Events

Welcome Summertime with a guided public tour of the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery! Join a Naturalist to learn the difference between the Rainbow and Brown Trout raised at the hatchery, then visit the raceways and discover the amazing trout-raising process! And for just a quarter, you can feed the fish, too! Tours will meet at the large trout aquarium inside the Conservation Education Center.

Tours will be held four times daily at 10am, 11am, 1pm, and 2pm on Tuesdays through Fridays, beginning May 26th and continuing through Friday, September 4th. (The Hatchery will be closed for state holidays on June 19th and July 4th.)

All ages are invited, and no registration is required. For questions, call us at 417-334-4865 ext. 0, or email Shepherd@mdc.mo.gov.

Gloria Gaus is a Missouri landscape painter whose plein air and studio oil paintings follow the seasons across the state’s rivers, wetlands, and open prairies. Her collection of Missouri landscapes is on display through August 28. 

Nature printmaking is the art of creating lifelike images on paper or fabric with found objects from nature. MDC Naturalist Pat Whalen exhibits nature prints from his personal work and programs he presents at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. His prints will be on display in the west wing hallway through August. 

View Greg Renner's personal collection of antique duck decoys made in Missouri.

Look for book pages posted along Runge’s Naturescape trail and enjoy a seasonal children’s book as you walk and explore. Book begins at the trailhead across from the parking lot.

Visit Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center's Art Gallery this month to view the work of artist Wiley Longmire.

Wiley is a landscape artist, a graduate of Kirkwood High School in May 1974, and earned his associate's degree in art from St. Louis Community College in May 1984.

His specialty consists of watercolor paintings of forests and rivers, mostly in St. Louis and rural eastern Missouri. He also loves to paint from various locations in the Midwest USA.

Discover what’s for dinner at Burr Oak Woods as the nature center’s amphibians, fish, and turtles enjoy their feast every Tuesday and Friday. The snakes are fed on the second and fourth Wednesday (August 12 & 26).

Explore the east end of Tower Grove Park on nature scavenger hunt! We’ll meet at the Stupp Center, then begin a short walk to discover some of the plants and animals that call Missouri home. We’ll conclude at the Headwaters of the East Stream (Nee Kee Nee), where participants are welcome to play in the water to cool off!

This program is intended for children 3-7 years old, but children of all ages are welcome to attend!

Please register each participant individually.

Pond Management 101, Summer 2026

Save your spot! Registration is required for attendance!

Ever wanted to learn about pond ecosystems or aquatic system management in the Midwest? Well here is a great opportunity to learn from your local MDC Fisheries experts.

Target audience of the presentation is private pond owners, HOA aquatic resource managers, and public service providers. However everyone from the public is welcome to the join, however minors under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by an adult.

Topics will range widely from:

- Pond site selection

- Pond infrastructure management

- Water quality considerations

- Fish population dynamics

- Aquatic plant ID and control recommendations

- AND MORE!!!

Attendees of all ages are welcome; however, minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal adult or guardian to attend this workshop.

Light refreshments will be provided for registered attendees.

Please contact the office or this email with any pressing questions prior to the class.

Nature’s Needlers is a monthly series pairing professional presentations with take-home quilt block patterns that match the featured topic. The 2026 theme is “Nocturnal Nature”, and August focuses on the beautiful and fragrant evening primrose. Participants must attend to receive the pattern.