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 by going to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZoP.

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. 

FISHING ~ EAGLES IN MO ~ Be BEAR Aware

Hiking: How to Pack for a Hike

Date/Time: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 1:30PM-2:30PM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here
From Day hikes to multiday treks, what you pack has a huge impact on the enjoyment of the hike. Join a naturalist to learn what are the best items to bring for a hike.

One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Fish?

Date/Time: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 11AM-12PM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here
All too often anglers catch a fish only to ask, “what is this?” This program aims to teach anglers the difference between common Missouri game and non-game fish species. After this lesson you will be person everyone asks, “what is this?”

Native Missouri Plants in Your Garden – virtual class

Date: Sept. 17 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Location: Online Only – Register Here
Join MDC Naturalist Jordanya Raos to learn about native plants and garden designs that will work around the home. This program is open to all ages.

Insects: Let’s Tag Some Monarchs!

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 9AM-12PM
Location: Weldon Springs Site Interpretive Center
Registration Not Needed – Information
Monarch butterflies will be migrating through our area soon! Drop by between 9 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and become a citizen scientist. Learn about Monarch ID, behavior, migration, proper netting techniques, and hopefully, help tag a few Monarchs to help track their Southern flight to near Mexico City. Bring your own Butterfly net, if you have one. We will have nets available for use and the Monarch tags will be provided. We will meet in the native plant garden behind the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center at 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304. No Reservations are necessary.

Nature’s Night Shift Creatures: Owls

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 9AM-1PM
Location: Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Registration: Full-Join Waiting List HERE
Who can see in the dark and sail silently through the air as they search for food?? Owls, that whooo! Owls are more often heard than seen, but they are not the only members of Nature’s Night Shift that spend most of their life under the cover of darkness. Special adaptations make it possible for other types of birds, insects, and even some plants to live and thrive in the dark. Learn about some of the special characteristics that make this possible.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Snake Encounter

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 11AM-11:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration Not Needed – Information
Come meet one of the ambassador snakes who call Powder Valley home. Learn all about that species and hear about its journey of coming to live at the Nature Center. After the snake encounter, spend time enjoying the rest of the exhibits! An MDC naturalist and ambassador snake will be located inside the Nature Center lobby.

Fall Birdwatching Hike

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 8:30AM-10AM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here
Fall at Rockwoods Reservation is peak season for birding. We will walk the forest edge to the Rock Quarry Trail, observing birds by sight and sound. We are likely to find vireos, warblers and many more species. The hike is 2 miles long on a trail mostly covered in gravel or mulch. There are two fairly steep stairways going up the foothill and three going down, with a mostly flat trail along the ridge.

Insects: Let’s Tag Some Monarchs!

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 9AM-12PM
Location: Weldon Springs Site Interpretive Center
Registration Not Needed – Information
Monarch butterflies will be migrating through our area soon! Drop by between 9 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and become a citizen scientist. Learn about Monarch ID, behavior, migration, proper netting techniques, and hopefully, help tag a few Monarchs to help track their Southern flight to near Mexico City. Bring your own Butterfly net, if you have one. We will have nets available for use and the Monarch tags will be provided. We will meet in the native plant garden behind the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center at 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304. No Reservations are necessary.

Nature Explorers: After School Birding Club

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 4PM-5PM
Location: Tower Grove Park- Stone Shelter
Registration: Register Here
Is your child in 3rd – 5th grade and interested in nature? If so, join us at Nature Explorers After School Club! This month we’re going birding! We’ll learn useful tips on how to identify birds, and how to use a field guide and binoculars. Then we’ll take a short walk to the Robert and Martha Gaddy Wild Bird Garden to practice our birding skills!

You and Me Under the Canopy: Almost Fall Y’all!

Date/Time: Thursday, September 19, 2024 10:30AM-11:30AM
Location: Tower Grove Park- New Comfort Station
Registration: Register Here
Do your little ones enjoy being in nature? Appreciate the natural world through a story, songs, movement, and play as you sit under the canopy for a “nature” adventure. Come see the topic we are exploring this month. Younger children and siblings are welcome. Meet the naturalist at the West End Picnic Site. Please dress for the weather.

Habitat Management for First Time Homeowners

Date/Time: Thursday, September 19, 2024 7PM-8PM
Location: Online
Registration: Register Here
First time homeowner or simply need a refresher? Join us for a virtual program on habitat management presented by MDC Wildlife Biologist Assistant Miranda Wilkinson. Learn important “how-to’s” for combating common invasive species removal like bush honeysuckle and wintercreeper. Hear about the importance of planting natives in your yard, and how that can make a difference to native pollinators in your area. Miranda will also have resources to further your learning on habitat management, such as information on prescribed burn workshops and native plant sales near you.

