MDC Offering Free "Discover Nature Girls Camp" - Kansas City Area

Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

As a father of a wonderful twelve-year-old, I have to admit... It's sometimes tough making the outdoors interesting. I love long hikes, the sounds, the smells, the freedom calls to me like an old friend and I relish ever single "conversation" I get to have with the great outdoors. Every step finds me a different view from which to marvel at her beauty. Now, that's me and my conversation with . Here's the conversation my daughter has with Mother Nature during a long walk: "O... M... G... Will it end?" That's why I keep our hikes short and I scout out most areas as well, it has to pass the "is there something cool or a big payoff on this hike" test. But I think anyone will tell you that the best way for a girl to have fun, well, it's with other girls!

Enter the Discover Nature Girls Camp

If you are looking for a way to make the outdoors more interesting for your daughter (or niece, granddaughter or just over all great girl that you love) who is between the ages of 11 to 15 and you live near Chilhowee, Missouri, you will certainly want to check out the Discover Nature Girls Camp, being held at Camp Palestine in Johnson County (see Google Map below for directions). According to the MDC site this is "a three-day, two-night camp that will introduce girls to outdoor skills in a supportive learning environment". The campers will be participating in skills including: archery, firearms safety, fishing, canoeing and water safety, with the MDC providing all of the necessary gear and materials. Who can beat that? Seriously... Who?

Registration Is Limited, So Act Now!

With a free deal this good you know there HAS to be a catch... And there is. You need to act NOW if you would like your favorite girl to participate as the Discover Nature Girls Camp is limited to 32 campers, with only the first 32 being admitted to the program. To request an application and apply for the Discover Nature Girls Camp, contact Agent Bartlett at (816) 835-6087, or call the Missouri Department of Conservation's Regional Office at (816) 622-0900. To find other GREAT programs near you visit mdc.mo.gov.

More Information:

Local Treks on facebook 
MDC Discover Nature Girls Camp webpage

Free Photography Class At Kirksville's MDC Office!

Personally, I love taking pictures and feel nearly naked on a hike if I don't have my handy Nikon by my side. I've caught wildlife at play, fragile local wildflowers blooming, and my family's adventures forever through the digital eye of my camera. I value every single snap of my camera's shutter, and I can now look back through those photos and find myself instantly teleported to that moment in time. If you too love photography or are just thinking about taking it up, you may want to read on about a free class the MDC is offering in Kirksville, MO.

If you're lucky enough to live near the Missouri Department of Conservation's Kirksville, MO office you can take advantage of a fantastic free class on nature photography this Saturday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m. The class is open to all ages, but children are required to be accompanied by an adult, and no registration is required. So bring your digital camera and dress for the season, who knows, you may very well find your inner Ansel Adams!

Directions & Address:


Missouri Department of Conservation: Northeast Regional Office
3500 S. Baltimore Street
Kirksville, MO 63501

For additional information or questions on this event, you can call MDC Naturalist Amanda Moore at (660) 785-2420 or visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's event page by clicking here.

What Are Your Thoughts On Missouri's Deer Management?

We always love coming across a family of deer quietly grazing or stealthily slipping through the forest as we hike through their home. When I see these majestic creatures it always reminds me why we always attempt to leave no trace. In order to keep Missouri's deer population (which includes white-tailed deer, mule deer, and their hybrids) the Missouri Conservation Commission has recently approved proposed regulation changes to the Wildlife Code of Missouri regarding the operation of local hunting preserves and wildlife breeding facilities.

