MDC hosted Family Outdoors Day on Sept. 28 in Lee's Summit

Kansas City, Mo. – Mother Nature held back the rain and cloaked the lakes and fields in mist as families enjoyed fishing and other outdoor skills at Family Outdoors Day on Sept. 28. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) hosted the event at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Lee’s Summit. Partners and co-hosts for the event were Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Nathan’s Catch, a non-profit devoted to fishing.

DU volunteers signed up children for free Greenwing memberships. Retriever dogs demonstrated their skills. Visitors identified duck species in a duck wing maze. The group’s volunteers also helped youths learn how to cast practice lures with a fishing rod and reel.

 The casting lessons paid off when families tried fishing at Nell Lake. MDC provided rods, reels and earthworms for bait. The bobbers were bobbing as the cool, overcast weather kept the bluegill active and biting. Parents and grandparents helped children reel in fish. MDC staff and volunteers were on hand to help. Nathan’s Catch provided free fishing rods or tackle boxes to youngsters.

Visitors also visited nature displays and tried out skills such as target archery, target pellet gun shooting, and throwing atlatl darts. Boy Scouts served free hot dogs and drinks. The free event was MDC and DU’s way of celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day. DU’s efforts are supported by the J.E. Fehsenfeld Family Foundation in memory of Jan M. Dillow.

For more information about connecting with nature in Missouri’s scenic outdoors, visit http://www.mdc.mo.gov.