Hiking: Golden Hour Hike

Date/Time: Friday, September 20, 2024, 5:30PM-6:30PM
Location: Emmenegger Nature Park
Registration: Register Here
Join us on a gorgeous, glowy hike at Emmenegger Nature Park. Golden hour is known for producing warm toned lighting, perfect for photographers or individuals looking for the best selfie to post online. Take a hike that meanders through the forest and up onto a glade-y bluff overlooking parts of the city. This hike will take place on the Bluff Creek trail on the long loop, which measures to be about 2 miles long.

Insects: Let’s Tag Some Monarchs!

Date/Time: Friday, September 20, 2024, 9AM-12PM
Location: Weldon Springs Site Interpretive Center
Registration Not Needed – Information
Monarch butterflies will be migrating through our area soon! Drop by between 9 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and become a citizen scientist. Learn about Monarch ID, behavior, migration, proper netting techniques, and hopefully, help tag a few Monarchs to help track their Southern flight to near Mexico City. Bring your own Butterfly net, if you have one. We will have nets available for use and the Monarch tags will be provided. We will meet in the native plant garden behind the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center at 7295 Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304. No Reservations are necessary.

Nature Journaling for Families

Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10AM-11AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here
Join an MDC Naturalist in Powder Valley Classrooms C & D to learn about how your family can incorporate nature journaling into your hikes. Hear about how this simple activity can help your kiddos connect more with nature and make hikes more enjoyable, then take a guided stroll to practice some family nature journaling activities on our Tanglevine Trail (about .25 miles long). This trail is completely paved and decently flat, making for a great walk for those pushing strollers. All participants will be provided with journals and coloring/writing tools. Please wear good walking shoes, bring water, and dress for the weather. Please make sure to register all members of your group, including children, so that our naturalist can gather the right number of materials necessary.

Beginning Archery

Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10AM-12PM
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
Registration: FULL – Join Waiting List
This program will teach the fundamentals of archery including equipment, safety, stance, and shooting techniques. This event will take place on the static archery range. All equipment will be provided.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Feeding Frenzy

Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, 2024, 12:00PM-12:30PM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration Not Needed – Information
Get an up-close look at the fascinating feeding habits of some of our display ambassador animals! Watch as one of the nature center naturalists feeds our alligator snapping turtle and discover how they take care of some of the unique critters in the building by asking questions during an open Q & A. Open to all ages. No registration required. Meet in the Powder Valley Nature Center lobby.

Conservation Matinee: Butterfly Effect- Monarchs

Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, 2024, 1PM-1:30PM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration Not Needed – Information
Why are monarch butterflies disappearing? You may know them for their amazing transcontinental migration, but over the past few decades, monarch butterflies have been part of a vanishing act that has scientists worried. Conservation biologists Ashley Fisher and Isis Howard show us what it takes to track monarch butterfly populations at one of their favorite overwintering spots. Join our host and museum curator Jessica Ware, Ph.D. for a close look at this iconic insect, its incredible lifecycle, and its multigenerational migration. Then, follow scientists who are working at a monarch butterfly roosting site in the western U.S. to figure out what’s behind the monarch butterfly population plunge. The series is produced for PBS by the American Museum of Natural History. Runtime is 11 minutes and 45 seconds.

Wild About Nature Festival

Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit
FEE: $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12.  Admission for Missouri Botanical Garden members is $5, and their children are free.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at shawnature.org\events.

If you’re wild about nature and the great outdoors, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Shaw Nature Reserve are hosting the ideal event for you and the whole family. Wild about Nature Festival is a family event happening at .  It’s a day of exploring nature and hands-on outdoor activities for nature lovers of all ages.  There will also be opportunities to meet and talk with conservation and nature experts and organizations. Have you ever wanted to try fishing?  Wild about Nature includes multiple fishing activities that will engage both adults and children, from fly tying, backyard bass fishing, to a chance to see—and catch— live fish. There’ll even be the opportunity to go fishing at Cypress Lake. If you’re archery-curious, the event also features opportunities to shoot a bow and arrow, as well as peewee archery for the kids.  Adventurous sorts will appreciate a go at kayaking and hiking, while those wanting to commune with nature will want to explore yoga and forest bathing. Educational stations cover topics ranging from reptiles and amphibians, to mammals, to wildflowers and native gardening—plus water critter explorations with Missouri Stream Team.  There will even be a chance to meet and greet MDC’s K-9 agent, Bertie. Other conservation partners on hand will include the World Bird Sanctuary bringing live feathered friends, the Endangered Wolf Center, and the Missouri Disabled Sportsman Club. Food vendors Yonder Eats and Stacked Coffee House will also be present. Shaw Nature Reserve is in Gray Summit at 307 Pinetum Loop Road, on the south side of I-44 off exit #253.  As Wild about Nature takes place outdoors, participants should come dressed for the weather.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Snake Encounter

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 11AM-11:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration Not Needed – Information
Come meet one of the ambassador snakes who call Powder Valley home. Learn all about that species and hear about its journey of coming to live at the Nature Center. After the snake encounter, spend time enjoying the rest of the exhibits! An MDC naturalist and ambassador snake will be located inside the Nature Center lobby.

