Conservation Education

Nature Activity: August A. Busch Memorial CA

• Program: “Wetlands for Kids 2008”
• Where: August A. Busch Memorial CA in St. Charles County
• When: Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Details: See live birds of prey; create wetland artwork; explore a beaver lodge; practice archery skills; learn to identify birds; tie fishing flies; see and touch snakes, frogs and turtles; watch retrievers in action; sample fried fish from Missouri’s rivers, and much more.
• For more information: Call (636) 441-4554

Families, nature lovers and sportspeople in the greater St. Louis region are blessed with a world-class conservation area. The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles County features an interpretive center offering nature-study programs, several walking trails and a self-guided auto tour. Other facilities include a shooting range and outdoor education center that also hosts field retriever trials and provides a designated area for dog training. In April, Busch CA teams up with Ducks Unlimited and the Monsanto Fund to host “Wetlands for Kids” day. This program is designed to excite kids, families and scout troops about nature and the outdoors.

Grand Opening

Our newest nature center is in the heart of the Ozarks.

Join the Twin Pines Conservation Education Center staff and local community members on April 19 as they celebrate the center’s grand opening. The food and fun start at 9 a.m., and activities run until 3 p.m.

The newly opened, 456-acre area and interpretive center in Winona gives residents and visitors a glimpse into the region’s natural and cultural history. Emphasizing Missouri’s forest heritage, displays include vintage logging equipment, a log cabin and an early 20th century schoolhouse.

A number of educational and interpretive programs, including Stream Team training and birds of prey, are already scheduled. Besides organized activities, Twin Pines offers opportunities for hiking, bird watching, nature photography and other nature-related activities. A trail through the area provides access to pine-oak woodland and several other forest types. Other programs, special events and classes are available by appointment. For event information and registration, call (573) 325-1381.

“Echoes of Outdoor Missouri”

CD features the sounds of four Missouri habitats.

Different habitats support different kinds of plants and animals—they also yield different suites of sound. Our audio producer, Dan Zarlenga, helps you associate the sounds you hear outdoors with their habitats of origin. His “Echoes of Outdoor Missouri” CD features the sounds of four distinct Missouri habitats—a river bluff trail, a prairie chicken lek, a sinkhole pond and a hardwood forest. Liner notes walk you through each habitat, naming the species you hear along the way. The CD is available for $8 plus shipping and handling and sales tax (where applicable). Call toll-free (877)521-8632, or visit online.