Find Your Passion at a Nature Center Near You

Find Your

Passion at a Nature Center Near You

When someone mentions the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), what do you think of first?

Hunting and fishing? Or maybe forestry or native plants? The monthly magazine, Missouri Conservationist? Perhaps the elk herd at Peck Ranch?

Those are all facets of the Department of Conservation. But when I think of MDC, I think of the great programming offered at the eight nature centers around the state (see list in the box at the end of this article).

Basket making, stool caning, antler jewelry, bird watching, wild edibles, backpacking – those are just a few of the many classes I've taken, primarily at Twin Pines Conservation Education Center, at Cape Girardeau, Powder Valley and Runge conservation nature centers. In addition to the new skills learned and finished products made in each class, there's the added bonus of new friendships and unique ties to nature.

Although most programs went virtual for the past year because of the coronavirus, in-person programming is back, and the time is right to check out the offerings and sign up for some classes, both indoors and out. There is sure to be something to interest almost any age group in your family.

"My main goal in planning a program is to connect people with nature," says Reva Dow, Twin Pines Conservation Education Center manager. "I want to provide opportunities for participants to find something new they enjoy and didn't know they did! When someone has made that connection, they tend to become more involved in the protection and management of Missouri resources."

And Missouri resources are at the heart of everything the nature centers do. The MDC logo is a triangle with a leaf, a fish, and a raccoon, representing the state's forest, fish, and wildlife resources. Programming always has a tie to at least one of these three areas.

For example, the class on caning a stool begins with a talk about the Ozark tradition of using hickory strips for caning, and explores how to select a tree, harvest the bark, prepare it and then use it. For a two-part class on finger weaving, the first session is devoted to natural dyes. It includes harvesting native plants in the pollinator garden outside the center, dying the yarn, and hanging it to dry. In the second session, the dyed yarn is used for a weaving project.

Although each center can develop its programs, there is a lot of cross-fertilization between centers. For example, Reva attended Nature's Needlers, a quilting program, at Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City, then brought the idea back to Twin Pines.

"The program has been successful there [at Runge] for many years, and they were quite helpful and willing to share their knowledge. I brought back patterns and ideas and started Pine Needlers at Twin Pines," she says. "Our first block theme was Missouri Prairies. We are now working on and have almost completed our second quilt theme, Missouri Ozarks."

Meanwhile, the idea has spread to the Cape Girardeau center, where Sara Bradshaw, conservation educator, launched Nature Needlers. This year's quilt block theme at Cape focuses on Missouri's swamps.

Wendy Lott is the naturalist at Twin Pines. Reva, Wendy and Sara often collaborate on training and programs. For example, Sara was the instructor for some programs on making jewelry from deer antlers at Twin Pines. Another time, Sara, Reva, Wendy and other staff and volunteers met for a training session on Cherokee basket weaving, led by Arron Hendershott, the regional supervisor. Volunteers are vital to making programming possible. "Twin Pines has a wonderful group of volunteers that assist in many ways, including presenting classes, gardening work, program preparation, and whatever else is needed," says Reva.

Linda Strauch is a frequent volunteer at Twin Pines for classes on traditional Ozark skills, such as harvesting hickory and oak strips for basket weaving and caning. Sara learned these skills at Twin Pines and then shared them in a class at Cape Girardeau, where Linda was on hand to help out. Sara's mother, Dixie Davie, volunteers at Cape and frequently helps out at Twin Pines, too. This give-and-take is part of the spirit of camaraderie that develops among center staff and program participants.

"We encourage diversity throughout every aspect of MDC, including our outreach programs. Anyone who wants to attend a program is always welcome," says Reva. "Our goal is to develop programs that reach a diverse population across the state as we connect to nature."

Sara Bradshaw, conservation educator at Cape Girardeau Nature Center, shows how to use hickory strips to cane a chair or stool. This rocker has been in her family for several generations. (Photo: Barbara Gibbs Ostmann)

When pressed to name a favorite program, Reva demurs. "It's hard for me to pick a personal favorite. I love learning and sharing information on Missouri's forests, fish, and wildlife. But having to choose between hiking, kayaking, birding, quilting, basket making, gathering hickory, and caning chairs would be pretty tricky!"

"My favorite part of my job is seeing others learn to appreciate and connect with nature. Highlights would include sharing the excitement when helping a student catch their first fish and them asking if I'd take a photo so they can send it to their relative. And it's so exhilarating being on a birding hike when someone sees a 'lifer.' I also enjoy hearing program participants share stories and seeing photos of their accomplishments from harvesting their first deer or turkey. And of course, it makes me smile when I see someone's finished quilt they created with blocks made during Pine Needlers."

