Category Archives: Local Events

Historic Bevo Mill Restaurant in St. Louis, MO. Photo: MDC

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is bringing a night of nature fun and trivia to one of St. Louis’ most iconic landmark venues.

Join MDC at the historic Das Bevo, popularly known as the Bevo Mill, for a Nature Trivia Night Friday, Nov. 21 from 7 – 9 p.m. and put your nature knowledge to the test.  The event is free to attend and open to anyone age 21 and up.

If you’ve been to a trivia night event before, you know how much fun they can be.  Questions will cover multiple topics, all with a nature twist. Attendees can assemble teams of up to six members per team.  Each member must register individually.

Forming a team in advance is not required and the event is open to individuals, too.  MDC hosts can help find a team to join for anyone going solo.

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Participants will discover the rewards of fully immersing themselves in nature at this free, guided hike event. Photo: MDC

The secrets to relieving stress, unlocking creativity, and improving the health of mind and body might be just few steps into the nearest forest.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of daily life, then a little self-care time in nature might be the perfect prescription.  The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting a Benefits of Nature Hike Saturday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. – noon at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake.  The goal of the program is to discover the rewards of a totally immersive, multi-sensory experience in nature.  It’s free and open to ages 18 years and up.

Join MDC to learn how the beauty and wonder of nature can recalibrate and restore you. Time in nature has been proven to bolster physical, mental and emotional health.  MDC naturalists will share techniques that will deeply connect your senses and mind to your surroundings.  Participants will take a slow-paced, guided walk ending beside the Mississippi River as they awaken their senses to the great outdoors.

Participants should dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, and bring bug spray.  A towel or pad to sit on is also recommended.  Attendees may also bring a sack lunch and chair to socialize after the program.

Participants should meet at Parking Lot O, which can be reached from the Columbia Bottom entrance by following the program signs for 3 miles.  Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is located at

The Benefits of Nature Hike is a free program; however advanced online registration is required at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/o4h.

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is located at 801 Strodtman Road in north St. Louis County.  The area can be reached by taking the Riverview Drive Exit from I-270 and travelling north approximately three miles.

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.

MDC is committed to accessibility at all its nature centers, regional facilities, and conservation areas. To request an ADA accommodation for participation in MDC programs, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/accessibility.

Pictured: Don Corrigan

Contrary to current mythology, reports of the “death of books” are greatly exaggerated. In fact, opportunities for publishing in popular culture, trade, and local interest markets are increasing.

That was the message Don Corrigan, Webster University journalism faculty emeritus, brought to the Missouri Press Association Convention in St. Louis on Sept. 13. He was the Saturday breakfast speaker.

Several MPA members have taken Don’s message to heart, including Susan Croce Kelly, author of the recent, Route 66: The Highway And Its People. Corrigan has authored four books in the popular culture realm –with a fifth on the way.

Corrigan will bring his optimistic message on the future of books to the Midwest Popular Culture Association Conference at the University of Iowa in Iowa City slated for Oct. 3-5.

He will speak on “Writing, Publishing, Marketing Pop Culture Books.” Corrigan recently won honors for the top popular culture book published in 2024 at the national convention of the Popular Culture Association (PCA) held in April in New Orleans.

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St. Louis area state parks and historic sites have a variety of events planned for September. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources have posted a list of activities with something for everyone.

Thursdays, Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. – Toddler Thursdays at Mastodon State Historic Site. Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site! These Toddler Thursday programs are designed for toddlers and their grown-ups. Each session focuses on a different topic and includes a story and a craft. There is no need to register; just show up to the museum auditorium located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial and enjoy. Upcoming program topics: Sept. 25 – Bird Songs.
Oct. 9 – Autumn Leaves.

Friday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. – Outdoor Classroom: Petroglyph Research at Washington State Park. Join the team at the park’s amphitheater, 3041 State Highway 104 in De Soto, to listen to a presentation about the petroglyphs at Washington State Park and the connections between this site and other Native American archaeological sites.

Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 4:30 p.m. – Living With Water: An Introduction to Your Rock Creek Watershed at Mastodon State Historic Site.
Members of the local community are invited to come out to the historic site on Tuesday, Sept. 30, to learn more about the Rock Creek watershed. This free event will take place at the picnic shelter from 4:30-7 p.m. Guests are welcome to come and go as they please.

Representatives from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson County Public Works, University of Missouri Extension and more will be present to answer questions. This event is open to all ages and will include activities for children. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please call the historic site at 636-464-2976. The event will be held at the historic picnic shelter at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

MDC and the St. Louis Audubon Society invite the public to the Bring Conservation Home Expo Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in St. Louis’ Tower Grove Park. Photo: MDC

Conservation doesn’t just happen on conservation areas.  The Bring Conservation Home (BCH) program is a collaboration between the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the St. Louis Audubon Society.  It offers homeowners consultation visits by trained habitat advisors.  They provide tailored advice and resource connections to help transform yards into native plant havens for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.

MDC and the St. Louis Audubon Society invite the public to a Bring Conservation Home Expo Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in St. Louis’ Tower Grove Park.  This free event is open to everybody and will be a special exhibition of native plant benefits, resources, and native landscaping information.

“Community members can welcome a wider variety of birds and pollinators to their neighborhood by including native plants and nature stewardship in their own yards and other community spaces,” said Dan Pearson, director of the BCH program.

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Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) canceled its Aug. 19 meeting on proposed Unger Park trail plans. Isolated thunderstorms in the area prompted GRG to call off the meeting which was slated for the pavilion at the park.

About 25 area resident showed up for the late afternoon meeting at the park. Residents expressed some frustration that they were unable to offer feedback face-to-face due to the cancellation of the meeting.

“We at Great Rivers Greenway are sorry we had to cancel the open house with such late notice – the decision to cancel was made due to predicted severe weather, and our first priority is always our community’s safety,” said a GRG spokesperson.

“Sometimes that means cancellations closer to the actual event, which we know is frustrating,” she added.

GRG is asking area residents to share comments and questions about the project on its on-line comment card (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UngerParkOpenHouse) or share them by phone: 314-936-6256.

Comments and questions can be routed  to the appropriate project team members at the headquarters of Great Rivers Greenway. 

Also, the Unger Park proposed improvements and trail project can be found at a webpage for more information about the Meramec Greenway in Unger Park: Meramec Greenway: Unger Park – Great Rivers Greenway 

Stay tuned to Environmental Echo for updates on the Unger project in the southwest St. Louis area, and also for plans for Great Rivers Greenway’s celebration events later this year for its 25^th Anniversary.