Click to learn more about these seasonal topics:
Poison Ivy ~ Hummingbirds ~ Keeping Wildlife Wild
Spiders ~ Eagles ~ Be Bear Aware ~ Fishing ~ Birding
Groundhogs ~ Maple Sugaring ~ Vultures
Morel Mushrooms ~Spring Trees ~ Stream Teams
Participants with disabilities should email the instructor when registering to discuss accommodations needed to participate. Support staff are usually allowed to attend to provide assistance, but instructors need prior notice.
Missouri Department of Conservation offers FREE nature classes for outdoor lovers of all ages and abilities. Registration is required for most classes unless indicated. Click on the BLUE text for each class. MDC’s Free Classes & Programs Sign up for email or text alerts to stay informed of MDC’s latest programs and events here: Sign Up for MDC News.
Stroller Hike
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 10:00 AM-11:30AM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Join us for our monthly stroll along the trails of Powder Valley to enjoy the seasonal wonders of nature.
MTC Hike – Resident Birds & Marsh Animals
Date/Time: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 7:30 AM-12:30PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area
Join us for an early morning 5-mile hike at the Marais Temps Clair (MTC) Conservation Area.
Story Time and Animal Encounter
Date/Time: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 9:30 AM-10:30AM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Join a naturalist at Powder Valley for an interactive story time!
Needle Felting: Songbirds
Date/Time: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 2:00 PM-4:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Start your summer off right by learning a new crafty hobby! Needle felting is the art of sculpting with wool fibers to create 3D figures. You will be creating a needle felted bird while learning about some of Missouri’s beautiful songbirds.
Hiking: Full Strawberry Moon at the Confluence
Date/Time: Sunday, June 8, 2025, 5:45 PM-7:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Stroll on a wooded path in the late evening to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to catch the rising of the full Strawberry Moon. Along the path, notice how the rustling of the cottonwood leaves in the breeze sound like rippling, flowing water.
Dutch Oven Cooking
Date/Time: Monday, June 9, 2025, 5:00 PM-7:30PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
Cooking outdoors is a great compliment to many other outdoor activities. Whether you are camping, fishing, hunting, or enjoying your backyard, this program will add another element to your outdoor experience.
Conservation Kids: Slither, Crawl, or Hop?
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 10:00 AM-11:00AM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Explore how amphibians and reptiles move. Do they feel the same? How are they different? We will explore and touch real live critters today before we walk to the pond to look for tadpoles.
Nature Book Club
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 1:30 PM-3:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
The book that will be covered this month is Letters to a Young Scientist, by Edward O. Wilson. Pulitzer Prize–winning biologist Edward O. Wilson imparts the wisdom of his storied career to the next generation.
Nature’s Night Shift: Nocturnal Pollinators
Date/Time: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:00 PM-7:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: MDC Virtual Nature Center
This year during National Pollinator Week, you may be thinking of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, but did you know that there’s an entire night crew of pollinators that takes over the job between sunset and sunrise?
MDC and Maramec Spring Park honors veterans with Free Fishing Day June 14
St. JAMES, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) joins the James Foundation in honoring our veterans with a Veterans’ Free Fishing Day Saturday, June 14 at Maramec Spring Park. MDC and Maramec Spring Trout Park invite veterans from all armed forces to enjoy a relaxing day of trout fishing in the cool waters of Maramec Spring. The park will open at 5:30 a.m. and the Veterans’ Free Fishing Day event will be held from 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. A special section is reserved exclusively for veterans and their families. The park and stream bank are ADA accessible to allow for easy access. All trout tags and parking fees will be waived for veterans for this special event. Veterans can pick up their free trout tags the day of the event at the Mill Field shelter. All others can obtain daily trout tags at regular price from the James Foundation store. MDC will conduct a special stocking in the reserved area for this occasion that will include multiple lunkers. 50 tagged fish will be stocked that can be redeemed for prizes. There will also be a raffle for additional giveaways. Veterans and their families can enjoy free food, provided and cooked by Ian Huff. Other Veterans’ Free Fishing Day sponsors include Project Healing Waters, Hooked on Vets, Missouri Trout Fishermen’s Association, Daughters of the American Revolution, Ballwin VFW, T. Hargrove Fly Fishing, and the Ballwin Auxiliary. For more information, contact Veterans of Foreign Wars representatives Dominick Delia at 314-280-7014, or AJ Evans at 573-631-7550. Maramec Spring Park, owned and operated by The James Foundation, is home to Missouri’s fifth largest spring. It is located on Highway 8 about six miles east of St. James, approximately and hour and a half from the St. Louis area. Find this and other MDC media releases in our MDC Online Newsroom.
Needle Felting: Songbirds
Date/Time: Friday, June 20, 2025, 2:00 PM-4:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Start your summer off right by learning a new crafty hobby! Needle felting is the art of sculpting with wool fibers to create 3D figures. You will be creating a needle felted bird while learning about some of Missouri’s beautiful songbirds.
Wildlife Identification (virtual)
Date/Time: Monday, June 23, 2025, 5:30 PM-7:30PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: MDC Virtual Nature Center
Would you like to learn about identifying wildlife based on their pelt, tracks and skulls? If so, this is the class for you!
