Help celebrate Springfield Nature Center's 30th anniversary

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The first weekend of October will be a time to celebrate at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Special events are planned Oct. 5, 6, and 7 as the Nature Center celebrates its 30th anniversary. The Springfield Conservation Nature Center is located in southeast Springfield at 4601 S. Nature Center Way.

Events for this special weekend include:

• Friday, Oct. 5: 5-9 p.m. – open house; 7-9 p.m. – Local musician and accomplished birder Bo Brown will combine his love of the outdoors and music in the program “Nature And The Arts: Songs and Birds.”
• Saturday, Oct. 6: 9 a.m.-noon – People can get advice on their photography skills at a Nature Photography Basics program. People going to the program are asked to bring their own cameras because part of the program will involve taking photos along the Nature Center’s trails. Also on Oct. 6, trail hikes guided by MDC naturalists will occur 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 7: People can learn more about the skills one needed to survive in pre-settlement Missouri at Primitive Skills Day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There is no registration for the Primitive Skills program, but registration is required for the Nature And The Arts bird program and the Saturday nature photography program. Register for these programs by going to mdc.mo.gov/SouthwestEvents.

Since the Springfield Conservation Nature Center opened its doors to the public on Oct. 7, 1988, nearly 2.8 million people have visited the facility to learn about conservation and to discover nature. More than six million visitors have walked the nearly three miles of trails that meander through a variety of habitats on the 79-acre area.

For more information about these or other events at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, call 417-888-4237.