Events

Welcome Summertime with a guided public tour of the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery! Join a Naturalist to learn the difference between the Rainbow and Brown Trout raised at the hatchery, then visit the raceways and discover the amazing trout-raising process! And for just a quarter, you can feed the fish, too! Tours will meet at the large trout aquarium inside the Conservation Education Center.

Tours will be held four times daily at 10am, 11am, 1pm, and 2pm on Tuesdays through Fridays, beginning May 26th and continuing through Friday, September 4th. (The Hatchery will be closed for state holidays on June 19th and July 4th.)

All ages are invited, and no registration is required. For questions, call us at 417-334-4865 ext. 0, or email Shepherd@mdc.mo.gov.

Gloria Gaus is a Missouri landscape painter whose plein air and studio oil paintings follow the seasons across the state’s rivers, wetlands, and open prairies. Her collection of Missouri landscapes is on display through August 28. 

Nature printmaking is the art of creating lifelike images on paper or fabric with found objects from nature. MDC Naturalist Pat Whalen exhibits nature prints from his personal work and programs he presents at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. His prints will be on display in the west wing hallway through August. 

View Greg Renner's personal collection of antique duck decoys made in Missouri.

Look for book pages posted along Runge’s Naturescape trail and enjoy a seasonal children’s book as you walk and explore. Book begins at the trailhead across from the parking lot.

Visit Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center's Art Gallery this month to view the work of artist Wiley Longmire.

Wiley is a landscape artist, a graduate of Kirkwood High School in May 1974, and earned his associate's degree in art from St. Louis Community College in May 1984.

His specialty consists of watercolor paintings of forests and rivers, mostly in St. Louis and rural eastern Missouri. He also loves to paint from various locations in the Midwest USA.

Discover what’s for dinner at Burr Oak Woods as the nature center’s amphibians, fish, and turtles enjoy their feast every Tuesday and Friday. The snakes are fed on the second and fourth Wednesday (August 12 & 26).

Registration required by visiting www.deeproots.org/discover-native-gardening (adults) It's one thing to read about native plants and another to get your hands dirty! Learn seasonal gardening skills, be empowered and grow community alongside native plant experts and enthusiasts. This month we'll identify and manage summer native plants and warm season annuals. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Join us this month for Babes in the Woods: Down and Dirty! In this action-packed hour of fun, we will crawl and climb up the dirt hill, possibly mixing some water to make a muddy mess. We can play in the sand and water as well to see who gets the dirtiest. Meet at the arbor outside the Nature Center. Dress for the weather. Bring a towel and possibly extra clothes to change after getting cleaned up by the hose. This class is designed to get young children more connected with the natural world. After the program, expect to leave with a big smile. Remember to dress for the weather.

This program is hosted by the Powder Valley Nature Center on the second Tuesday of every month. Please feel free to join the librarian for story time inside afterwards.

Gather 'round and join us for a selection of nature stories perfect for all ages. Our storytellers will choose seasonal books to help inspire your next family adventure.