Powder Valley at Dusk
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 7:00 PM-8:30PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
During the summer dusk is when the natural world comes alive. We will look and listen for iconic summer creatures like frogs, owls, and more!
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FISHING & HUNTING
Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here at Busch Memorial Conservation Area
Date/Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here at Forest Park Hatchery
This first class includes instruction as well as hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families basic fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn parts of a fishing pole, how to properly and safely cast a spincast fishing pole, how to fasten basic fishing tackle, and how to properly handle and release a fish. All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen. This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult. All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family. To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account.
Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 2
Date/Time: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here for Forest Park Hatchery
Date/Time: Saturday, June 14, 2025, 9:00 AM-11:00AM
Registration: Register Here for Suson Park – Rearing Pond
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here for Suson Park – Rearing Pond
*Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 is required before attending this program* Participants will learn intermediate fishing techniques and skills. Participants will be taught how to tie an improved clinch knot and how to properly secure a variety of baits to various types of hooks. All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen. This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult. All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family. To register your child, you may need to make a family account, or add them to an existing family account.
Fishing Lessons 3 & 4: Intro to Pond Life and Fishing with Lures
Date/Time: Saturday, June 21, 2025, 9:00 AM-11:00AM
Registration: Register Here at Suson Park – Rearing Pond
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here at Busch Memorial Conservation Area
*Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 is required before attending this program* Lesson 3: Participants will learn about aquatic habitats, food webs, and the basic biology of common Missouri fish species. Lesson 4: Participants will learn about various fishing lures techniques, as well as identify and understand Missouri fishing regulations. All fishing gear will be provided by the instructors. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. It is recommended that participants bring sunglasses, a water bottle, and sunscreen. This class is for Children and Families of all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult. All participants who complete all 4 Discover Nature Fishing Lessons will go home with a free fishing reward to encourage fishing with the family.
Fishing Basics
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:00 AM-12:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Shaw Nature Reserve
Participants will learn how to properly and safely cast a spincast fishing rod, parts of a fishing rod, basic fishing tackle and how to properly handle and release a fish. Fishing equipment and bait will be provided.
Free Fishing Days
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025 9:00 am – Saturday, June 7, 2025 11:00 am
Location: Bellefontaine Conservation Area – Bellefontaine Conservation Area – Register Here
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025 9:00 am – Saturday, June 7, 2025 11:00 am
Location: Forest Park Hatchery – Forest Park Register Here
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025 9:00 am – Saturday, June 7, 2025 11:00 am
Location: Suson Park – Rearing Pond – Suson Park Register Here
Fishing is a great way to spend time outdoors! Following a short lesson on the basics of fishing, participants will have the opportunity to test out their new skills and to see who can catch the most fish. All fishing gear and bait will be provided. Please wear clothing and close-toed shoes suitable for outdoor and water activities. This is a catch and release event. No fishing permits are required to participate. This event is for anglers of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register all attendees individually. To register your child, you may need to make a family account or add them to an existing family account. You can also make your child their own, separate account.
Hunting and Shooting Sports
Shotgun
Intro to 5-Stand/Sporting Clays
Date/Time: Monday, June 2, 2025, 5:30 PM-7:30PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
If you are looking for a new challenge in the world of clay target shooting, join us to learn how to shoot the fun game of 5-Stand. This is an intermediate level course for shooters that have some experience shooting the game of Trap or Skeet.
Shotgun
Introduction to Shotgun
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 5:00 PM-7:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
This program will teach the fundamentals of shotgun shooting.
.22 shoot
Date/Time: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 8:00 AM-9:30AM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
This program is designed as a basic course to provide families an opportunity to become familiar with shooting. We will provide .22 caliber handguns and rifles and ammunition for them to shoot. There will be a short class covering safety, parts of a firearm, and fundamentals of marksmanship.
Family Archery
Date/Time: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 8:00 AM-9:30AM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
We will teach archery and practice the basics of the sport. This will help perfect your stance to shoot more consistently and accurately.
MSR – Modern Sporting Rifles
Date/Time: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
The Basics of the Modern Sporting Rifle course is designed to provide beginners a hands-on introduction to the safe handling and proper orientation to modern sporting rifle shooting. This course includes classroom and range time.
Women’s Basic Shotgun
Date/Time: Monday, June 16, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
This program includes shotgun safety, operation, shooting fundamentals, maintenance, and safe storage.
Women’s Basic Handgun
Date/Time: Monday, June 23, 2025, 6:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
This program includes handgun safety, operation, shooting fundamentals, maintenance, and safe storage.
Introduction to Handgun
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 5:00 PM-8:00PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
This program will cover what to do to get started shooting handguns. We will cover handgun fundamentals, including handgun actions, operation, safety, shooting techniques.
Youth .22 Rimfire Rifle
Date/Time: Saturday, June 28, 2025, 8:00 AM-9:30PM
Registration: Register Here!
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
This program includes rifle safety, operation, shooting fundamentals, maintenance, and safe storage
Black Bears in Missouri and How to Be Bear Aware
It seems black bears are making the news in the St. Louis region each spring as they are beginning to show up more and more in the area. Since bears are becoming a more common part of the Missouri landscape, especially if travelling to the southern parts of the state, it makes sense to learn more about them. Stay safe in bear country, and keep our bears wild. mdc.mo.gov/bearaware
