Events

MDC Science programs highlight the incredible work done by scientists with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Don’t miss your chance to learn about barn owl biology in Missouri. Natural History Biologist, Rhonda Rimer, will give an informative presentation about this project and more, followed by a question-and-answer session. A live barn owl from Dickerson Park Zoo will also be featured. All ages are welcome, but this program is designed for ages 12-adult. Please include a valid email address when you register so we can send you a virtual program link. This program will not be recorded.

Join us in learning about mushrooms and how they live and grow. Get some tips on how to find and identify the edible ones and what ones to stay away from. In our area morel mushrooms are very popular, see if you can find any.

Join us in learning about mushrooms and how they live and grow. Get some tips on how to find and identify the edible ones and what ones to stay away from. In our area morel mushrooms are very popular, see if you can find any.

Missouri Disabled Sportsmen will be hosting ten (10) mobility impaired hunters for a spring turkey hunt in southwest Missouri.

This hunt will take place on private properties throughout the area and each selected participant will be provided with an experienced guide(s), enclosed blind, and decoys. There will be several trackchairs on-site to use as needed also.

The chosen participants will be notified two-weeks prior to the hunt of their inclusion. Travel, room & board, and a valid 2023 Missouri turkey license will be the responsibility of each participant.

It’s unbelievable what nature provides! Join us with special guest, Bo Brown, in finding out what is in the outdoors that is edible and what you need to stay away from. Bo will show us some of the everyday plants that we see in our garden or on walks that are healthy for the body.

It’s unbelievable what nature provides! Join us with special guest, Bo Brown, in finding out what is in the outdoors that is edible and what you need to stay away from. Bo will show us some of the everyday plants that we see in our garden or on walks that are healthy for the body.

Happy Earth Day! Come learn about the threatened and endangered species in Missouri and how you can help them at this Earth Day Discovery Table. A naturalist will be on hand to offer some fun facts and answer questions. All ages.

How do zoos fit into conservation? Come find out as we explore Springfield’s Dickerson Park Zoo on a special, behind-the-scenes tour. Transportation, admission, snacks, and water will be provided. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Ages 12-17.

Help celebrate our 35th anniversary with a hike at the Nature Center! Each month a naturalist will lead a hike to share the beauty of the Nature Center trails with you. Dress for the weather and be prepared to hike 1.5 to 2 miles. The trail is considered easy to moderately difficult with some uneven terrain. Ages 8-adult. Children ages 8-17 must have a registered adult accompanying them.

Signs of spring can be seen everywhere from birds migrating back to Missouri to blooms on the forest floor. Let’s explore the beauty and uniqueness of ephemeral wildflowers. Join Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center Naturalists to learn how to identify spring wildflowers and which ones you may see in your own backyard. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Register is Required with a valid email address to receive the program link.

April showers bring May flowers and the world of pollinators. Join us to learn about the importance of pollinators in Missouri including bees, butterflies and many others. Knowledge won’t be the only thing you will leave with that evening as we create a simple crochet bee. It’s recommended you know basic crochet stitches, but it isn’t required. All materials will be provided. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Ever wonder what it takes to be a naturalist? Come try out some of the skills naturalists use in their job! We’ll talk about plants, animals, and how we do what we do! This program is designed for children ages 7-12 and their adults/caregivers.

The Springfield Conservation Nature Center would like to invite your family and friends to our first multicultural event. We will highlight Missouri’s diversity and showcase how different cultures enjoy nature. Enjoy live performances, food trucks, demonstrations, booths, short programs, crafts for kids, and lots of fun! All ages.

Parents, grandparents, and adult mentors bring your youngster(s) to learn a new skill and spend time practicing. You don’t have to be a hunter to become a skilled archer. No experience is necessary and archery equipment will be provided. We will teach and practice the basics, helping you perfect your stance to shoot more consistently and accurately.

Muskie Fishing Program – Virtual Program

Did you know the Missouri Department of Conservation stocks Muskie in Fellow’s Lake just north of Springfield? Do you want to learn basic Muskie fishing methods? This hands-on workshop is for YOU! MDC Conservation Educator Lyle Whittaker is partnering with the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Springfield Utilities, and the Pomme D Terre Muskie Inc. to offer this unique opportunity for anglers who want to give muskie fishing a try! The workshop has multiple parts. A virtual program on May 2nd will be followed by an in-person fishing session. Anglers registered and attending the in-person fishing event on May 5th are highly encouraged to attend the virtual program! 12 anglers will be allowed to register for the in-person fishing event to be held May 5th (7:00am-11:30am). We will be casting and trolling for muskie but remember Fellow’s Lake holds a healthy population of walleyes as well (that’s why it is called fishing!) Anglers attending should have at least some experiences in casting and operating a spinning reel. All equipment and supplies will be provided by MDC. However, anglers are welcome to bring their own poles, tackle, and PFD (Personal Floatation Device.) All participants must possess a current Missouri fishing permit (if not exempt.)

