Conservation Education

Nature Activity

Squaw Creek Eagle Days

• Where: Five miles south of Mound City and 30 miles north of St. Joseph just off of Interstate 29. Take exit 79, and drive three miles west on Highway 159.
• Features: The 7,350-acre refuge was established in 1935 as a resting, feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.
• Program: Eagle Days, Dec. 1-2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m
• For more info: Call Squaw Creek at (660) 442-3187 or the Department of Conservation at (816) 271-3100 or explore the links listed below.

During the first week of December, as many as 250 eagles arrive at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City. For the past 29 years, the Department of Conservation and the refuge have welcomed them with an annual Eagle Days event. The World Bird Sanctuary from St. Louis will conduct live eagle shows every hour, and Friends of Squaw Creek will be selling warm food and drinks. Take the 10-mile auto tour to see eagles and many species of waterfowl in the wild. Conservation volunteers will have scopes set up at various stops—you may even spot eagles snagging fish! If you’d rather have a guided tour of the refuge, join one of the many interpretive bus tours throughout the day.

Get Your 2008 Calendar

At Nature Shops and online while supplies last.

Chock-full of dazzling photographs, fascinating natural history details and native-plant gardening reminders, the Conservation Department’s Natural Events Calendar sells out fast every year. The 2008 edition features Department of Conservation staff and volunteer photos of Missouri plants, animals and landscapes in every season, and it’s on sale now. This year’s opening spread invites you to visit Missouri’s barrens, balds and glades—those open, rocky landscapes resembling deserts located on several conservation and natural areas throughout the state. Home gardeners will appreciate native-plant gardening tips following the monthly pages. Don’t wait to get the 2008 Natural Events Calendar for every nature lover on your Christmas shopping list. To order, call toll free (877) 521-8632 or visit online. The price is just $5.00 each, plus shipping, handling and sales tax, where applicable. You can also find them at nature center and Department of Conservation offices where Nature Shops are located.

Apply for Education Grants

Help students learn about nature outdoors.

If you’re an educator, you know how excited students can get about learning outdoors or taking field trips. Help your students connect with nature and conservation. Apply for one of the Conservation Department’s four education grants: Learning Outdoors Schools, Conservation Field Trips, Outdoor Classrooms and United Sportsmen’s League Wildlife Conservation. The grants are designed to help schools and educators use the outdoors for lessons about native plants and animals and habitat conservation. To explore each grant program, including eligible applicants, deadlines and downloadable applications, see the links listed below.