Discover Nature

7 Ideas for Family Fun

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

Maple Sugar Festival

Feb. 6 • Saturday • 10 a.m.–3 p.m. St. Louis Region, Rockwoods Reservation, 2751 Glencoe Road, Wildwood, MO 63038 No registration required, call 636-458-2236 for more information All ages, families

Venture outdoors to Rockwoods Reservation and experience nature at its sweetest. Tap trees and collect sap, boil the sap down, and see a more modern method of making this delicious syrup.

Women’s Trapping Workshop

Feb. 6 and 7 • Saturday and Sunday • 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Northwest Region, Nodaway Valley Conservation Area, 21999 State Hwy B, Maitland, MO 64466 Registration required, call 816-271-3100 Ages 16 and older

We will set traps and skin, dry, and stretch pelts. Overnight accommodations available and meals provided for participants. Equipment is provided.

Selecting, Mounting and Zeroing Scopes,

Feb. 18 • Thursday • 6–9 p.m. Kansas City Region, Parma Woods Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, 15900 NW River Rd., Parkville, MO 64152 Registration required, call 816-891-9941 Ages 11 and older

With literally thousands of options, it can be difficult to choose the right scope. In this seminar, we will talk about how to select the right optic for you, options for mounting, and how to mount it. Then we’ll discuss how to bore sight and zero your new scope.

Discover Nature —Firearms Care and Cleaning

Feb. 20 • Saturday • 8:30–11:30 a.m. Southwest Region, Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, 4895 N. Farm Road 61, Ash Grove, MO 65604 Registration required, call 417-742-4361 All ages

This program will teach the basics of cleaning and caring for your firearms, as well as provide tips and techniques for all aspects of firearm maintenance. You may bring your own unloaded firearm to class or use ours.

Women’s Winter Trout Fishing

Feb. 20 • Saturday • 9–11:30 a.m Southeast Region, Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, 2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 Registration required, beginning Feb. 2. Call 573-290-5218 Ages 12 and older

We will gather at Rotary Lake in Jackson City Park to learn some tricks and techniques for catching rainbow trout. Participants must have a valid Missouri fishing permit. A trout permit is required if keeping your catch.

Conservation Keepers: Snakes

Feb. 20 • Saturday • 1–2 p.m. Northeast Region, Northeast Regional Office, 3500 S. Baltimore, Kirksville, MO 63501 No registration required, call 660-785-2420 for more information All ages

Learn about the different snakes that call Missouri home, how to identify them, and which are venomous. There will be several snakes on display.

Youth Pollinator Habitat Program

Feb. 27 • Saturday • 1–3 p.m. Central Region, A.L. Gustin Golf Course, 18 E. Stadium Blvd., Columbia, MO 65203 Registration required by Feb. 20. Call 660-886-7447, ext. 310 All ages, families and groups

The Missouri Department of Conservation, Quail Forever, Pheasants Forever, and DuPont Pioneer invites kids and their families to help create pollinator habitat by planting pollinator field seeds at A.L. Gustin Golf Course in Columbia. Participants will learn about pollinators through several hands-on activities, including planting native plants on the golf course grounds. Hot chocolate will be provided and a limited supply of free t-shirts will be available to commemorate your contribution to the pollinators and birds.