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
Frogging ~ Collared Lizards

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.

Nature Programs

Knot Tying and Paracord Sling Craft

MDC is hosting two free public programs at Rockwoods Reservation on Friday, Dec. 5 that focus on working with paracord.  Both events are free and open to ages 15 years and up.  Participants can attend either one or both programs. Rockwoods Reservation is located at 2751 Glencoe Road, off Highway 109 between I-44 and Highway 100. Free, but Registration is required for each program separately at the links provided below:

• Introduction to Knot Tying; 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Register at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ook.
  • Can’t tie a knot so you tie a lot? This course is designed to show you how to tie the 10 most basic knots for the outdoors. Participants will learn about each knot and see how they can be used in the field. There will also be chances for hands-on practice.
• Paracord Rifle Sling for the Holidays; 1 – 4 p.m.
  • Register at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ooZ.
  • Looking for that perfect gift for the hunter in your life this holiday season? Learn how to make a 40-inch paracord rifle sling, creating a one-of-a-kind, personalized gift for your friend or family member this season. Participants will need to purchase the following items in advance and bring them to class:
    • One strand, 42-foot in length of a dark-colored paracord (550lb, 7 strand, 4mm)
    • Two strands, each 26-foot in length of a lighter colored paracord (550lb, 7 strand, 4mm)
    • Two 1.25-inch sling swivels with two point quick attach

Hiking
Nature Journaling: Winter Wonders

Date/Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:00 AM-10:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
Winter can be a difficult time to get your dose of the outdoors. Join a Powder Valley naturalist for a mindfulness hike through the winter woods, where we will take our time to notice and discover what the season has to offer. A little wonder goes a long way in alleviating some of our winter blues.

Nature Art
Crafts and Cocoa: Felt Bird Ornaments

Date/Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 10:00 AM-12:30PM
Location: Tower Grove Park-Stupp Center
Registration: Register Here!
Join us at Tower Grove Park to bring a little bit of nature into your home this holiday season! We’ll learn about some common backyard birds and then create a felt bird that can be turned into an ornament or hanging decoration.

Nature Art
Needle Felt: Beavers

Date/Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 PM-5:00PM
Location: Tower Grove Park-Stupp Center
Registration: Register Here!
Beavers are nature’s little engineers and has helped shaped St. Louis! Learn about the beaver and how to use a barbed needle to sculpt wool into beautiful works of art in this beginner-friendly class. Join us as we explore the art of needle felting and create your very own needle felt beaver to take home. All supplies will be provided.

Nature Art
Nature Photography with a Phone

Date/Time: Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:00 AM-10:00AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
Take photos like a pro with only your phone! Join a naturalist for a small hike to practice and perfect the art of taking breathtaking nature photography using only your smartphone

Babes in the Woods
Giving Back to Nature

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 9:00 AM-10:00AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
Join us for a fun adventure into the woods behind the bird viewing area. We will create different animal shelters to help them survive the winter. We will talk about and leave good food items that can be left out for the wildlife.

Conservation Kids
Giving Back to Nature

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 10:00 AM-11:00AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
Join us for a fun adventure into the woods behind the bird viewing area. We will create different animal shelters to help them survive the winter. We will talk about and leave good food items that can be left out for the wildlife

Little Acorns
Whooo’s Hooting?

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 10:30 AM-11:30AM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here!
Whooo’s ready to learn about owls? Join us for an owl story book, hands-on activities, crafts, and real owl artifacts.

Amphibians and Reptiles
Snake Encounter

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 11:00 AM-11:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Registration Not Required.
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.

Conservation Adults
Nature Book Club

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1:30 PM-3:00PM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
Have you seen Peanut the Turtle in the Powder Valley Nature Center lobby? She got stuck crawling through a hole in a six-pack ring, which deformed her for life. We will be reading and discussing Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell, by Sy Montgomery. She follows the activities of the Turtle Rescue League as they rescue and repair and heal turtles that have suffered from the hands of smugglers, car tires, pet owners that do not know what they are doing, and more. We will discuss whether it is worthwhile healing individual animals.

Nature Art
Busch Craft Series: Felt Bird Ornaments

Date/Time: Friday, December 12, 2025, 1:00 PM-3:30PM
Location: St. Louis Regional Office/Busch Memorial CA
Registration: Register Here!
Join us as we take inspiration from some common Missouri winter birds to sew unique felt bird ornaments! While we work, we will learn more about each bird and how to identify them.

Birds
Owl Prowl

Date/Time: Friday, December 12, 2025, 6:30 PM-8:00PM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here!
Who’s that hooting it up each December evening?? Owls that’s who. You will learn what makes them such effective nighttime hunters and why they hoot so much this time of year. We will then take a short walk and see if we can entice any owls to fly in and talk to us.

One Health
Benefits of Nature

Date/Time: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10:00 AM-12:00PM
Location: Claire Gempp Davidson Memorial Wildlife Area
Registration: Register Here!
As the seasons change, stress and other feelings can change and build up. Join us to learn about the benefits of nature and how expanding your senses can improve, recalibrate, and restore your physical and mental wellbeing.

Conservation Families
Sustainable Holidays: Gifts and Games

Date/Time: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 1:00 PM-4:00PM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here!
Are you on the hunt for some fun, handmade gifts for your loved ones this year? Looking to minimize spending and waste? Want to spend an afternoon playing games and making presents? Come to part one of our Sustainable Holidays series at Rockwoods Reservation!

