Events

Join us for a crappie fishing lesson and fishing opportunity on Saturday morning, April 2nd, 8:00am - 11:30am at the Kansas City Regional Conservation Office Classroom and Gopher Lake. We'll start the morning off at the Regional Conservation Office Classroom where participants will learn how to catch crappie during all seasons and in all conditions. We'll discuss fishing methods, techniques, gear and tackle.

Then we'll head out on the area to Plover Lake for a hands on opportunity to try and catch some hungry crappie.

Fishing permits are not required for participants to fish during this clinic. Missouri Department of Conservation will provide all equipment, tackle and bait.

Each participant must register for this clinic separately. Contact instructor for assistance with registration. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult at all times during this clinic.

Please dress for the weather.

Join our instructors as we learn the fundamentals of shooting the compound bow and arrow. This program begins in the Education Center then moves to the static archery range. This is a fun program for the entire family.

Ages 8+ - Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

Did you know Archery is one of the safest sports in which to participate? It is rated more accident-free than every ball sport except table tennis! This course is designed to introduce students to the basics of archery including safety rules, stance, equipment used, and, of course, how to shoot a bow and arrow.  The instructors will also discuss the nomenclature of the bows and arrows.  Join us for this fun and very informative class. 

Join us to discover the basics of responsible handgun ownership and the joys of shooting. We will cover safety, handgun nomenclature, sight picture, sight alignment, breath control, trigger squeeze, and much more. During the live fire portion, .22 handguns and ammunition will be provided. 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.

Have you seen a masked critter rummaging through your trash lately? It could be a trash panda! (aka Raccoons!) These critters are very resourceful and great at finding food in almost any environment. Come learn more about these rascally raccoons and what makes them special.

Little Acorns programs are designed to help children ages 3-6 learn about the natural world through hands on experiences, crafts, and focused free-play activities.

"I don't like to paint," said no kid ever! This program is all about painting, but with a twist. En Plein Air Painting means painting in the fresh air without following traditional rules. Participants will learn and practice a few Plein Air techniques before venturing outdoors to create their art. All materials will be provided. Registration required. Ages 3-9

For many anglers fly-fishing can seem intimidating, but with an understanding of the basics you will see that it’s truly not that bad. Join our experienced staff to learn more about what it takes to get started fly fishing today. Instructors will provide an overview of the equipment needs and casting techniques. We’ll also spend some time working on your casting skills. After a quick break for lunch, we’ll head down to the fishing hole to try our luck. Fishing will be catch and release only and participants must have permits to fish as appropriate.

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

Spring is here! What does that mean for plants and animals? Let’s learn about what this special season brings. Ages 3-6.

Registration required (ages 6+) See the spectacular sights of spring at the Discovery Center. Welcome back the first wave of migratory birds returning from their wintering grounds. Greet the spring ephemerals emerging from the earth and flowers bursting from buds. Participants will join a naturalist on a hike to learn about what birds and blooms to watch for as spring gets into full swing. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

As springtime approaches, so does the births of baby animals. However, not all babies grow up the same way. Some babies are ready to live on their own while other babies stick close to their mothers. Together we’ll learn about the different ways baby animals are raised in the forest.

In person and virtual options available!

Plants have always been important to humans for food, medicine, and other purposes. Ancestral Skills Specialist Don Brink will explore the folklore and modern uses of several Missouri plants during a trail hike. Ages 15-adult.

Have you seen a masked critter rummaging through your trash lately? It could be a trash panda! (aka Raccoons!) These critters are very resourceful and great at finding food in almost any environment. Come learn more about these rascally raccoons and what makes them special.

Little Acorns programs are designed to help children ages 3-6 learn about the natural world through hands on experiences, crafts, and focused free-play activities.

Want to learn how to identify common Missouri tree species? This workshop is for you! Join MDC education staff in this workshop to learn identifying characteristics and using a dichotomous key to properly identify Missouri tree species. Topics included in the workshop:

• Leaf or bud arrangement

• Bark types

• Dendrology

• Using a dichotomous key to identify trees

• Growth habits and preferred growing sites of common trees

• Using a Biltmore stick to estimate board foot volume

Come have fun experiencing the beautiful trails at the Springfield Nature center has you learn more about Missouri’s wonderful tree species! Each participant will receive resources to help them identify and enjoy our Missouri trees! For more information contact Lyle Whittaker at (417)895-6880 Ext. 1644 or email Lyle.whittaker@mdc.mo.gov

Registration required (ages 6+) See the spectacular sights of spring at the Discovery Center. Welcome back the first wave of migratory birds returning from their wintering grounds. Greet the spring ephemerals emerging from the earth and flowers bursting from buds. Participants will join a naturalist on a hike to learn about what birds and blooms to watch for as spring gets into full swing. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Join us at August A Busch Memorial Conservation Area for a fun-filled afternoon of amphibian activities! We will meet at the Lake 33 Wetlands area, where we’ll sign-in and separate into 3 large groups to move through 3 different activity stations in 30-minute rotations. During this program, participants will learn all about frogs and toads of Missouri, engage in fun froggy activities, and even take up a net to search for and ID frogs themselves! We will end the program with an optional Trash Bash at Lake 33 from 3:00pm to 3:30pm, to compete for an opportunity to bring home the 2023 Trash Trophy.

Please register each individual attending separately.

Discover how to turn a harvested turkey's wings into a useful wingbone turkey call in this hands-on workshop. All materials will be provided. Registration required. Ages 14 and up.

This program is all about painting, but with a twist. En Plein Air Painting means painting outdoors without following traditional rules. After learning a few Plein Air techniques, we'll head outside where we can relax, enjoy the fresh air, and create art. All materials will be provided. Registration required. Ages 10+

This virtual class will cover the ins and outs of keeping your fishing gear in tip top shape. The program will cover materials and demonstrate how to properly maintain your fishing rods and reels.

Join us for a day all about turtles! Visit with our resident turtles to see how they carry their shells on their backs. Have you seen them out and about lately? We will learn what they eat and then go look for them in the forest.

From 10:00 - 10:25, we will have a special guest joining us from Kirkwood Public Library for storytime!

This class is designed for children ages 0-2. Please dress for the weather.

Join us for a day all about turtles! Visit with our resident turtles to see how they carry their shells on their backs. Have you seen them out and about lately? We will learn what they eat and then go look for them in the forest.

From 9:30 - 9:55, we will have a special guest joining us from Kirkwood Public Library for storytime!

This class is designed for children ages 3-5. Please dress for the weather.

Have you seen a masked critter rummaging through your trash lately? It could be a trash panda! (aka Raccoons!) These critters are very resourceful and great at finding food in almost any environment. Come learn more about these rascally raccoons and what makes them special.

Little Acorns programs are designed to help children ages 3-6 learn about the natural world through hands on experiences, crafts, and focused free-play activities.

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! In part five we will cover methods of outdoor cooking with little campers so they can be involved and excited about spending time outdoors!

This program will introduce turkey hunting techniques and calling tips for beginners and how to get started hunting these elusive birds. We will cover habitat, safety, firearms, different calls, when to call, how often to call, and different types of equipment used to help you have a successful hunt.