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Discover Nature — Fishing offers families with children between the ages of 7 and 15 a hands-on introduction into angling.
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It's more than breaking out the tackle box. That's why the department is looking for experienced anglers who are ready to lead the next generation of Missouri anglers.
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Program at a Glance
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- Lesson one: Equipment, Casting, and Proper Fish Handling
- Lesson two: How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook
- Lesson three: Five Common Missouri Fish - Their Anatomy, Habitat, and Life Cycle
- Lesson four: Fishing with Lures and Fishing Regulations
- Classes are free
- No permits or additional paperwork required
- Bait and equipment provided
Enrollees must take lesson one to be eligible for later lessons. However, lessons two, three, and four may be taken in any order once lesson one has been completed.
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What to Expect
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What to Expect
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- Each class is approximately two hours and will include indoor and outdoor segments.
- Separate registration required for each participant
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- All registrants are expected to participate
Both the child and the accompanying adult(s) must be registered for classes in order to attend.
Due to limited space and seating, only those registered for a class may attend.
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What to Bring Along
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What to Bring Along
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All supplies and fishing equipment will be provided. However, you might want to bring the following:
- Water bottle
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Insect repellent
- Notebook and pencil
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Cancellation or Withdrawal
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Cancellation or Withdrawal
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Bad Weather:
In the event of class cancellation or rescheduling, registrants will be notified by either phone or email.
Withdraw from a Class:
To withdraw, navigate to My Events, log in, then select “cancel registration.” Remember that this will have to be done for every participant registered for the class.
Fishing Classes
Registration period:
April 30 - October 8
Date:
Thursday, October 10, 2024 5:00 pm - Thursday, October 10, 2024 7:00 pm
Location:
Forest Park Hatchery
*Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 is required before attending this program*
Lesson 3: Participants will learn about aquatic habitats, food webs, and the basic biology of common Missouri fish species.
Lesson 4: Participants will learn about various fishing lures techniques, as well as identify and understand Missouri fishing regulations.
All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen.
This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family.
To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account. You can also make you child their own, separate account.
Registration period:
August 23 - October 11
Date:
Friday, October 11, 2024 5:30 pm - Friday, October 11, 2024 7:30 pm
Location:
Cape Girardeau Nature Center
Fishing is a great way for kids and families to have fun outdoors, learn about conservation, and make happy memories. Our Discover Nature-Fishing program is a hands-on, four-part fishing instruction series that helps families gain the skills and confidence they need to go fishing on their own.
This program will cover the Discover Nature-Fishing Lessons 1 and 2, which are best to complete before Lessons 3 and 4 (hosted later). Participants will learn about fishing equipment, casting, rigging a fishing rod, baiting a hook, and proper fish handling. The Discover Nature-Fishing program is available for ages 7 and up. This program will take place at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Participants will not be required to have a valid fishing license for this program.
Registration period:
April 30 - October 10
Date:
Saturday, October 12, 2024 9:00 am - Saturday, October 12, 2024 11:00 am
Location:
Suson Park - Rearing Pond
*Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 is required before attending this program*
Lesson 3: Participants will learn about aquatic habitats, food webs, and the basic biology of common Missouri fish species.
Lesson 4: Participants will learn about various fishing lures techniques, as well as identify and understand Missouri fishing regulations.
All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen.
This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family.
To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account. You can also make you child their own, separate account.
Registration period:
April 30 - October 13
Date:
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 5:00 pm - Tuesday, October 15, 2024 7:00 pm
Location:
St. Louis Regional Office/Busch Memorial CA
*Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 is required before attending this program*
Lesson 3: Participants will learn about aquatic habitats, food webs, and the basic biology of common Missouri fish species.
Lesson 4: Participants will learn about various fishing lures techniques, as well as identify and understand Missouri fishing regulations.
All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen.
This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family.
To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account. You can also make you child their own, separate account.
Registration period:
April 30 - October 16
Date:
Friday, October 18, 2024 5:00 pm - Friday, October 18, 2024 7:00 pm
Location:
Forest Park Hatchery
*Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 is required before attending this program*
Lesson 3: Participants will learn about aquatic habitats, food webs, and the basic biology of common Missouri fish species.
Lesson 4: Participants will learn about various fishing lures techniques, as well as identify and understand Missouri fishing regulations.
All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen.
This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family.
To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account. You can also make you child their own, separate account.
Registration period:
August 23 - October 18
Date:
Friday, October 18, 2024 5:30 pm - Friday, October 18, 2024 7:30 pm
Location:
Cape Girardeau Nature Center
Fishing is a great way for kids and families to have fun outdoors, learn about conservation, and make happy memories. Our Discover Nature-Fishing program is a hands-on, four-part fishing instruction series that helps families gain the skills and confidence they need to go fishing on their own.
This program will cover Lessons 3 and 4 which are best completed after Lessons 1 and 2. Participants will learn about Missouri freshwater ecosystems, common fish, artificial lures, and the regulations regarding fishing in Missouri. The Discover Nature-Fishing program is available for ages 7 and up. We will host this program at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Participants will not be required to have a valid fishing license and those who have already completed Lessons 1 and 2 will receive fishing related rewards.