Events

Cast iron cooking is a fun and tasty way to add to any outdoor adventure. This series of virtual programs is designed to boost your knowledge so you can cook a wide variety of great recipes around camp while making it fun and easy! Part four we will cover other methods like lunch bag, foil packs, cave man/hot coal cooking, pie irons, and more to make campfire cooking fun and easy!

Archery is a fun, lifetime sport that all can enjoy. Learn the basics of archery and how to shoot safely. Then practice your newly learned skills at Runge’s outdoor range under the supervision of Runge staff. Dress for the weather in closed-toe shoes. All equipment is provided. Registration required. Ages 7+

*Runge’s outdoor range may not be accessible to participants who use a wheelchair or crutches. Please check for availability of an all-terrain wheelchair by contacting the program instructor at least two weeks in advance of the program date.

This month we will highlight a jewel of Missouri’s swamps, the wood duck. The males of this species don stunning feathers all in the hopes of attracting a mate. We will dabble into the lives of these beautiful ducks as we learn where they live and how they grow up.

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.

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

Each participant must register for this program individually.

With turkey season right around the corner, patterning your shotgun is important. If you are interested in learning how to pattern your shotgun and want to know how to interpret the results? This is the class for you.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), and Gasconade County Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will be hosting a Pond Management Workshop on Tuesday March 28, 2023, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall at 604 West Jefferson Street, Owensville, MO. The Gasconade County SWCD will be providing a free chili/soup dinner before the workshop at 5:30pm for any workshop registrants that want to attend.

This workshop will cover a wide variety of topics including, pond site selection, pond construction, pond stocking, fisheries management, aquatic vegetation management, pond watershed management and wildlife issues. Professionals from MDC, NRCS and SWCD will give presentations and will be available to answer questions. There will also be some very useful literature and brochures on pond management available. This class is geared for adults, but children are welcome to attend.

Five Common Missouri Fish - Their Anatomy, Habitat, and Life Cycle. Fishing with Lures and Fishing Regulations. You must take Discover Nature - Fishing Lesson 1 and 2 before you can take this class.

Additional Information:

Lesson 3: Five Common Missouri Fish-Their Anatomy, Habitat, and Life Cycle combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families basic biological concepts and functions specific to largemouth bass, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, channel catfish and rainbow trout. Participants will learn the different components of fish anatomy and their functions. In addition, participants will learn about various types of fish habitat and aquatic food webs. Lesson 4: Fishing with Lures and Fishing Regulations combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families how to properly select a fishing lure based on desired fish species, weather and water conditions. In addition, participants will learn how to identify and understand fishing regulations.

Participants are limited to anglers ages 7 and up. We encourage the entire family to participate. Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided. Adults who do not wish to fish must accompany their child(ren) at all times. Participants must have completed Lessons 1 and 2 prior to attending Lessons 3 & 4. Participants do NOT need a fishing permit to fish during this program. For additional information or questions contact LuAnn Conway at (573) 325-1381 ext. 6031.

Move just like the wild animals of Missouri! Test your strength, flexibility, and mind with animal yoga. Bring your own yoga mat if you want. The program will be held indoors. Registration required. Ages 4-12.

Registration required (ages 0-36 months)

The cycle of life helps keep nature’s engine running smoothly. We’ll play games and explore outside as rabbits, frogs and birds are twitterpated all around us!

Join us for some unstructured free play at Runge. Build a shelter, study creepy crawlies, climb trees, and get dirty. Free play in nature allows children to test their physical limits, engage their senses, practice emotional regulation, and is an important part of healthy psychological and physical development. No registration required. All ages invited.

Snagging season is open and the suckers are getting ready to shoal. Now is the time to learn about the different gear you will need to snag/

grab these nongame fish. We will discuss rods, reels, lines, hooks, and other gear to help make a successful outing, whether you catch fish or not.

This Pond Management Workshop will cover Pond Construction, Fish Stocking, Fisheries Management, Aquatic Plant Management and Wildlife Around your Pond. This workshop is free and open to the public. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Join us for an introduction to trout fishing at Bennett Spring State Park. We will learn methods, gear, and how to prepare our trout for cooking. A Missouri fishing permit and a daily trout tag are waived for this program and will not be needed. You may meet us at the park or follow us from Runge. A few participants may ride in our van on a first-come, first-served basis. We will leave Runge at 9 a.m. Registration required. Ages 7+

Slimy, silent critters are all around us, and we don’t even know it! As a budding naturalist, you will learn what makes one slimy critter, the salamander, unique from other amphibians. We’ll use hands-on experiments, observation, and maybe even meet a live salamander, to find the answer. This program is especially suited for children whose younger sibling is attending the Little Acorns program offered at the same time. Registration required. Ages 7-13

Silent, slimy salamanders are all around us in Missouri. Join us to have some slimy fun while we learn more about this elusive amphibian! Registration required. Must have a child in the 0-2 age range AND the 3-6 age range.

Red Bud blooms are about to start blooming, and hopefully this program will inspire you to start collecting and using these beautiful flowers in your cooking. So easy and simple, you will not be disappointed in the flavors these blossoms will bring to your dishes.

Note: This program will take place at Boone County Nature School, 8805 S. Tom Bass in Columbia. Participants should plan to meet at the Nature School near the shelter.

Archery is a fun, lifetime sport everyone can enjoy. Learn the basics of archery and how to shoot safely, then practice your newly learned skills under the supervision of MDC staff. Dress for the weather in closed-toe shoes. All equipment is provided. Registration required. Ages 7+

*The archery range may not be accessible to participants who use a wheelchair or crutches. Please check for availability of an all-terrain wheelchair by contacting the program instructor at least two weeks in advance of the program date.

Learn embroidery techniques while also exploring Missouri’s "Things with Wings" by stitching quilt blocks based on that theme.

This class covers the basic equipment, materials, and techniques needed to reload metallic cartridges and produce custom loads suited to your rifle/handgun for the particular target or game you are pursing. We will demonstrate the process and then give you some hands-on experience reloading rifle/handgun cartridges. All equipment is provided.

This class is a 12 month program that will meet once a month all year long. You will learn simple, but beautiful embroidery techniques as we explore some of the most stunning and unique Winged Things found in the beautiful landscapes of Missouri.

By signing up, you are committing to attend all twelve of the monthly sessions so that you will be able to complete all 15 blocks for an entire quilt.

Travis will discuss the lake sturgeon spawning events at the Mel Price/Lock and Dam 26 and the recovery efforts across the state of Missouri, which have been ongoing since the 1980’s. Lake sturgeon are Missouri’s second largest fish weighing in at 250 pounds and the longest-lived animal in the state at 150 years.

Nature journaling is an expressive and creative way for people of all skill levels to learn about and appreciate nature. Join an MDC naturalist to talk about different methods of keeping a nature journal and participate in some activities to get your creative juices flowing! A drawing with be held for an MDC nature journal and coloring pencils. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Now that Spring fishing season is in full swing, and you have caught and cleaned a mess of fish, now is the time to learn how to cook them. In this Virtual Fish Cooking program, we will focus on the common equipment needed for cooking fish, frying and grilling fish, as well as other methods to prepare fish. This is a combination of the Virtual Fish Cooking Series that was held this month.

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

**You must complete step one, the required virtual learning on the Missouri Stream Team YouTube page, prior to attending this event**

The virtual training videos can be found through this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBQMlfy_cD4DQe07cir0nipWVrbQ2npVy

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