Events

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.

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.

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.

Come join the boardgame club for nature lovers! This monthly program will begin with a short program highlighting a different nature-themed board game and how it relates to Missouri’s mission to have world class fish, forests, and wildlife. After the intro…let the games begin! There will be games available for all experience levels, though on average these games have a higher complexity level than family board game players may be used to, these games are most appropriate for ages 12 and up. You are welcome to bring any snacks and non-alcoholic beverages you wish, as well as nature-themed board games to share from your collection.

Peeeeep, peep, peep, peep. Is it a bird? No! It’s a Spring Peeper! Come learn about the frogs of Missouri during our big frog event. Join us on our froggy hikes as we visit the ponds on the property to look and listen for live frogs in action. Learn about these amazing amphibians during our presentations at 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:30 pm. See live frogs and other amphibians on display at the nature center, make a froggy craft, or play a froggy game. There’s a hopping good time for everyone! Youth and adult groups welcome.

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

Be right on target! Try your hand at archery and experience a fun way to enjoy the outdoors. All archery equipment will be provided. Adult supervision is required for ages 9-17. This program will take place entirely outdoors so please dress for the weather. In the event of high winds or rain this program will be cancelled.

Join us virtually to learn the basics of wildflower identification in Missouri’s southeast region. Many of the plants featured here are found statewide, but the swamps and bottomlands of the Bootheel offer a variety found nowhere else in the state. This program will also feature several recommended hikes to take what you learn virtually and stroll through the spring forest to find these flowers on your own. Please make sure that your MDC account includes an accurate email address so that you can receive a link to the virtual program.

Create a unique, wearable work-of-art using a turkey feather. Not only will you take home a personal souvenir, but you will also learn about turkey hunting in Missouri. This is a hands-on class and participants must be at least 16 years of age to participate.

How well do you know your toads and frogs of Missouri? Learn how to identify some of the frogs and toads that live in southeast Missouri as we play frog call bingo and take a trip down to the pond. Please wear boots and clothes that can get muddy.

How well do you know your toads and frogs of Missouri? Learn how to identify some of the frogs and toads that live in southeast Missouri as we play frog call bingo and take a trip down to the pond. Please wear boots and clothes that can get muddy.

This class is a series of 12 program that meets once each month all year long. You will learn simple, but beautiful, embroidery techniques as we explore some of the most iconic trees of southeast Missouri such as the bald cypress and white oak; as well as lesser-known trees like the cucumber magnolia, Ozark chestnut, and oaks and ashes native to our part of the state. Each block will feature a leaf with either its fruit or flower. At each class you will discover a new tree’s secret life history, habitat preferences, importance to wildlife and myriad uses by people through the ages.

By signing up you are committing to attend all 12 monthly sessions, with the opportunity to complete all 16 blocks for an entire quilt.

Classes will be held on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center.

You will need to supply your own embroidery hoop and needle. We will have patterns, thread, light boards, and Frixion pens available for tracing the patterns.

Let’s get your bike ready for spring weather! This program will teach you new skills and help you save money by teaching you the essentials of bike maintenance and repair. We will learn to fix a flat, adjust brakes, and get you shifting more smoothly. This program was so popular before we’ve offered it again, don’t miss out. No prior experience necessary. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty!

The nature center is partnering with the Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation Department to clean up Cape LaCroix Creek during their annual Friends of the Park Day. Gather your friends, family, or organization to help bring the beauty back to the creek between Walden Park and Shawnee Sports Complex. We’ll meet at the 4-H Shelter in Arena Park to divide and conquer. Please wear clothes and shoes you can get muddy. If you register prior to April 7, lunch and T-shirts will be provided at Capaha Park. Youth and adult groups welcome.

Did you know there are treasures hiding all around you? Geocaching is a fun pastime in which you follow GPS coordinates to a specific location or box filled with trinkets. In this program, we will discuss different types of caches, safety, and GPS use. Then we’ll hit the trails to find some “treasure.”

Missouri Trees

This class is a series of 12 programs that meets once each month all year long, though you may join at any time. You will learn to use simple, but beautiful embroidery techniques to stitch quilt blocks of some of the iconic trees of southeast Missouri - such as the bald cypress and white oak; as well as lesser known trees like the cucumber magnolia and Ozark chinquapin native to the Southeast part of the state.

Each block will feature a leaf with its fruit and/or flower. At each class you will discover a new tree’s secret life history, habitat preferences, importance to wildlife and the myriad uses by people through the ages.

Classes will be held on either the third or fourth Monday of each month at 5:00 pm via WebEx.

A link will be emailed to the participants' registered email prior to the meeting time, along with the thread colors needed that month. Block templates and information cards will be sent out after the class meets.

It is encouraged to download the application ahead of time to prevent technical issues.

