MDC offers fresh air adventures Nov. 25 in the Kansas City area

Kansas City, Mo. – Add some outdoors to the Thanksgiving weekend with free programs offered by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) on Saturday, Nov. 25. The Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoyed breathing fresh air and contact with nature when they initiated the holiday. You can, too.

• Enjoy Nature Play at Sycamore Station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave., in Kansas City. Sycamore Station is an outdoor natural play area for children with giant logs and boulders to climb on and smaller logs to build with. MDC staff will have some special stations set up for this event. Visitors of all ages are welcome to build a stick hideaway, snuggle with furs, roast a marshmallow, rattle animal bones, and play with shells. Registration is not required.
• Relieve stress with at Nature Rx: Sensory Stroll from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road, in Blue Springs. Lisa Richter, MDC naturalist, will lead the stroll and help participants learn to use all their senses to heighten awareness of nature’s sights, smells, sounds, and textures. Immersion in nature has been proven to reduce stress, boost immunity, improve sleep, and provide other health benefits. Registration is required. To register, visit http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZAn.

Keep both MDC locations in mind as good places to hike during the holidays. Information about Burr Oak Woods is available at  https://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods, and learn about Discovery Center at https://mdc.mo.gov/discoverycenter.