Blog Archives

Image

Promoting State Nature: Missouri Outdoor Communicators Revving Up For Year 2026

by Don Corrigan

Since 1994, members of Missouri Outdoor Communicators have been telling great nature stories, snapping great photos, as well as just plain promoting the great outdoors. They’ve been making their mark for more than 30 years, and they’re revving up for a great 2026.

“MOC is a group of professional journalists, authors, bloggers, photographers, videographers, biologists, naturalists, companies and communities intent on celebrating all the outdoor adventures that can be enjoyed in Missouri,” said Kyle Stewart, long-time MOC Board Member.
According to Stewart, the mission of MOC is to advance knowledge of natural resources and related recreational pursuits, to improve MOC members’ communications skills, to promote the outdoors, to encourage appropriate use and conservation of natural resources.

Of course, another mission is to attract and to mentor the next generation of outdoor communicators. The need for a new generation to treasure the outdoors and to take up the efforts of MOC is critical.

“MOC is about championing the great outdoors and all its beauty, inspiration, and life lessons,” Stewart said. “It’s about building meaningful professional relationships and lasting personal friendships while fostering healthy communications.

“It’s also about spending time in both familiar and unfamiliar environments and learning new tips and techniques along the way,” he added. “MOC is about protecting and promoting the things that mean the most to us – the natural world and its inhabitants.”

For more information about MOC or joining the group, please call Kyle Stewart at 573-619-3296 or email him: kylewaynestewart@gmail.com. He and other MOC members will gladly assist you.

Image

MEEA Eyes 2026 Projects: Environmental Educators Celebrate Three Decades Of Projects

 

 

by Don Corrigan

Environmental educators in Missouri have been organized for 30 years to promote nature and outdoor education for children. They also have worked to be protectors and caretakers of the environment.

They’ve started many environmental initiatives in their three decades. They’ve seen good times and bad times. These are challenging times, and they concede 2026 may be just a year for holding their ground.

“As caretakers of Missouri’s environment, we have many challenges ahead of us – funding is limited, environmental protection policies and support for education are on shaky ground, and many Missourians are just struggling to make ends meet,” said Jamin Bray.

Bray of Salem, Mo., is co-director of the Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA), along with co-director Lesli Moylan of Kirkwood, Mo. in suburban St. Louis

“So, we intend to be even more strategic, focused and efficient moving forward into 2026,” said Bray. “MEEA will soon have a new 3-year Strategic Plan that will continue to  provide the very best environmental education services possible.”

Continue reading

Image

St. Louis Eagle Days

Photo: MDC

Eagle lovers of all ages are invited to the Audubon Center at Riverlands in West Alton on February 7, 2026. No advance registration is required.

Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026 9:00 am – Saturday, February 7, 2026 2:00 pm
Location: Audubon Center at Riverlands

Visitors are welcome to view eagles through spotting scopes staffed by trained volunteers, and explore activities related to bald eagles. The World Bird Sanctuary will be providing live Bald Eagle programs and chances to see Bald Eagles up close throughout the day.

Eagle presentations will be held at: 9:15 AM; 10:00 AM; 10:45 AM; 11:30 AM; 12:30 PM; and 1:15 PM. These eagle presentations have a capacity of 150 people and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.

Did you know the Mississippi River hosts one of North America’s largest concentrations of bald eagles? They are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food. The colder the weather, the better the chances of seeing them fish, ride ice floes, soar overhead and roost in nearby trees!

More information, CLICK HERE.

Image

USFWS and MDC to host 46th Annual Eagle Days event Dec. 6 and 7 at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge

Loess Bluffs. Photo: MDC

Bald eagles migrate southward on the chilly winds of early winter. Dozens or even hundreds typically congregate at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City where they can feed on fish and waterfowl. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host the 46th annual Eagle Days at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. The World Bird Sanctuary staff will present live eagle shows each hour in a building at the refuge headquarters. Those eagles have been rehabilitated from injuries but will not be able to be released back into the wild.

There will also be interpretive stops along a driving tour of the refuge wetlands. Spotting scopes will be set up at key points along the tour route for visitors to spot wildlife far out on the marshes. Friends of Loess Bluffs and other conservation partners will have outreach tables on display inside the visitor center.

Besides eagles, visitors will be able to see wildlife at wetland pools such as trumpeter swans, geese, ducks, and shore birds. MDC staff, Missouri Master Naturalists, and Loess Bluffs staff will be welcoming visitors and interpreting nature exhibits.

The number of waterfowl and eagles at Loess Bluffs varies with weather being a major factor. Often though, Eagle Days has plentiful wildlife for viewing. Visitors will find cameras and binoculars useful.

For current bird survey numbers and event information about Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zt2.

To learn more about eagles and other Eagle Days events in Missouri, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/events/eagle-days.

Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri near Mound City. Take Interstate 29 to Exit 79 south of Mound City then travel south 2 ½ miles on U.S. Highway 159.

Image

Rush Island Conversion? Ameren Eyes Power Plant Project To Serve ‘Large Load Customers’

by Don Corrigan

Ameren, the energy utility that serves much of eastern Missouri, says it plans to add another gas plant to its electric production portfolio. The announcement is drawing fire from consumer and environmental groups.