This class is a series of 12 program that meets once each month all year long. You will learn simple, but beautiful, embroidery techniques as we explore some of the most iconic trees of southeast Missouri such as the bald cypress and white oak; as well as lesser known trees like the cucumber magnolia, Ozark chestnut, and trees native to our specific part of the state. Each block will feature a leaf with either its fruit or flower. At each class you will discover a new tree’s secret life history, habitat preferences, importance to wildlife and the myriad uses by people through the ages.

By signing up, you are committing to attend all 12 monthly sessions, with the opportunity to complete all 16 blocks for an entire quilt.

Classes will be held on either the third or fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Gaylord Laboratory Library.

You will need to supply your own embroidery hoop and needle. We will have patterns, thread, light boards, and Frixion pens available for tracing the patterns.

Who hops at night and is covered in bumps? Why a toad, of course! Tune in to this virtual program to learn more about the common American toad and why you want them to live in your backyard!

Please make sure that your MDC account includes an accurate email address so that you can receive a link to the virtual program.

Discover the importance of Missouri reptiles and amphibians and see what it takes to keep our education animals happy and healthy. Watch as we introduce and feed several different reptiles and amphibians.

Join Dr. Mike Taylor from Southeast Missouri State University as he talks about a day birding filled with songs and calls. You might be comforted by the familiar “purdy purdy purdy” song of the Northern Cardinal. You might be challenged by the rapid trills of the Chipping Sparrow, Pine Warbler, and Dark-eyed Junco. You might throw your hands up in despair at the endless variety of “tinks” and “chips” coming from the thick brush.

Like any birding skill, you can learn to identify bird sounds through practice. You can also record sounds to help you identify and document unknown birds or birds you could hear but could not see. This talk will highlight some tools and techniques you can use to record and visualize bird sounds. To get started, all you need is a smart phone or small hand-held recorder.

This program is part of the MO Birding Society Spring Meeting, for additional information please visit: https://mobirds.org/

A practical, hands-on follow up to Dr. Mike Taylor's presentation, Birding by Ear.

Hike with a mic through the woods to record bird songs and calls. You will need to bring a smartphone; a small number of hand-held recorders will be available for use. You’ll have the opportunity to try out different recorders as well as shotgun and parabolic microphones.

This program is part of the MO Birding Society Spring Meeting, for additional information please visit: https://mobirds.org/

Putt, putt, putt and gobble, gobble, gobble goes the turkey. Who is doing all the talking and what are they trying to say? Strut on over to learn all about wild turkeys and what they talk about. Babes in the Woods programs are designed to empower parents to introduce babies and toddler ages 0–2 years to the sights, sounds, and textures of nature.

Have you wanted to get into nature photography, but don’t know where to start? Come join us as we learn basic nature photography tips and tricks and hike the 2-mile loop at Pickle Springs Natural Area in Ste. Genevieve. You don’t even need a fancy camera to take stunning nature photographs. You may be shocked by the amazing pictures you can take with smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras!

Pickle Springs Natural Area is a geological wonderland with scenic waterfalls and cool box canyons that harbor unusual plants and animals. Besides the geology, this site supports over 250 vascular plant species including many uncommon species that are considered glacial relicts. Glacial relict species at Pickle Springs include the four-toed salamander, hay-scented fern, large whorled pogonia, and ground cedar, all species of conservation concern, as well as rattlesnake plantain and shining clubmoss. We’ll explore all Pickle Springs has to offer, stopping along the way to snap some amazing photographs.

All levels of nature photographers are welcome!

The hike is about 2 miles in length on natural terrain and of moderate difficulty. Please wear sturdy footwear, and bring a walking stick, water, and snacks if you’d like.

Specific directions to the parking lot will be sent out the day before the program.

Please register everyone individually.

Let’s make it a girls’ weekend! Ladies, bring your friends to enjoy a day at Tywappity Community Lake in Chaffee, Missouri. We’ll learn the basic canoe strokes as we paddle around the lake and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring. No experience necessary.

Each participant must register individually.

The Nature Center will provide transportation from the nature center and all equipment necessary, including canoes, paddles, and lifejackets. Please bring a refillable water bottle and wear sturdy shoes that can get wet. A full packing list will be sent via email prior to the program.

Let’s make it a girls’ weekend! Ladies, bring your friends to enjoy a day on Whitewater Creek. We’ll learn a few basic kayak strokes and paddle down stream. This float will cover about 2.75 miles of Whitewater Creek. No experience necessary.

Each participant must register individually.

The Nature Center will provide kayaks, paddles, lifejackets, and other needed equipment. Please bring a refillable water bottle, lunch, and wear sturdy shoes that can get wet. A full packing list will be sent via email prior to the program.