Events

No registration required (ages 13+) In the United States, window collisions are estimated to cause 600 million bird deaths annually and almost half of these are at home windows. Do you have a window or two at your home or office that is frequently struck by birds? Join MDC and the Missouri River Bird Observatory to learn why window collisions happen, the best strategies to prevent them and what actions are being taken to reduce window strikes around the KC metro area. It's simple and inexpensive to save birds around your home and office! If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

Join volunteer Pickett Lema for a hands-on lesson in watercolors. In this lesson Pickett will help you make a wonderful Mother's Day gift. We encourage you to bring photos of your favorite native flower arrangements.

All supplies will be provided.

Walk-in (all ages) Did you know that native plants beautify landscapes and help support songbirds and other cherished wildlife? Join the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) at the Discovery Center for a spring native plant sale. Grow Native! vendors will be on hand with a wide selection of native flowers, grasses, sedges, shrubs, vines and trees for a variety of growing conditions. Vendors will contribute a percentage of plant sale proceeds to benefit MPF's prairie conservation in Missouri. Visit www.moprairie.org for participating vendors and information about pre-ordering or you can shop in person the day of the sale. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

Watch Ancestral Skills Specialist Don Brink transform simple rocks into artistic and functional points similar to the ones used by early humans. Learn the basics and try your hand at this age-old skill.

Join us for beginner kayaking and a relaxing time on the water. During this kayaking program you will learn about paddling equipment, paddling safety, and how to paddle a kayak on a lake. Life jackets, kayaks, and paddles will be provided. Bring a bottle of water, sunscreen, and closed toed shoes that can get wet. We will meet at the boat ramp area at Teal Lake off Huntingfield Rd in Mexico. Minimum age to participate is 9 years old. Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Aww! Babies are cute, and May welcomes many new animal babies to the world. Join this month’s program and learn about the babies born in May. Afterwards, participate in fun sensory activities in crafts. Babes in the Woods programs are designed to empower parents to introduce babies and toddlers ages 0–2 years to the sights, sounds, and textures of nature.

Celebrate mom this month by participating in an outdoor adventure together! You will get a chance to try out fun activities like canoeing, archery, and campfire cooking. Come dressed to be outdoors for the afternoon, bring a water bottle, and bring shoes that can get wet. Please register all participants that are planning to attend.

Join us in exploring the natural wonders inside Hunter’s Cave at Three Creeks Conservation Area (Boone County). Pack a water bottle and dress for the weather; an additional layer may be desired as cave temperatures are usually 55-57 degrees Fahrenheit. Participants will be walking in water so rubber boots or closed-toe shoes that can get wet are required. Hard hats and flashlights provided, but feel free to bring your own. Access to the cave requires a 15-minute hike in hilly, at times steep terrain and entering a small gate with an opening that is approximately three feet tall by two feet wide. Transportation from Runge will not be provided. Participants will meet at Three Creeks. Details, including directions on where to meet, will be emailed in advance. Registration required. Ages 18+

Bring your loved ones in to sip on drinks and nibble on dishes made with wild edible plants. Naturalist Jordi Raos will give a presentation followed by a short garden walk and craft. (Mother not required to attend!) All people attending must register as seating is limited.

Snakes and lizards are really amazing animals. Because they are reptiles, they are much different than the animals we are most familiar with. Come and discover many incredible things about the snakes and lizards that live in Missouri. There will even be a live snake that you will be able to touch if you would like to. We will also go outside and try to find some snakes and lizards in their natural habitat.

Meet at Rockwoods Visitor Center. Be prepared to take a short walk on the Trail Among the Trees.

Please register each child attending.