Discover Nature

MDC 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.

Heritage Day

April 16 • Saturday • 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Ozark Region, Twin Pines Conservation Education Center, RT 1 Box 1998, Winona, MO 65588 No registration required, call 573-324-1381 for more information All ages

Join us as we celebrate the Ozark’s rich heritage of sustaining Missouri’s fish,forests, and wildlife. There will be live music, demonstrations on the wise use of our natural resources, and a no-cost fish fry while supplies last.

Forest and Wildlife Workshop

April 16 • Saturday • 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Central Region, 8801 Little Tavern Creek Rd., Portland, MO 65067 Registration required, call 573-564-3715, ext. 110 by April 12

This workshop will give landowners a better understanding of the benefits of managing wooded areas on their property.

Discover Nature – Shotgun Shooting Basics

April 23 • 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 Ages 12 and older

Join us to discover the joys of shotgun shooting. We will discuss shotgun parts, stance, dominant eye, mounting and moving the shotgun, and much more. You may use our shotguns or your own. Please make sure your shotgun is completely unloaded before you arrive at the range.

Bats of Missouri

April 27 • Wednesday • 6:30–7:30 p.m. Southeast Region, Cape Girardeau

Conservation Nature Center, 2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 Registration required, call 573-290-5218 beginning April 1 Ages 8 and older

Missouri is home to at least 14 different species of bats. Learn about them, where they live, how common they are, and methods used to research and monitor them. We will also explore and discuss the importance of bats to the environment and humans as well as current threats to these fascinating creatures.

Go Native

April 16 • Saturday • 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Kansas City Region, Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110 No registration required, call 816-759-7300 for more information All ages

Are you tired of constantly watering and weeding your landscape plants? If so, try replacing those plants with native flowers and grasses. Native plants can tolerate our tough Missouri weather much better than nonnative varieties. Join us for a day of learning about the wide variety of native plants that can suit your landscaping needs. While you’re here, transplant and take home some native trees, grasses, or flowers to add trouble-free beauty to your landscape.

Bird ID and Flyways Discovery Table

April 30 • Saturday • 10 a.m.–2 p.m. St. Louis Region, St. Louis Regional Office, 2360 Hwy D, St. Charles, MO 63304 No registration required, call 636-441-4554 for more information All ages

Learn to identify birds and their migration highways in the sky. Then go view birds in their natural habitats!