The Marvels of Biomimicry- Part 2

Date/Time: Thursday, September 26, 2024 5:30PM-6:15PM
Location: Online
Registration:Register Here
Join us again virtually to learn about biomimicry! Biomimicry is all around us, from the way we clasp our shoes to how our coats keep us warm in the winter. Humans take inspiration from nature to make technology and designs more effective. We’ll explore even more examples of biomimicry throughout history and how scientists today are still studying nature’s remarkable features to create new and efficient designs for the future.

Hummingbirds

Date: Sept. 27 from 1-2pm
Location: Virtual – Register Here
Learn how to attract these fascinating birds to your backyard. Hummingbirds fascinate humans for a variety of reasons. The way these tiny birds hover at feeders and dart back and forth makes them a favorite of many people. People interested in learning more about these birds that charm and captivate us should sign up for the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) virtual program “Birds: Hummingbirds.” This free virtual program, which is being put on by the staff of MDC’s Twin Pines Conservation Education Center, will be Sept. 27 from 1-2 p.m. At this program, MDC Naturalist Wendy Lott will describe these birds’ interesting life cycles and how people can attract them to their yards. She will also discuss why this time of year is a good time to see hummingbirds because large numbers are migrating through this area. This program will not be recorded.

LaBarque Creek Hike

Date/Time: Saturday, September 28, 2024, 9AM-12PM
Location: LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
Registration: Register Here
Join us for a 3-mile hike thru the forests of the LaBarque Creek Conservation Area.
This area is known for its unique natural beauty and undisturbed habitat.

MDC Learn to Kayak Class

Oct 2 from 10am-12noon at Creve Coeur Lake. This class for beginners will teach about paddling equipment, paddling safety, and how to paddle a kayak on a lake. All equipment is provided. The Basic Kayaking classes are FREE, however online registration is required. Paddlers with disabilities should email the instructor when registering to discuss accommodations needed to participate. More free MDC classes HERE

• Full: Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. – noon:  Join Waiting List
• Full: Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 1 – 3 p.m.: Join Waiting List

 

Bird ID for Beginners

Date: Wednesday, October 2
Location: Rockwoods Reservation, 2751 Glencoe Road, off Highway 109 between I-44 and Highway 100
Register HERE

There may be more than 400 bird species found in Missouri, but learning a handful of basic characteristics can help a beginning birder get to know a significant number of them quickly. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is holding Bird ID for Beginners program Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 10 – 11 a.m. at Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood.  The event is free and open to those age 15 years and older. Participants will discover the various feathered visitors they’re likely to encounter in the Show-Me-State throughout the year. This program reviews more 20 common Missouri birds, their physical characteristics, and what foods attract them.  Participants will learn how noting traits like size, shape, color patterns, behavior, and habitat are key to nailing a bird ID.  The class will also learn tips on how to create a bird-friendly environment that will bring in birds to their backyards.

Women in the Wilderness

Date: Saturday, Oct. 26 from 8:30am-3pm.
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Registration: FULL – Join Waiting List
The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is presenting a program designed by women for women who are curious about the outdoors. The event is open exclusively to women ages 18 and up. Participants will learn about and experience a variety of outdoor skills including birding, archery, and outdoor cooking while creating friendships with other likeminded women and spend a day enjoying what wild Missouri has to offer. Registration is required.

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Fishing Programs

Discover Nature Fishing- Lesson 1: Equipment, Casting & Proper Fish Handling

Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, 2024, 9AM-11AM
Location: Suson Park- Rearing Pond
Registration: Register Here
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.

Discover Nature Fishing- Lesson 2: How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook

Saturday, September 28, 2024, 9AM-11AM at Suson Park- Rearing Pond, Register Here

*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.

Discover Nature Fishing- Lessons 3 and 4: Intro to Pond Life and Fishing with Lures

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 9AM-11AM at Suson Park, FULL – Information
Thursday, September 19, 2024, 6PM-8PM at Forest Park Hatchery, Register Here
*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.

Fishing Knots: Beginner to Advanced

Date/Time: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 9AM-10AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here
Fishing knots are key to any angler’s success. It is important that all anglers learn the most reliable and proven knots. In this hands-on lesson, you will learn how to tie the best fishing knots.

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Hunting

• Deer Hunting: Virtual Deer Hunting 101: Sept. 25, from 6 – 8 p.m., virtual/online only. Register
• Hunter Education Skills Session: Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. Register

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Eagles

Eagles of Missouri:

Learn more about bald eagles in Missouri from the MDC online Field Guide at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/bald-eagle.

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