Category Archives: Outdoor/Nature

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Celebrating Our National Parks: The Eleven Parks With Geologic Wonders

Photo: National Parks Service. Shown is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Photo: National Parks Service. Shown is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The National Park Service celebrates its centennial this year! Here is another interesting look inside our National Parks.

Let’s Rock: If you like rocks or rock formations there are 11 National Parks you might like to know more about. Here is a listing from the NPS detailing the “11 Lesser-Known Geologic Wonders in National Parks.”  CLICK HERE.

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Discovering Our National Parks

Pictured: Brian Ettling, park ranger, teaches visitors about National Parks.

Pictured: Park Ranger Brian Ettling teaches visitors about Crater Lake National Park.

 

 It’s the lovely month of May, as they say in “Camelot.” Summer unofficially begins on Memorial Day and it’s time to plan that big summer vacation. This year, the focus may be on visiting our national parks, which are in the midst of a century celebration.

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What’s Up With Meramec Cavern’s Closure And The Continuing Environmental Contamination Issues?

Pictured above: Jo Schaper. All photos courtesy Jo Schaper.

Pictured above: Jo Schaper. All photos courtesy Jo Schaper.

Meramec Caverns is closed due to environmental contamination of a substance called TCE, a chemical used in automotive parts manufacturing and cleaning. But how did the popular Missouri show cave become contaminated with TCE in the first place?

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National Park Service Celebrates Centennial: The Nine Parks In Peril

Turret Arch and North Window are two of the massive stone arches at the Windows Section in Arches National Park. Photo Credit: NPS/Jacob W. Frank.

Turret Arch and North Window are two of the massive stone arches at the Windows Section in Arches National Park. Photo Credit: NPS/Jacob W. Frank.

The National Parks Service celebrates its centennial this year! 

Watch for Don Corrigan’s story this month on the National Park Service (NPS) and their 100th Anniversary, and why more and more people are planning summer trips to the parks to celebrate and to take advantage of some deals, both locally and nationally.

The NPS has many opportunities to learn and experience the country’s National Parks during this centennial year. One way to learn is to see what issues the NPS is currently focused on, like the nine parks the NPS says are in peril.

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EPA Updates Contamination Clean Up Efforts At Meramec Caverns

Freeze 2Chris Whitley, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7, shares the latest updates on the remediation efforts at Meramec Caverns. The popular tourist cave closed in March due to elevated contamination  levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors.

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Missouri Conservationist Goes Mobile

MDC App ArtThe Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) magazine, the Missouri Conservationist, is going mobile!

” The MDC now offers its award-winning magazine, Missouri Conservationist, through a new free app for mobile devices. Read about research and other happenings with fish, forest, and wildlife in Missouri. Get info on conservation news and events, in-depth articles, and ways to discover nature. Browse captivating wildlife photography and videos. Once downloaded, the app will offer current issues of the magazine to save and read. Get more information and download the new MO CON MAG app for Apple or Android devices HERE. “

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Forest Park Forever Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Artist In Residence Program

WEW bandA new program will mark the 30th anniversary of Forest Park Forever this year –  the Artist in Residence Program. The program is designed to “celebrate the anniversary through the creative output of talented artists” chosen  to “explore the beauty and inspiring nature of Forest Park and share their new work with the community through public programming.”

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Using Outdoor Recreation To Build Veterans’ Confidence

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Learning the basics of kayaking in the medical center’s swimming pool at Jefferson Barracks. Photo Credit: Ursula Ruhl, Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Veterans of all shapes and sizes churned up swimming pool water with their double-bladed kayak paddles on a recent Tuesday. The paddling vets in the recreational therapy program at Jefferson Barracks were preparing for a big kayak trip in Arkansas.

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Discover Nature Schools Science Fair Winners Announced

Photo Credit: Missouri Department of Conservation

Photo Credit: Missouri Department of Conservation

The 2016 Discover Nature Schools Science Fair gives Missouri’s K-12 students a chance to get hands-on while learning about nature.

This year’s winners of the program have been announced.  The four school winners are Hurley Elementary, Matthew Cook of Lincoln R2 Elementary, Amaya Marion of St. James, and Oakville High School. Read about what the winning projects were below.

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Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Oh My!

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach.  Photo by Ursula Ruhl, Webster -Kirkwood Times.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. Photo by Ursula Ruhl, Webster -Kirkwood Times.

By Don Corrigan (South County Times)

The Weber Road Branch of St. Louis County Library was all abuzz with an “A-MAZE-ing Cockroaches” show this past Monday evening. Actually, there was less buzzing and lot more hissing at the creepy-crawly event.

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