, safe weather parameters, ignition operations, and other techniques to safely conduct a prescribed burn. Participants will be outside for portions of the day and should dress for the weather and a short walk.

Lunch will be provided. Email the instructor with any dietary restrictions that we can try to accommodate.

Join us during your lunchtime for a virtual program on birds!

From heroic acts to being messengers, and symbols from good and bad, birds are important characters in legends, folklore, and mythology. Celebrate Migratory Bird Day by discovering the beauty and glory of birds in Missouri. Learn how their histories, personalities, and their influence has impacted how they are perceived and seen by mankind.

An email will be sent with the link a day before the program by noon. If you register after that time, another link will be sent the morning of the program to ensure everyone has the correct link to join.

Celebrate Amphibian Week with a quick Conservation Matinee! Join Powder Valley for a viewing of the short, 10-minute video: Ozark Hellbender Conservation. Made by the Saint Louis Zoo, this film outlines the partnership and work done between MDC and the Saint Louis Zoo to protect and reestablish the Ozark hellbender.

About the video: A Missouri resident, the hellbender is the largest species of salamander native to North America. These salamanders are perfectly adapted to their stream habitats with their flattened head and body, short stout legs, long rudder-like tail, and very small, beady eyes. The hellbender populations have been threatened by stream impoundments, pollution and siltation for years, yet seemed to do okay in Missouri and Arkansas. However, over the past 10 years, due to unknown factors, the populations in the Ozark Mountains experienced a sudden decline of 70%.

Located in our own backyard, the exotic hellbender has been an ongoing interest to the Saint Louis Zoo for 30 years. There are two subspecies of hellbender, and Missouri is the only state with both! Unfortunately, this native species is in need of immediate assistance. Who better to help than the Zoo with its history of successful captive breeding of amphibians and involvement in local, as well as international, conservation? The Hellbender Conservation Center's establishment of a successful breeding program for hellbenders will help ensure the future for this unique amphibian. The place to save the hellbender, like any other form of wildlife, is in its native habitat.

Amphibian week is here! We will explore the differences between common frogs and toads in our area. We will also get a chance to meet Powder Valley's frogs and toads.

Lesson 1: Learn the parts and function of a spin cast fishing rod and reel. How to cast safely and successfully. How to fasten basic tackle to a fishing line. Learn techniques to catch fish and handle it properly.

Lesson 2: How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families intermediate fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn to tie an improved clinch knot and how to properly secure bait on hooks.

Participants will be able to take what they learned and go fishing.

Lesson 1: Equipment, Casting and Proper Fish Handling combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families basic fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn how to properly and safely cast a spincast fishing rod, parts of a fishing rod, how to fasten basic fishing tackle and how to properly handle and release a fish. Lesson 2: How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families intermediate fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn to tie an improved clinch knot and how to properly secure bait on hooks.

Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided.

Ages 7 and above. All children ages 7-15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Participants DO NOT need a fishing permit to fish during this program.

Each participant will need to register for this program individually on the Missouri Department of Conservation Discover Fishing website. Email instructor for assistance with registering for this program

It’s a new year full of possibilities, expectations, and resolutions. But what if you’re already exhausted and 2024 just started? Being in survival mode can often bring more stress and struggle, including sometimes snuffing out our energy and passion. How do we get our groove back and stay inspired, including letting nature rejuvenate us?

Join us for a fun and lighthearted presentation (but also meaningful, we hope!) on how the spirit of gratitude can help you live your best life. This session applies to those with an empty tank as well as those still firing on all cylinders—the learning, including personal storytelling and practical tips, will all be the same, including:

• How to rekindle your passion for life through gratitude and regain the spark and joy in living out your mission

• Strategies to refocus your day and take back your schedule (that are often hijacked by a hundred other things)

• Tip and tricks to get your gratitude mojo back, including where to find inspiration, mentoring, energy, and maybe even a daily dose of laughter

Even though gratitude is an inside job, we hope this session will be a sweet salve to the soul and just the spark you need to keep moving onward and upward.

Bio: Heather Feeler, communications branch chief with the Missouri Department of Conservation, spends her professional time chasing interesting conservation stories and connecting people with nature. Her team is responsible for statewide news, social media, video, marketing, magazines, media relations, and messaging for MDC. In her spare time, Heather can be found hiking, hammocking, and handwriting notes of encouragement for others. She’s also on a quest to visit all the national parks with her kids before they grow up and refuse to hang out with her anymore.

Copperheads conjure up curiosity, mystery, and even fear. In truth they are one of Missouri’s most intriguing and often least understood venomous snakes.

Dr. Ben Jellen has conducted a study of copperheads at Powder Valley Nature Center over a period of five years. Learn about his latest findings at this special virtual presentation.

Participants attending this virtual program must include a valid email address when registering for the program. A WebEx link will be sent to all registered participants 24 hours before the program.