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Xplor reconnects kids to nature and helps them find adventure in their own backyard. Free to residents of Missouri.
A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
ST. CHARLES, Mo.—– You can call them water filters, or flood buffers, but many unique plants and animals call wetlands home. On April 7, you’ll definitely call them fun.
The annual Wetlands for Kids Day celebration is set for Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. Wetlands for Kids Day is hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Ducks Unlimited (DU). The event, supported by grants from Enterprise Foundation and Purina Pro Plan, is free for both kids and adults.
Wetlands for Kids Day is designed to help families have fun discovering nature while also learning about the importance of these vital habitats in Missouri.
Activities will include more than 20 education stations where visitors can learn about wetland wildlife firsthand. There will be a chance to see live birds of prey, courtesy of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Raptor Rehabilitation. A live reptile and amphibian station will provide a close-up look at these wetland inhabitants. Kids can explore the Duck Wing Maze while learning to identify ducks by wings and plumage along the way. They can also crawl through a simulated beaver den.
Retriever demonstrations are popular with visitors who enjoy watching the dogs perform. Other stations include fish tasting, DU Laser Shot, and a rod-and-reel casting station for the little ones. The Discover Nature—Fishing program will also offer a fishing opportunity on Lake 15.
Each child who attends gets a free subscription to the MDC Xplor: Adventures in Nature magazine for kids. They will also receive a DU Greenwing membership and a subscription to Greenwing magazine.
In keeping with its watery theme, Wetlands for Kids Day will be held rain or shine. Participants are encouraged to come no matter the weather as there will be activities both indoors and out. Food will also be available for purchase during the event.
To learn more about Wetlands for Kids Day on April 7, call 636-441-4554. The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is located in St. Charles on Highway D, about two miles west of Highway 94. For more information on other upcoming events, go to https://goo.gl/VFvW6T.
