Events

Registration required (ages 6+) Bring your imagination and engage in nature play while we embark on an expedition through the Discovery Center's diverse landscape. What plants and animals will we discover? Join our team of explorers on this outstanding adventure!

Registration required (ages 6+) Bring your imagination and engage in nature play while we embark on an expedition through the Discovery Center's diverse landscape. What plants and animals will we discover? Join our team of explorers on this outstanding adventure!

Learn how to catch channel, flathead and blue catfish in Missouri's farm ponds, lakes and rivers, then try your luck with a fishing opportunity at the Burr Oaks Woods educational pond. Afterwards, learn how to clean a catfish and sample a couple of catfish recipes during a cooking demonstration.

This event will take place at the Burr Oaks Woods educational pond and pavilion. Do not go to the nature center.

No fishing permit required to fish at this event.

MDC will provide rods, tackle and bait.

Participants must be 8 years or older and participants under 15 must be accompanied by an adult

Each participant must register for this program separately. Email John Rittel for assistance with registration or for additional information.

Registration required (adults) Making beautiful images from nature is one of the oldest artforms. After exploring the Discovery Center's native gardens and landscape, we will create nature prints called monotypes using leaves and grasses with block ink, zinc plates and the etching press. Satisfy your home decorating needs with a work of art worthy of framing.

Registration required (ages 8+) Take a step off land and dive into the world of aquatic ecosystems. Learn how to identify macro-invertebrates and what they tell us about water quality. Discover the watershed you live in and how our actions can have an impact and get up close with aquatic wildlife. Discover Missouri's aquatic ecosystems and discover a world of wonder.

Registration required (ages 8+) Take a step off land and dive into the world of aquatic ecosystems. Learn how to identify macro-invertebrates and what they tell us about water quality. Discover the watershed you live in and how our actions can have an impact and get up close with aquatic wildlife. Discover Missouri's aquatic ecosystems and discover a world of wonder.

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 artificial 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.

Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided. All children ages 7-15 must be accompanied by a registered adult at all times. Participants must have completed Lessons 1 and 2 prior to attending Lesson 3 & 4.

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

Participants will be asked to maintain safe social distance from staff and other participants who are not their family membersembers during this program.

Each participant must register for this program individually on the Missouri Department of Conservation Discover Nature-Fishing website. For assistance with registration please contact the program instructor.

This program will go on rain or shine since we'll be under the cover of the Jacomo Marina dock.

Registration required (adults) It's summer and it's hot, and there's no better way to escape the heat than a summer float trip to a clear, cold Missouri Ozark stream. In this virtual program we can't teach you how to paddle a boat, but we will share our experience on the best rivers to float, what gear and food to pack and how to plan an outdoor adventure for you or your family. This is the perfect introduction for any participant thinking about dipping their toes into a new outdoor activity like canoeing or kayaking.

Registration required (adults) It's summer and it's hot, and there's no better way to escape the heat than a summer float trip to a clear, cold Missouri Ozark stream. In this virtual program we can't teach you how to paddle a boat, but we will share our experience on the best rivers to float, what gear and food to pack and how to plan an outdoor adventure for you or your family. This is the perfect introduction for any participant thinking about dipping their toes into a new outdoor activity like canoeing or kayaking.

Registration required (adults) It's summer and it's hot, and there's no better way to escape the heat than a summer float trip to a clear, cold Missouri Ozark float stream. The Ozark Float Squad will be here to share their years of experience on where to go, what to pack and how to plan a river adventure for you and the whole family. This is the perfect introduction for any participant thinking about dipping their toes into a new outdoor activity like canoeing or kayaking.

Registration required (adults) It's summer and it's hot, and there's no better way to escape the heat than a summer float trip to a clear, cold Missouri Ozark float stream. The Ozark Float Squad will be here to share their years of experience on where to go, what to pack and how to plan a river adventure for you and the whole family. This is the perfect introduction for any participant thinking about dipping their toes into a new outdoor activity like canoeing or kayaking.

Registration required (adults) It's summer and it's hot, and there's no better way to escape the heat than a summer float trip to a clear, cold Missouri Ozark float stream. The Ozark Float Squad will be here to share their years of experience on where to go, what to pack and how to plan a river adventure for you and the whole family. This is the perfect introduction for any participant thinking about dipping their toes into a new outdoor activity like canoeing or kayaking.

Registration required (adults) Did you know that two thirds of all water in the Kansas City metropolitan area drains into the Blue River? Spend an evening learning about the Blue River watershed and how our actions can have either a positive or negative impact. Participants will evaluate the water quality of the river by collecting macro-invertebrates, enjoying a stream corridor hike and discover the wildlife that calls the Blue River home. Additional program details will be provided to those who register. This is an all outdoor program so dress for the weather. You will receive an e-mail from the instructor the day prior to the event if weather conditions indicate a need to cancel the program.

Registration required (adults) Butterflies and bees get a lot of credit as pollinators, but there are many other creatures that have evolved to pollinate plants. Join our native landscape specialists for this evening program as we look at the fascinating world of nocturnal pollinators. We'll then head outdoors to our "Mothing Station" where we'll observe nocturnal insects and discuss the various species of native plants that utilize nocturnal pollination.

Every third Thursday at 12pm, we’ll tour the native landscape at MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by native landscape specialists Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, this monthly series features a live look at native plants of interest throughout the year, This program is a partnership with Deep Roots.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED THROUGH THE DEEP ROOTS WEBSITE: https://deeproots.org/native-plants-at-noon/

Every third Thursday at 12pm, we’ll tour the native landscape at MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by native landscape specialists Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, this monthly series features a live look at native plants of interest throughout the year, This program is a partnership with Deep Roots.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED THROUGH THE DEEP ROOTS WEBSITE: https://deeproots.org/native-plants-at-noon/

Every third Thursday at 12pm, we’ll tour the native landscape at MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by native landscape specialists Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, this monthly series features a live look at native plants of interest throughout the year, This program is a partnership with Deep Roots.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED THROUGH THE DEEP ROOTS WEBSITE: https://deeproots.org/native-plants-at-noon/

Every third Thursday at 12pm, we’ll tour the native landscape at MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by native landscape specialists Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, this monthly series features a live look at native plants of interest throughout the year, This program is a partnership with Deep Roots.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED THROUGH THE DEEP ROOTS WEBSITE: https://deeproots.org/native-plants-at-noon/

Every third Thursday at 12pm, we’ll tour the native landscape at MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by native landscape specialists Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, this monthly series features a live look at native plants of interest throughout the year, This program is a partnership with Deep Roots.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED THROUGH THE DEEP ROOTS WEBSITE: https://deeproots.org/native-plants-at-noon/