Events

Enrich your life by nature immersion! Float on out to the prairie with a blanket/camp chair and some snacks to enjoy a shaded alcove, pleasant breezes and complete a butterfly survey to learn some beautiful new insects!

Come discover the majesty of this butterfly through various hands-on activities that will leave you in a state of "monarch mania." Help Runge staff tag monarchs on their way to Mexico, create a symbolic butterfly to send to children in the monarch’s overwintering site, or test your survival skills in our Monarch Migration game. Talk with experts on butterflies and butterfly habitat and learn simple steps you can take in your own backyard to help this magnificent creature. No registration required. All ages

Join Volunteer Pickett Lema to learn the art of watercolors. Come learn beginner skills, as we use wet-on-dry techniques to paint your choice of Missouri birds.

All supplies provided.

Join a naturalist in the lobby of Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center for a chance to learn about and see live reptiles and amphibians.

Registration required (ages 12+) Fabric printing with natural objects is easy and can be a fun, creative outlet for those of us that are not that artsy. We will introduce you to some favorite fall native trees while collecting leaves on a short hike around the Discovery Center landscape. Back inside, we will help you create a colorful fall tote bag using textile ink and our collected leaves. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Stop by the nature center to purchase plants from Missouri plant vendors, get tips from one of our local exhibitors, and watch a short gardening demonstration or two.

Scurry on over with your squirrelly little ones and discover the life of Missouri’s tree squirrels. We will experience why squirrels stay so busy, explore their wild habitat, and make them a take-home treat.

Babes in the Woods programs are designed to empower parents to introduce babies and toddlers ages 0-2 years to the sights, sounds, and textures of nature.

Join a naturalist in the lobby of Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center for a chance to learn about and see live reptiles and amphibians.

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. Look for us near the pond/shelter.

Upon registration, participants will be given a link to the virtual/online portion of the prescribed burn course. The online course is a mandatory prerequisite. Please bring your certificate of completion and Mileage sheet to the workshop. A demonstration burn will be conducted if weather allows. Please bring appropriate clothing- long sleeve shirt and pants made of natural fibers, gloves, and closed toe boots.