Discover Nature

6 Ideas for Family Fun

To find more events near you, call your regional office or visit mdc.mo.gov and choose your region.

Summer Service Slam 2014

• July 12, Saturday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
• St. Louis Region, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122
• Registration required, online at
• missioncontinues.org/summerserviceslam

Powder Valley has been selected for this year’s Summer Service Slam Project by The Mission Continues. This nonprofit organization redeploys Vet missions that harness their skills and dedication. For one day this July, their mission will be Powder Valley. Veterans will work alongside civilian volunteers of all ages on a variety of projects to improve the nature center.

Adult Summer Camp: Archery

• July 15, Tuesday, 6–8 p.m.
• Kansas City Region, Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center,4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64110
• Registration required, call 816-759-7300
• Ages 18 and older

Remember shooting a bow and arrow at summer camp as a kid? Bring your friends and relive the fun as you learn the basics of shooting a compound bow. There will be plenty of time for shooting and fun games to provide friendly competition.

Family Fishing

• July 19, Saturday, 9–11 a.m.
• Kansas City Region, Burr Oak Woods
• Conservation Nature Center, 1401 MW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO 64015
• Registration required, call 816-228-3766
• All ages, families

We will teach fishing basics, provide equipment and worms, and then let you and your family try your luck. Kids will be entered in a drawing at the end of the summer for a new fishing  pole and tackle box. For more information, email burr.oak@mdc.mo.gov.

Frog Gigging Clinic

• July 25, Friday, 6:30–11 p.m.
• Central Region, Blind Pony Hatchery, 16285 BP Hatchery Dr., Sweet Springs, MO 65351
• Registration required by July 22, call 573-815-7901, ext. 3388.
• All ages, families

Learn the basics of frog-gigging safety, equipment, identification, and regulations, as well as how to clean your catch to take home and ck. The class will have the opportunity to go frogging with the help of Department staff.

Shoal Creek Partnership Clean-Up

July 26, Saturday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Southwest Region, Wildcat Glades
• Conservation and Audubon Center, 201 W. Riviera Dr., Suite B, Joplin, MO 64804
• Registration required, call 417-629-3423 beginning July 1
• Ages 10 and older (Ages 10–17 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Join Missouri/Kansas conservation partners for this canoeing cleanup along Shoal Creek from Grand Falls to Schermerhorn Park in Galena, Kansas. A limited number of canoes will be available to adults and teens with canoeing experience.

Music Maples

• July 31, Thursday, 6 p.m.
• Central Region, Runge Conservation Nature Center, 2901 West Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, MO 65102
• No registration, All ages

Join us for an open-air summer concert featuring Kansas City musicians Michael Fraser and Tenley Hansen on mandolin, violin, and guitar. Michael and Tenley will use storytelling, live music, and a variety of visual aids to relay the importance of maple trees to Missouri.

Discover Nature Photo Contest

Show the world your idea of discovering nature in Missouri. Using your Google+, Instagram, or Twitter account, tag your Missouri nature photos with “#MDCdiscovernature.” Your photos will appear on our website at mdc.mo.gov/node/26255, where you can also read the contest rules. Every month, Department staff will select and post a winning photo. We’ll publish all of the monthly winners in the January 2015 issue of the Conservationist.