Don't miss out on the fun! It's easy to find out what's happening at a nature center near you, via Facebook or the MDC website. "Our events can be found yearround at the official MDC Facebook page; just search for Missouri Department of Conservation and click 'like' so you don't miss our programs," says Reva. "We encourage folks to register ahead of time if they do plan on participating. Our events are free, and you can easily register online at MissouriConservation.org. That's where you'll also find a complete listing of our events."

Be prepared, though, to get hooked. Sometimes a single class can launch a lifelong interest in fishing, camping, basket making, nature photography or countless other activities. Reva is a case in point.

"I started birding after attending a workshop presented by Shelly Colatskie, naturalist at Powder Valley Nature Center," says Reva. "She presented a wonderful program, and I blame her for getting me hooked!" Reva was one of the lucky birders who witnessed the brown booby that showed up out of place on the Current River last fall. Join a bird-watching hike at a nature center near you, and who knows? You might discover a new outdoor activity that you can enjoy for the rest of your life.

Barbara Gibbs Ostmann

(Cover) The trails around the Twin Pines Conservation Education Center are part of the Great Missouri Birding Trail. Cindy Bridges, a birding enthusiast and Twin Pines volunteer, led a small group of beginning and experienced birders on a beautiful fall day. (Photo: Barbara Gibbs Ostmann)

NATURE CENTERS

The Missouri Department of Conservation operates eight nature centers around the state as part of its mission "to protect and manage the fish, forest and wildlife resources of the state, to facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about these resources."

Nature centers provide numerous opportunities for citizens, like walks on interpretive trails or nature trails, learning about wildlife through live exhibits, or attending workshops or classes on a number of topics and outdoor skills.

Check out the nature center nearest you:

Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area Blue Springs *Disabled accessible

Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center Cape Girardeau *Disabled accessible

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center Kirkwood *Disabled accessible

Runge Conservation Nature Center Jefferson City

Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center Joplin

Springfield Conservation Nature Center Springfield *Disabled accessible

The Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center Kansas City *Disabled accessible

Twin Pines Conservation Education Center Winona *Disabled accessible

For more information, visit www.missouriconservation.org.

Stunning Native Plants of May

Once spring has fully closed the door on winter and summer begins to inch closer there are several stunning native plants that bring beauty and joy wherever they are planted.

False Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis)

This showy plant is also one of the tidiest of the native plant world. Rich indigo blue blooms top spires of cool blue-green leaves arranged in groups of three. Bloom time is May to June and once spent the stunning blooms give way to decorative, almost black seed pods. Late into fall the seeds will rattle in the pods. Often found on glades, false blue indigo can grow to 3ft tall and will take full to part sun.

False blue indigo also serves as a host plant for the wild indigo duskywing, a small skipper butterfly. Measuring only 1.5,” these chocolate brown to black butterflies have two broods a year with caterpillars from the second brood overwintering.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata). (Photo: Mary Nemecek)

Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

A full-sun loving early bloomer with white bell flowers atop 3 ft or taller stems. This plant is also not picky about soil type and will grow in poor, welldrained soil. It is a favorite of pollinators with bees loving to roll around inside the flowers, covering themselves with pollen.

Its name comes from the Greek word penta, meaning five, and stemon, meaning stamon. Each flower has 5 stamens but only four of them are fertile. Digitalis comes from the Latin word meaning finger as the flowers are said to resemble the fingers of a glove. The common name of beardtongue comes from the tufts of hair on the sterile stamen.

Spent blooms give way to interesting, hard coated seed pods. It can also freely reseed in areas albeit not as aggressively as lanceleaf coreopsis. Basal leaves of this plant may also retain some green during mild winters.

Grow Native! is a native plant education and marketing program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, an affiliate member of CFM. You can find suppliers of native plants to bring the beauty of native plants to your yard at www.grownative.org.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

The stunning yellow blooms on this plant hides a surprising secret - it does not appreciate care in the least. Not only is lanceleaf coreopsis sun loving, it appreciates poor, dry soil. Blooms are most plentiful from May to June, but a bloom or two may come at any time after that, especially if spent blooms are removed. Growing about 2ft tall, it can prolifically reseed in areas where it is happy.

Basal leaves can remain green during mild winters. It does not appreciate competition, but can thrive in areas such as parking lot islands and hard-packed roadsides. It also can be used as a showy cover crop while establishing a native planting. Small butterflies such as spring azures enjoy seeking nectar from the blooms.

Mary Nemececk

President of Burroughs Audubon