Topics covered in the virtual program

- Muskie biology

- Regulations

- Equipment and tackle

- Methods of fishing for muskie

May 5th in-person on the lake fishing event

- 4 hours of muskie fishing

- Casting and trolling

Registration is required for both the virtual program and the in-person event. Registration is separate on the MDC events page. Events | Missouri Department of Conservation (mo.gov) For more information or questions contact Lyle Whittaker (417)895-6880 Ext. 1644 or email Lyle.whittaker@mdc.mo.gov

The Ozark Chinquapin was a major player in our Ozarks forests; often it was the dominant tree species on many ridge tops and rocky slopes. The decline of the species had major effects on local wildlife food webs and traditional cultural uses. The hard-working Ozark Chinquapin Foundation, area foresters and local naturalists have been dedicated for almost 15 years in saving this species, and there are several success stories ahead.

This classroom program will look at this unique tree’s place in our local ecology and highlight the foundation’s research and outreach. There are many ways local citizens can help conservation efforts. We invite interested nature enthusiasts to come learn about this worthy effort. Nature center staff Tim Smith and Jeff Cantrell presenting.

Muskie Fishing Program – In-person Fishing Day

Did you know the Missouri Department of Conservation stocks Muskie in Fellow’s Lake just north of Springfield? Do you want to learn basic Muskie fishing methods? This hands-on workshop is for YOU! MDC Conservation Educator Lyle Whittaker is partnering with the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Springfield Utilities, and the Pomme D Terre Muskie Inc. to offer this unique opportunity for anglers who want to give muskie fishing a try! The workshop has multiple parts. A virtual program on May 2nd will be followed by an in-person fishing session. Anglers registered and attending the in-person fishing event on May 5th are highly encouraged to attend the virtual program! 12 anglers will be allowed to register for the in-person fishing event to be held May 5th (7:00am-11:30am). We will be casting and trolling for muskie but remember Fellow’s Lake holds a healthy population of walleyes as well (that’s why it is called fishing!) Anglers attending should have at least some experiences in casting and operating a spinning reel. All equipment and supplies will be provided by MDC. However, anglers are welcome to bring their own poles, tackle, and PFD (Personal Floatation Device.) All participants must possess a current Missouri fishing permit (if not exempt.)

Topics covered in the virtual program

- Muskie biology

- Regulations

- Equipment and tackle

- Methods of fishing for muskie

May 5th in-person on the lake fishing event

- 4 hours of muskie fishing

- Casting and trolling

Registration is required for both the virtual program and the in-person event. Registration is separate on the MDC events page. Events | Missouri Department of Conservation (mo.gov) For more information or questions contact Lyle Whittaker (417)895-6880 Ext. 1644 or email Lyle.whittaker@mdc.mo.gov

Young anglers will have opportunities to experience the fun of catching fish at Bennett Spring State Park’s Kids’ Fishing Day 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on May 6th. Kids ages 15 and under can pick up free trout tags at the park store on May 5th from 5-9 p.m. and all day on May 6th. A section of Zone 2 and Zone 3 at the park will be reserved for youth anglers. Volunteers will be on hand to help. Kids are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to help kids, but adults are also asked to let children fish by themselves as much as possible. Only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish in the designated kids’ fishing zone.

Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. To help with Kids’ Fishing Day or for more information please call the Bennett Spring Hatchery at 417-532-4418

Clay target shooting is a fun and exciting way to further your shotgun shooting knowledge. We will spend time talking about the 5-stand sporting clays. We will be talking about the different birds that are thrown and how to shoot them. We will go over hold points, break points, forward allowance, and many more of the mechanics as it pertains to 5-stand sporting clay shooting. This program is not for the beginning shotgun shooter as it is an intermediate level program so unless you are beyond the basics in shotgunning this program is not for you. We will provide 20-gauge shotguns and ammunition for those who do not have one. 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.

Advance your knowledge of shooting and hunting with your crossbow, safely and effectively. We will cover nomenclature of the crossbow, hand placement, stance, loading, drawing of string, optics and how to properly store your crossbow. We will also cover the difference between bolts and arrows, practice points and hunting points.

Discover the joys of shooting one of the all-time favorite rifles–the .22 rifle. We will discuss rifle nomenclature, dominant eye, sight picture, sight alignment, breath control, trigger squeeze, shooting positions, plus much more. We will provide rifles and ammunition for those who do not have one. 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.

We will discuss the correct shot placement on North American game animals along with the correct safety protocol, used when shooting on a 3D archery range. We will shoot a variety of game animal targets, from the ground and from an elevated tower. This class will enable you to master those tough shots when shooting at large game animals. This program is not for the beginning archery shooter as it is an intermediate level program, so unless you are beyond the basics in archery this program is not for you.

Interested in hunting but need help getting started? In this program, we will cover what is hunting and what kind of commitment I need go begin hunting safely.

Lesson 1: Equipment, Casting and Proper Fish Handling combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families basic fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn how to properly and safely cast a spincast fishing rod, parts of a fishing rod, how to fasten basic fishing tackle and how to properly handle and release a fish.

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.

All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities.

Each participant will need to register for this program individually. To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account. You can also make your child their own, separate account.

For questions or help registering, please contact Jeanell Stockton @ jeanell.stockton@mdc.mo.gov or 417-737-0698

Parents, grandparents, and adult mentors bring your youngster(s) to learn a new skill and spend time practicing. You don’t have to be a hunter to become a skilled archer. No experience is necessary and archery equipment will be provided. We will teach and practice the basics, helping you perfect your stance to shoot more consistently and accurately.