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?
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.
Chris 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.
The 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. “
A 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.”
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.
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.
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.
By Don Corrigan (Webster-Kirkwood Times)
When I was a boy, frogs and toads got a bad rap. I was told they give you warts. Toads would pee on you if you picked them up. Frogs were linked to being French. Moses threatened a plague of frogs on a pharaoh in Egypt.
Sigh showcasing the Grow Native! program at the Kirkwood Earth Day Festival.
Grow Native! – is a one of a kind program that began right here in Missouri. The program is a native plant marketing and education program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation.
Bill Ruppert, a local gardening and conservation expert, shares his insight into the diverse Grow Native! program on the informative podcast found below. Many organizations are mentioned in the podcast with either being associated with the Grow Native! program or that Ruppert is affiliated with like, the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, Missouri Department of Conservation, Shaw Nature Reserve, the Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missourians for Monarchs, Gateway Greening, Mayor Slay’s milkweed program, and more.
Ruppert also gives a look at the new St. Louis Science Center’s new exhibit opening this summer, “GROW” and how the Annual Kirkwood Earth Day got its start.
