Blog Archives

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Annual Katy Trail Ride Will Host 300 Bicyclists Beginning June 18

Interested in a bike ride? Check out this information from Missouri State Parks.
On Monday, June 18, approximately 300 bicyclists will begin a 232-mile journey from St. Charles to Clinton on the Katy Trail State Park for the 18th Annual Katy Trail Ride. This year’s participants range in age from 8 to 89 and come from 29 states and one Canadian Province.

Hosted by Missouri State Parks and the Missouri State Parks Foundation, the five-day Katy Trail Ride has been an annual event since 2001 and has achieved national and international acclaim. The ride takes cyclists along the scenic Missouri River and through the historic towns that developed along the river and the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT or Katy) Railroad, the predecessor to the Katy Trail.

See more information and the event itinerary below.

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Posted on June 13, 2018 in Local Events

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The MDC’s Project To Revitalize and Enhance O’Fallon Park

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently released information about efforts to bring changes to St. Louis City’s O’Fallon Park.

The MDC entered a partnership to restore natural habitat to O’Fallon Park through MDC’s Back to Nature St. Louis Grant.  This grant provides funding for habitat restoration and/or reconstruction on a public park property in St. Louis County or City through a competitive application process.

The result of the agreement is the Back to Nature in O’Fallon Park project.  The goal of the project is to revitalize and enhance the park to improve the visitor’s aesthetic experience, facilitate nature enjoyment, and enhance nature programming opportunities.

Read more details about the program from the MDC below.

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Posted on May 30, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature

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Sustainability: An International Lens Summer Lunch & Learn Series

Webster University Sustainability presents a summer Lunch & Learn series – “Sustainability: An International Lens”

From May 30 to August 1, learn about strategies and solutions being created and used right here in our local community to impact environmental, social and economic sustainability on a global scale.

These events are FREE and box lunches will be provided. After the final session on August 1st, attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Missouri Harvest: A Guide to Growers and Producers in the Show-Me State. Attendees will receive an entry into the raffle for each session attended. The presenting sponsor of the event is Automatic Control Equipment Systems, Inc.

For more information and how to RSVP continue below.

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Posted on May 21, 2018 in Local Events

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Celebrate National Prairie Day June 2

In 2016, the Missouri Prairie Foundation established National Prairie Day—registered on the National Day Calendar as the first Saturday in June—to enhance public awareness of what prairie is, educate about its value, and motivate all who learn about prairie to be inspired to support prairie conservation, restoration, and enjoyment. This year, National Prairie Day is Saturday, June 2, 2018.

“All are invited to join us in celebration of National Prairie Day,” said Carol Davit, executive director of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, a 52-year-old non-profit prairie conservation organization and land trust. “National Prairie Day provides a day of focus across the United States to inspire learning, appreciation, exploration of our national prairie legacy, and success of national, regional, statewide, and local prairie conservation efforts from coast to coast.”

The Missouri Prairie Foundation will celebrate National Prairie Day by hosting its 9th annual Prairie BioBlitz at its Pleasant Run Creek Prairie near Nevada, MO on June 2 and 3—free of charge and open to all—with biologist leaders, a potluck dinner, after-dinner speaker Chris Crabtree on Native American history in Missouri, star-gazing with astronomers, and tent camping on the prairie. For details and to register for 9th Annual Prairie BioBlitz, and many other upcoming Missouri Prairie Foundation events, visit moprairie.org.

Find more about why maintaining prairie is important below.

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Posted on May 15, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature

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Are Weeds Edible? Catrina Adams Says, Yes!

Pictured: Catrina Adams. Photo by Diana Linsley.

Catrina Adams, who teaches a class in the Master Naturalist Program on the Meramec campus of St. Louis Community College in Kirkwood, has a timely message for you: “It’s OK to eat the weeds!”

In fact, that’s the actual name for her college continuing education class: “It’s OK to Eat the Weeds: Wild Edible Plants of Spring.” This past Saturday (5/4/18), she was hunting for weeds on campus with a dozen students who enrolled in the course.