Nature Art
Busch Craft Series

Date/Time: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 3:00 PM-5:00PM
Location: St. Louis Regional Office/Busch Memorial CA
Registration: Register Here!
Want to make a leaf-stained glass candle holder? If so, you’re welcome to join us out at Busch! We’ll be turning mason jars into candle holders with your own unique flair and a native Missouri twist.

Conservation Families
Sustainable Holidays: Wrapping and Recipes

Date/Time: Thursday, December 18, 2025, 6:00 PM-7:30PM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here!
Have you ever tried pine needle tea? What about cookies? Are you looking for ways to minimize waste this holiday? Continue the holiday fun with part two of our Sustainable Holidays series!

Conservation Careers
CSI: Conservation Scene Investigation

Date/Time: Friday, December 19, 2025, 12:30 PM-3:00PM
Location: Tower Grove Park-Stupp Center
Registration: Register Here!
A conservation crime has been committed! Uncover the mystery by engaging in scientific investigations to determine what really happened. Discover how conservation agents and biologists use evidence to solve wildlife violations through claims supported by evidence and reasoning.

Wildlife
Creature Feature: Everything But Deer

Date/Time: Friday, December 19, 2025, 6:00 PM-7:00PM
Location: MDC Virtual Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
Missouri is full of intriguing and memorable wildlife. Join a naturalist this month to learn more about every Missouri creature with deer in the name except for the wonderful white tail. This is a live virtual program using the Webex platform.

Birds
Owl Prowl

Date/Time: Friday, December 19, 2025, 6:30 PM-8:00PM
Location: St. Louis Regional Office/Busch Memorial CA
Registration: Register Here!
Who’s that hooting it up each December evening? Owls that’s who. You will learn what makes them such effective nighttime hunters and why they hoot so much this time of year. We will then take a short walk and see if we can entice any owls to fly in and talk to us.

Nature Art
Winter Birds Holiday Ornaments

Date/Time: Saturday, December 20, 2025, 10:00 AM-11:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
In this crafty program we will be painting birds Missourians see in winter. Our canvas will be a small, three-inch, red cedar wood cookie that can be displayed for any winter occasion. While you paint you will learn what birds stay in Missouri though the winter months.

Amphibians and Reptiles
Snake Encounter

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 11:00 AM-11:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: No Registration Required.
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.

Conservation Kids
Hibernation Pajama Party

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 10:30 AM-12:00PM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here!
We may have our warm blankets and heated homes, but how do or wild neighbors handle the cold? Come to Rockwoods in your favorite PJs to learn about how animals survive the winter months with hands-on activities and games.

Nature Art
Nature’s New Year Vision Board Workshop

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 6:30 PM-8:30PM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!
Ring in the New Year with intention and inspiration from nature! Join us for a relaxing and creative evening as we explore how connecting with the natural world can boost your mental and physical well-being. After a short presentation on the benefits of spending time outdoors, you’ll learn about the tradition of vision boards and how to use them to set mindful, nature-centered goals for the coming year.

Outdoor Skills & Hikes

Introduction to Knot Tying

Date/Time: Friday, December 5, 2025, 10:00 AM-11:30AM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here!
This course is designed to show you how to tie the 10 most basic knots for the outdoors. We will explain and demonstrate what each knot is used for and allow time for you to have hands on practice tying each knot.

Hiking: Tuesday Trekkers

Date/Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 9:00 AM-10:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!

Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 9:00 AM-10:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!

Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 9:00 AM-10:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!

Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 9:00 AM-10:30AM
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
Registration: Register Here!

Join Powder Valley’s naturalists for a Tuesday morning hike. Getting a weekly dose of nature is healthy for your mind and body. On these guided walks we will explore the vastness of Missouri fauna and flora on Powder Valley’s trails.

A Winter Walk in Tower Grove Park

Date/Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 PM-3:30PM
Location: Tower Grove Park-Stupp Center
Registration: Register Here!
Winter weather might be here, but there is still plenty in nature to observe and explore! Join us at Tower Grove Park to learn about what’s going on outdoors this time of year as we walk the east end of the park and along Nee Kee Nee (East Stream). We will begin and end our walk at the Stupp Center

Monthly Hiking Group: Winter Wonderland

Date/Time: Friday, December 19, 2025, 9:00 AM-11:00AM
Location: Rockwoods Reservation
Registration: Register Here!
Hikes are steep but at a slow pace. This is a great opportunity to get outside and see nature at a different time of year than you might be used to! Even in winter, there is so much to enjoy and learn about in the woods.

Night Hike – Busch Hiking/Biking Trail

Date/Time: Saturday, December 20, 2025, 5:30 PM-8:30PM
Location: St. Louis Regional Office/Busch Memorial CA
Registration: Register Here!
Experience the sounds of the night during a moderate hike at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. We will hike the Busch Hiking/Biking Trail which is approximately 3 ½ miles in length.

New Year’s Eve Hike at Columbia Bottom

Date/Time: Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 4:30 PM -6:00PM
Location: Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Registration: Register Here!
What better way to get refreshed for the New Year than to watch the last sunset of 2025 before taking a quiet stroll in the crisp winter night at Columbia Bottom? Watch the sun set before we start our walk to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. We will spend a few minutes at the confluence before we head back in the moonlight to our starting point.

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FISHING & HUNTING

Fishing Programs

Discover Nature Fishing Lesson 1 & 2 (combined) – classes are being planned for Spring 2026

Lesson 1 will go over how to properly and safely cast a spincast fishing rod, parts of a fishing rod, how to fasten basic fishing tackle and how to properly handle and release a fish. Lesson 2 covers 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. 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.