Conservation Education

Nature Activity

Springfield CNC 20th Anniversary Celebration

• When: Friday, Oct. 3, 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 5, 1 to 5 p.m.
• Where: 4600 S. Chrisman Ave, Springfield
• Call for more info: (417) 888-4237

The Springfield Conservation Nature Center is celebrating 20 years of Serving Nature and You during their anniversary celebration this month. Since opening in 1988, nearly 2.1 million visitors have toured the facility to learn about conservation and discover nature through firsthand experiences. More than 4 million visitors have walked the nearly three miles of trails that meander through a variety of Ozarks habitats, and 640,000 have attended programs.

The 20th anniversary festivities begin with an open house on Friday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. Conservation Department Education Consultant and musician Michael Fraser and his Shortleaf Band will perform at 7 and 8 p.m. Festivities continue on Sunday, Oct. 5, with the annual Primitive Skills Day from 1 to 5 p.m. See demonstrations in flint knapping, bow-and-arrow construction, beadwork and fire making from some of the Ozarks’ best primitive skills specialists.

See online for a complete listing of events.

Voices of the Hills

Two-CD set is a journey into Shannon County’s history.

An anthropologist recalls his humble education in a one-room country schoolhouse. … True love blossoms at a religious revival. … A nation expands westward on railroad ties felled of Ozark pines. … A land is transformed by immigration, logging, tourism and war.

As charming and engaging as when it was first released a decade ago, Voices of the Hills recalls a people and a land rich in nature, culture and character. The digitally enhanced two-CD set includes Music of the Hills—a bonus disk of Ozark folk songs heard in and inspired by the Voices of the Hills story. Writer Joel Vance and musicians Cathy Barton, Dave Para, Mike Fraser and Bob Cunningham weave an enchanting tale of the hills, hollows, rivers and caves that are uniquely Shannon County.

This item is available for $9 plus shipping and handling and sales tax (where applicable). To order, call toll-free (877) 521-8632 or visit online.

Conservation Seeds

Hefty educator packet sows big ideas about nature.

When young children learn to love nature, it improves the health and well-being of both. This observation, made by Richard Louv in his online article, The Nature-Child Reunion, forms the basis of our early childhood curriculum packet, Conservation Seeds. Use it to guide students aged 3 to 7 through their discovery and exploration of nature. Thematic lesson plans organized according to season feature age-appropriate activities that emphasize feelings and a sense of wonder. To order the packet, write to MDC, “Conservation Seeds,” PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or e-mail pubstaff@mdc.mo.gov.