“Plants I focus on in my Meramec class this time of year are the ones that people are pulling out of their yards and out of the garden,” said Adams.

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Posted on May 10, 2018 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature

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West Lake Landfill Whistleblowers Honored

Pictured above: Dawn Chapman (Left) and Karen Nickel, co-founders of Just Moms STL.

Two brave ladies from North County were honored at the Gateway Journalism Review (GJR)annual First Amendment Celebration.

Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel, founders of Just Moms STL, an advocacy group focused on the cleanup of nuclear waste contained in West Lake Landfill, were honored for “blowing the whistle” on the inept handling of atomic waste in the St. Louis region. Every day more St. Louis residents are becoming aware of our city’s role in the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb – and the deadly legacy left behind here.

Read more below about St. Louis’ nuclear waste issues and the people working to bring awareness to the public.

Check out Don Corrigan’s latest for the Gateway Journalism Review – an informative article titled  “Activists draw national attention and EPA response to the atomic city” – Read the article HERE

Also, read Corrigan’s second article for the GJR –  “Documentary movies draw attention to the atomic city” – Read the article HERE.

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Posted on May 1, 2018 in Environment, Home

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Become A Citizen Scientists At Powder Valley Nature Center Bioblitz May 11-12

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is holding a two-day Bioblitz event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood May 11-12. The event is FREE and open to the public.

A bioblitz is an intense biological survey performed by scientists, naturalists and volunteers to document all the living species within a given area.  Participants conduct an intensive field study during a compressed time period which provides scientists and land managers a snapshot of the natural health and diversity of an area.

The Powder Valley Bioblitz will take place Friday, May 11, from 6:30 to 11 p.m., and Saturday, May 12, from 7 a.m.-2 p.m., enabling participants to sample both nocturnal and daytime creatures. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road, near the intersection of I-44 and I-270.

Bioblitzers will become scientists for a day as they explore the diverse plants and animals around the nature center while providing helpful information to MDC naturalists.

Find out more about the bioblitz below.

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Posted on April 29, 2018 in Local Events

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Public Voices Both Concern and Support For New Trail Extension Planned For I-44 Bridge

Photo by Diana Linsley/Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Hikers, bikers and joggers are gaga over the prospect of traveling over the Meramec River on a trail extension using a rebuilt Interstate 44 bridge complex. Bridge construction could begin later this year with a 2021 completion date.

“We’re looking at this as a once-in-a-50-year opportunity – to be able to use a new, major river bridge like this,” said Seth Treptow, communications manager for Great Rivers Greenway.
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Posted on April 23, 2018 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature

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Climate Change and Weather Predictability?

Picture courtesy James Kramper, National Weather Service.

As climate change continues to disrupt weather patterns and seasonality across the U.S. and the world, a new study from the University of Missouri suggests weather forecasts will remain predictable.

This is good news for those worried local weather news meteorologist will no longer be able to predict raging weather patterns that produce life and property-threatening issues, like tornados, blizzards, extreme flooding and severe lightning storms.

Take a few minutes and check out the MIZZU information and video on the new study HERE.

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Posted on April 22, 2018 in Environment

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Missouri Department of Conservation Donates Archery Equipment To Help Local School Kids and Encourage Police-Community Relations

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The St. Louis County Police Athletic League (PAL) is embracing the benefits of archery, which has been shown to improve school attendance, boost self-esteem, and increase physical activity.  They will soon begin teaching a competitive target archery program to St. Louis County kids, with the help of a donation from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.

MDC presented a kit of archery equipment used to teach the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) to the St. Louis County PAL April 13 at Hazelwood Middle School in Spanish Lake.

According to the St. Louis County PAL website, the program is volunteer-based with the goal of enabling members of the police department to coach young boys and girls in sports, help with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community relations, and deter children from becoming involved in criminal activity.  The PAL also strives for youth enrichment with educational and youth leadership programs outside of sports.  The program has plans for members to train in and begin teaching MDC’s Discover Nature Fishing program in the future as well.

Read more from the MDC information release below.

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Posted on April 20, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature