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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.— Are you interested in knowing what is going on at the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Runge Conservation Nature Center? Now you can get a text so you don't miss out on any events. Runge Nature Center is adding text alerts as another way mid-Missourians can learn about and participate in programs and events at the center. By texting the word "MDC Runge" to 468311, subscribers will receive up to 6 texts a month to remind them of free events at the Nature Center.
"Often times, we hear from people that they wanted to attend an event but forgot about it, or didn't know it was happening," said Runge Nature Center Manager Kathy Cavender. "This is another way we can connect with mid-Missourians and make sure they don't miss an opportunity to discover nature with us."
There is something for everyone at Runge Nature Center. The center's many free public programs, workshops and special events welcome all ages and sizes of groups.
Runge Nature Center occupies 112 acres and includes a 27,000 square-foot nature center building. Inside you will find a 200-seat auditorium, three classrooms, an indoor wildlife viewing area, a nature library, various animal mounts including the world-record, non-typical deer antlers that came from a Missouri deer, and a small gift shop stocked with a selection of books, videos and nature-related items. Visitors can explore more than 3,000 square feet of exhibits that lead a person through an assortment of Missouri's natural habitats and learn about how MDC manages them for forest, fish and wildlife resources. Featured in the exhibit area are a 3,580-gallon freshwater aquarium, live amphibians and reptiles, hands-on activities for children and much more.
Venture outside to explore the five different hiking trails that wind through savanna, prairie, marsh, wetland, and woodland habitats. Wild turkeys and white-tailed deer are often spotted along the trails.
Runge Nature Center also has a newsletter, Habitat Happenings, which is emailed every other month. To sign up to receive the newsletter, visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MODC/subscribers/new
Runge Nature Center is located on Hwy 179 in Jefferson City approximately .5 mile north of Hwy 50. Building hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. The building is closed on Sunday and Monday. The outdoor trails are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
