Category Archives: Local Events

Photo: MDC

Few words can describe the thrill of seeing America’s national symbol soaring through the air in the wild, or close enough to touch.  And winter is the ideal time to view bald eagles in Missouri, especially along one of North America’s greatest rivers.

The metro area’s premier celebration of bald eagles returns for 2025 to the Audubon Center at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton.  The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  This popular annual festival offers the chance for all ages to discover a close connection with the bald eagle.

The Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary is an outstanding convergence point for bald eagles and many other exciting waterfowl species during the winter. Owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Rivers Project, the 3,700-acre sanctuary sits on the banks of the Mississippi near its confluence with the Missouri River . . . an ideal location to view eagles.

Participants can see eagles through spotting scopes staffed by trained volunteers at viewing stations along the river.  Live “All about Eagles” programs will be presented by experts from the World Bird Sanctuary at 9:15 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.  Visitors can see a live bald eagle as they learn the fascinating story behind these amazing raptors.  Additionally, there will be two Eagle Meet and Greet events at 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. where participants can see a bald eagle up close and get a photo taken with World Bird Sanctuary naturalists and their bald eagle companions.

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Late summer color at the Wohlwend Elementary native plant garden, established with an MPF Prairie Garden Grant in 2023, by Dave Meschke.

The Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie Garden Grants Program is accepting applications for 2025 grant awards through January 24, 2025. We invite you to share this opportunity widely to your networks.

Gardening and other conservation groups, parks, schools, and other entities in Missouri and immediately surrounding states are invited to submit proposals to MPF’s Prairie Garden Grants Program. In 2025, MPF would like to award several grants to help fund the establishment or improvement of prairie gardens or plantings using Midwest native plants. Grants will not exceed $800 each. Those with smaller projects are encouraged to apply as well. Matching funds are not required, but proposals with secured matching funds may be evaluated higher than others.Funding will be dispersed in February.

To read guidelines and apply, visit MPF’s Prairie Garden Grants page at https://moprairie.org/mission/grants/ 

The Missouri Prairie Foundation is a 59-year-old prairie conservation organization and land trust. In addition to its prairie conservation work, the Missouri Prairie Foundation also runs Grow Native!, a 23-year-old native plant marketing and education program, and administers the Missouri Invasive Plant Council. To learn more, visit www.moprairie.org or www.grownative.org, or call 636-303-7418.

Photo: Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

Bird buffs, falcon fanciers, and anyone enraptured by raptors is invited to meet the objects of their admiration during this year’s An Evening with Raptors event.

The annual An Evening with Raptors hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center will be held again this year on Friday, Jan. 24 from 7 – 9 p.m.  The event is free, open to all ages, and offers both in-person and virtual participation options.

Falconry is the art of training raptors—birds of prey like hawks and falcons—to capture wild game, so that bird and trainer essentially become hunting partners.  It’s an ancient sport that goes back thousands of years, and you can learn about it at An Evening with Raptors event.

“Several area falconers will gather to offer the rare chance to observe and learn about these fascinating feathered hunters,” said MDC Assistant Nature Center Manager, Robyn Parker.  “They will also explain how those interested can get started in this age-old sport themselves,” she added.

Powder Valley will open at 6 p.m. for this event.  Visitors can tour the exhibits and explore educational stations, including a biofacts table to learn about Missouri’s birds of prey. They can create a take-home bird of prey craft and also meet members of the Powder Valley naturalist team.

The main presentation will take place at 7 p.m. in the nature center’s auditorium.  Afterward, visitors can meet the falconers and see their live hunting partner birds up-close in the classrooms.  The falconers will display their falconry tools, hoods, and other equipment, and visitors will also have the chance to ask them questions.

Alternatively, participants may opt to attend just the main auditorium presentation virtually.

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Powder Valley Nature Center presents a special concert by the band Shortleaf, featuring Mike and Tenley Fraser, on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. The evening of music and storytelling offers a unique connection to nature and the Missouri Ozarks. Photo: MDC

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center invites you to discover nature through music.  The nature center will present a special concert by the band Shortleaf, featuring Mike and Tenley Fraser on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.  The performance promises an enjoyable mix of entertainment and education suitable for the whole family.

Mike, an accomplished Ozark fiddler, and partner, Tenley, are a husband-wife duo who specialize in performing traditional music of the Ozarks.  Honoring a long-time heritage of music and storytelling, the two use tales of Ozark history and Scots-Irish culture to create an engaging blend of songs and spoken word.  The Scots-Irish people settled in the hardscrabble Ozarks after migrating west from the Appalachian country and gave the region much of its unique character.

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Calling all junior explorers! Join us for outdoor learning and fun on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m.! In this free, interpreter-led program, participants will engage in hands-on activities to explore the great outdoors.

This program is designed for families with young children, and the event will take place entirely outdoors. Participants are encouraged to wear weather-appropriate clothing that they are comfortable after getting dirty or wet.

Explorers should meet at the playground in the picnic area located at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial.

Coopers Landing invites the community to experience, learn and enjoy Conservation EXPO 2024, a weekend educational event dedicated to showcasing a variety of non-profit organizations and initiatives with the mission to advance Missouri conservation education and stewardship of the environment.

The event is admission-free and open to the public and is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, 9am till 4pm, and Sunday, September 8, 10am till 3pm at Coopers Landing, 11505 Smith Hatchery Road, located on the Katy Trail and the shore of the Missouri River.  Parking is available along Smith Hatchery Road in addition to off-site parking supported by shuttle service.

The EXPO features informative exhibits by over 25 organizations and community initiatives including local and state agencies, education institutions, and other conservation supportive non-profits.  Conservation EXPO welcomes rural and urban landowners, citizens engaged with community conservation initiatives and projects searching for resource information and participation opportunities.

In addition to the educational exhibits, Saturday features boat rides on the Missouri River hosted by Missouri River Relief as well as morning children’s crafts hosted by Adrienne.  Sunday features pony rides for the children hosted by Blair’s Barn of Ashland.

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Discover Nature with MDC at the Missouri State Fair Aug. 8 – 18. Visit MDC’s Conservation Building and enjoy special programs such as the Raptors of Missouri presentation with Dickerson Park Zoo on Aug. 8. Photo: MDC

Discover nature with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia Aug. 8 – 18. Visit the MDC Conservation Building from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the MDC Xplor Zone for kids from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to see live fish and other native animals such as snakes, turtles, and amphibians.

Learn about and see displays of native plants that help butterflies and other important pollinators. Ask MDC staff conservation-related questions, get educational materials, and have fun.

Join MDC on Friday, Aug. 9, for Missouri Department of Conservation Day — a full day of fun and excitement sponsored by MDC!

For more information, visit mostatefair.com.

Enjoy these free conservation-related programs at MDC’s outdoor pavilion: See schedule below.

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