The generating facility is planned for the former Rush Island coal plant in Jefferson County. The gas plant would generate approximately 800 MW of fossil-fuel fired electricity.

Ameren has not made the project’s costs available to the public at this point. The company but has stated that it wants the plant for serving “large load customers,” which industry experts say translates into artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) insists that if the plant is approved by the Public Service Commission, it will lock Missouri into decades of more “dirty” fossil fuel use.

MCE argues that if Ameren wants to serve data centers, the utility must do so with clean, cheap renewable energy, “not asthma-inducing, planet-warming, expensive methane gas or natural gas.”

Environmentalists point out that renewable energy sources would include solar and wind, both of which are cheaper than ever before. Solar and wind are also more reliable when combined with innovations in battery storage techniques.

Continue reading

Image

Coming Soon …

Image

Nature Trivia Night at Iconic Das Bevo in St. Louis Nov. 21, MDC

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.

Continue reading

Image

Awaken Your Senses on a Benefits of Nature Hike at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area Nov. 1

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.

Image

Horticulture Program Cited: Kirkwood’s Meramec Leads The Way With Growing Marijuana Curriculum

Meramec horticulture students working in the program garden on the west side of the Meramec campus.

By Don Corrigan

Missouri’s marijuana industry has flourished with the voter approval of recreational pot in 2022. Missouri already ranks fifth in pot sales among states with adult-use programs. It surpasses older markets like Colorado in sales.

Nothing shows the industry’s gone legit more than its acceptance among those in higher education. Close to home, St. Louis Community College at Meramec in Kirkwood now has one of the best horticultural programs in marijuana cultivation in Missouri.

One sure sign of its prominence came on Oct. 10 when the St. Louis AgriBusiniess Club met at Meramec and marijuana growing was atop its agenda. The club is regional and covers five counties in Missouri and eight in Illinois.

A three-person panel at the club’s luncheon explained their take on one of the fastest-growing crops and businesses in Missouri. Ryan Schepers, an assistant professor of horticulture at the community college, explained his focus on cannabis and its varied uses.

Ryan Scheppers is a Meramec faculty member who teaches courses in the area of marijuana cultivation and on cannabis industry trends.

“As we move away from the stigmatization of this product, we see more and more curiosity as to what the different strains can do,” said Schepers. “And we get questions as to what kind of ailments can be treated with what kind of strains.”

With hands-on experience in urban agriculture, environmental control,  biotechnology and invasive plant management, Scheppers offers students valuable insights into the real world applications of their Meramec studies.

Panelist Brian Riegel, owner of Riegel Dairy Inc. and South Point Hemp Inc., has built a career at the intersection of traditional farming and the expanding hemp industry. Riegel said he was attracted to hemp, in part, because of his personal use of the product for pain management.

“Getting into this as a dairy farmer has been pretty amazing,” said Riegel. “What’s also amazing is to see the changes and to get a handle on just what’s happened with marijuana over the past 10 years.”

At South Point Hemp, Riegel said he pursues high quality standards with a vision to produce pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products. He also seeks to support college research programs across the country, including collaborations with Saint Louis University, Washington University and Meramec.

Panelist Chris Chesley serves as a retail operations advisor at Proper Cannabis, which has a growing facility in Rock Hill. He is a cannabis industry leader with a track record in business development, regulatory compliance and government relations.

Cannabis Coursework

According to Meramec’s Scheppers, the horticultural program at his school is among the first in the state to offer a certificate of specialization in Cannabis and Hemp Production. The certificate has the approval of the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

Continue reading

Image

Missouri Environmental Educators To Meet For 30th Annual Conference In Columbia on Oct. 24-25

By Don Corrigan

Missouri’s Environmental Education Association has a mission to help educators connect every state learner to the natural world and equip them to care, understand, and act for the environment. To that end, MEEA is holding its 30th Annual Conference In Columbia on Oct. 24-25.

 

 

MEEA’s convention theme this year is: “Bringin’ It Home: Place-Based Environment Education.” Details for conference activities can be found at the site:
https://meea.org/meea-news-september-2025-2/.
“We are really excited about every detail regarding our upcoming annual conference,” said Jamin Bray, MEEA Co-Director. “This gathering is by far MEEA’s biggest professional development event bar none.”

Formal and non-traditional educators and EE supporters will come together from across Missouri for hands-on sessions to put theory into practice and to network with environmentalists from across the state.

“Every year we move from region to region to try our best to get as many folks involved as possible,” said Bray. “This year, we will be in the central part of Missouri – Columbia and Jefferson City.

“We will not only explore the regional landscape and the mosaic of educational offerings in this region, but we will focus on the concept of ‘Place,’ and the importance of the strategy of teaching using a place-based approach. It’s an effective strategy to connect citizens to the environment.”

Bray and MEEA Co-Director Lesli Moylan said they are indebted to their Conference Planning Committee for this year’s conference sessions in Mid-Missouri.

“That includes a shout-out for our exciting Friday afternoon field session site hosts from the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, the Boone County Nature School and Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary,” Bray said.

“Thanks also goes out to folks at MDC’s Runge Conservation Nature Center for offering their fantastic facility and space in Jeff City for the full Saturday Conference,” added Bray.  “Wow, what wonderful partners!”