In Brief

Celebrate Missouri Tree

Commemorate Arbor Day by planting native trees, practicing proper tree care 

Missouri Arbor Day is Friday, April 3. Missouri has observed the state’s official Arbor Day on the first Friday in April since 1886 when the General Assembly declared that day be set aside for the appreciation and planting of trees. National Arbor Day is recognized on the last Friday of April, which is April 24.

MDC’s George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers residents a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are accepted through April 15. For more information, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/ZNZ.

Get information on backyard tree care — including types of trees for urban and other landscapes, selecting the right tree for the right place, planting tips, watering and pruning information, and more — at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z3J.

Communities around the state also hold local Arbor Day activities. For more information on Arbor Day and Missouri’s Tree City USA communities, visit the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org.

Missouri forests cover about one-third of the state and provide outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and watersheds for streams and rivers. Spending time in Missouri forests can provide a natural health benefit, too. Exposure to nature contributes to your physical well-being, reducing your blood pressure and heart rate, relieving stress, and boosting your energy level.

Missouri Master Naturalists Benefit Conservation in 2025

MDC and University of Missouri Extension thank Missouri’s 937 Master Naturalists for volunteering more than 82,000 hours to conserving Missouri’s natural resources in 2025.

Missouri Master Naturalists are volunteers who participate in chapter-based natural resource education and conservation programs within their communities. The program is sponsored by MDC and MU Extension. Master Naturalist chapters provide a corps of well-informed volunteers to serve nature and natural resources in their communities. They sometimes assist with MDC research or conduct habitat-improvement projects. They often serve at educational programs or special events conducted with chapter partners within the community. 

To become a Master Naturalist, participants must first enroll in a 40-hour core training focused on Missouri’s ecological systems and conservation. Core training is conducted at the chapter-level and led by chapter advisors with both MDC and MU Extension. 

Missouri has 13 Master Naturalist Program chapters: Boone’s Lick in Columbia, Chert Glades in Joplin, Confluence in St. Charles, Great Rivers in St. Louis, Hi Lonesome in Cole Camp, Lake of the Ozarks in Camdenton, Loess Hills in St. Joseph, Meramec Hills in Rolla, Miramiguoa in Washington, Mississippi Hills in Hannibal, North Star in Kirksville, Osage Trails in Kansas City, and Springfield Plateau in Springfield.

“One of the most significant highlights during the year — and there were many — was the organization of a core-training course conducted in the Kirksville area with 11 graduates,” said MDC Master Naturalist Program Coordinator Rebecca O’Hearn. “That ultimately resulted in the creation of the 13th chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist Program, the North Star Chapter. Prior to this, a new chapter had not been organized since 2018.” 

Learn more about the Missouri Master Naturalist Program, including additional accomplishments and the 2025 Annual Report, at short.mdc.mo.gov/4A4.

Join the Missouri Birding Challenge

Register in April to participate in the 2026 Missouri Birding Challenge (MBC) May 1–22.

MBC participants will compete alone or in teams in five categories based on age, birding location, or experience. Birders will use eBird (eBird.org) to record their lists of birds identified in public natural areas around the state or even in their own backyards. 

There is a fee of $15 per person, or $10 per team in the youth Fledgling category. Fees are collected by MBC partner Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation and contribute to migratory bird conservation efforts and projects. Registration fees were reduced from last year based on participant feedback. A new Big Day category will challenge registrants to record as many bird species as possible in the 24 hours of World Migratory Bird Day on May 9.

Once participants complete a category and submit their team’s mandatory eBird report, they will be entered into a drawing for fun, bird-related prizes, such as binoculars and gift cards.

Thanks to the Missouri Birding Society, Columbia Audubon, and the Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City for sponsoring the 2026 MBC. 

Learn more about the 2026 MBC and register between April 1–30 at mdc.mo.gov/MObirdingchallenge.

Get Outdoors this Spring

Spring in Missouri is magical. Days get longer and warmer. Woods come alive with budding trees and shrubs. Dainty wildflowers spring from the earth. Peepers are peeping, turkeys are scratching, coyotes are calling, owls are hooting, and birds are singing. This is the time of year to get outside and discover nature through hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, birding, camping, kayaking, canoeing, and other outdoor adventures. Through MDC’s website, you can find things to do (short.mdc.mo.gov/45Z) and places to go (short.mdc.mo.gov/Z9o) this spring to soak up all the magic.

New MDC Booklets Available 

Missouri hunters, trappers, anglers, and others can get free copies of MDC’s updated booklets on spring turkey hunting, hunting and trapping, and fishing at MDC regional offices, MDC nature centers, and other places permits are sold. The Wildlife Code of Missouri is available in limited quantities at MDC offices or online at short.mdc.mo.gov/oij. These handy booklets have information on related permits, seasons, species, regulations, limits, conservation areas, sunrise and sunset tables, and more.

Get booklet information online at the links below:

2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information: short.mdc.mo.gov/44t

A Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations: short.mdc.mo.gov/44v

A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations: short.mdc.mo.gov/4gy

Wildlife Code of Missouri: short.mdc.mo.gov/oij

Seasoning the Turkey:

1½ cups cooked turkey, diced

1½ teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper

Assembling the Dish:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3 eggs, slightly beaten and seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 strips thick bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces

3 green onions, whites chopped and greens reserved

1 large slice (about ¼-inch thick) peeled fresh ginger root, minced

1 large garlic clove, minced

1½ cups fresh mung-bean sprouts

1 carrot, slices cut diagonally and then in thirds

1 medium sweet red pepper, sliced and cut diagonally

4 tablespoons peanut (or vegetable) oil

1 tablespoon salt

5 cups cold rice (see cold rice for good results*)

1 tablespoon (or more) soy sauce

Freshly ground black pepper

Place diced turkey in a small bowl and season with soy sauce, oil, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate while preparing the eggs and vegetables.

Assemble all ingredients within easy reach of wok.

Set wok over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil; when the oil is hot and shimmering, add eggs and scramble until well done. Remove and set aside.

Clean wok with paper towel and heat again. Add bacon, stirring often until browned, but not crisp. Remove, drain on paper towel, and set aside. Drain all but a tablespoon of grease from the wok.

Add green onion whites, ginger, and garlic, stirring quickly and constantly. Add turkey and stir again. Add bean sprouts, carrot, and red pepper. Cook about 2 minutes, being careful not to overcook. Vegetables should be cooked but still firm and a little crunchy. Remove all from wok into a bowl.

Return wok to heat and add peanut oil until hot. Add salt and then rice. Stir fry about 3 minutes to heat and coat rice evenly. Add soy sauce and black pepper and stir. Add eggs, meats, and vegetables, and stir well to combine. 

Turn onto platter and top with green onion greens.

*Cold Rice for Good Results

Rice must be cold for this dish to be successful. It can be cooked a day in advance and refrigerated. Freshly cooked rice, if used, will turn to mush when fried.

This recipe is from Cooking Wild in Missouriby Bernadette Dryden, available for $16 at most MDC nature centers and online at mdcnatureshop.com.