These proposed regulation changes are up now, via the Secretary of State's Office at http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/moreg/current/v39n14/v39n14a.pdf (beginning on page 7) and primarily address the Missouri Department of Conservation's strategy to minimize the spreading of diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease, in Missouri's deer population. Chronic Wasting Disease has been identified in some captive-deer operations and is always fatal, with no known cure as of now.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation website (mdconline) the cliffnotes version of the proposed regulations include:

• Banning the imports of live deer from other states
• Requiring new and expanding captive-cervid facilities to improve their fencing
• All deer six months and older that perish in one of the captive facilities are to be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease
• Requiring captive facilities to establish better record keeping
• Prohibiting any new captive facilities to be built or established within 25 miles of confirmed Chronic Wasting Disease deaths

Now is your time to let the Missouri Department of Conservation know if you agree with these proposed regulations. You may share your comments online with them at mdc.mo.gov/deerhealth.

Keep in mind a healthy deer population is a huge boon to the state of Missouri, and with half a million deer hunters, two million wildlife watchers and many Missouri landowners who manage their property for deer all culminate in an annual economic benefit of a billion dollars!

More Information: 

MDConline: Cronic Wasting Disease
MDConline: Protecting Missouri's White-tailed Deer

Hike Through History: Trail of Tears State Park and Sheppard's Point Trail

Trail of Tears State Park, to me, is that "homely" girl in the sappy love movie. You know the one that no one pays any attention to and calls a geek, then, suddenly, she lets down her hair and takes off her glasses to reveal she's smokin' hot! For me, that is the tale of Trail of Tears State Park and this gal seems to have something for everyone: fishing, swimming, horse trails, picnicking, camping, backpacking, beautiful scenic overlooks, bird watching (people "flock" from all over to watch the Bald Eagle migration), Mississippi River access, hiking and so much more!

 

Now, I am no stranger to Trail of Tears, in college, friends and I would escape our campus confines and seek out the coolness of Lake Boutin for a dip or cast of the line, while partaking a few tasty cold beverages and observing the local bikini-clad "wildlife". Here's a quick note to those that may wish to also take a dip in Lake Boutin, wear shoes or water socks. There are still some old school pop tops (I put in this picture link because I realized a lot of folks may have no idea what that is) buried in some of the sand here so protect those tootsies! However, I was a trail virgin to over thirteen miles of pristine and well maintained trails the park harbored and after a quick internet search found that the three mile Sheppard's Point Trail could be a great "go to" hike for me and the family!

The parasitic beech drop.
Photo found on Wikipedia

Trail  of Tears State Park is very, very well marked and navigating from place to place within the park is very easy and directions are clear and evident. Upon arriving at the Sheppard's Point Trail Head, we noticed a few other cars, but we would never spot our fellow trail hikers (or hear them for that matter). We unloaded and leashed our "boys" Hudson and Hyatt, snatched our water bottles from the cooler, tightened up our laces and hit the dirt trail that headed straight into the hardwood forest. As we hiked, white oak, American beech, cucumber magnolia and beautiful tulip poplars lined the trail, as the dirt path took us to the tops of ridges and into deep valleys. Beneath the trees we saw brilliant green ferns and I took special note to look out for a rare plant, the parasitic beech drop, siphoning nutrients from the roots of the American beech.

The trail itself has some condition issues in spots (holes and root growth) and can be steep in places, but each incline of the trail is slowly adding up to one heck of a view! Nearly halfway through the hike is an awe inspiring vantage of the Mississippi River and a perfect place to take a quick rest and recharge while watching barges and tugboats navigate the mighty (and muddy) river. This point is also a prime observation point for bald eagles, particularly during the winter months. Also watch out below, there are some great drop offs that you can perch on to garner an even better view of the river, or peer directly over the edge to watch trains travel with their goods along the rails below.

After taking our break and watering both ourselves and the boys, we began to complete the Sheppard's Point loop and once back at the car, we all found that the trip was beyond enjoyable, if not a bit rough traveling up and down though. It seems as though we would be back, and soon to take a trip on another Trail of Tears hiking route... The Peewah Trail.

More Information:

Sheppard's Point Trail Map

Trail of Tears State Park
429 Moccasin Springs
Jackson, MO 63755-8295
(573) 290-5268(573) 290-5268





View Larger Map

Call

Send SMS

Add to Skype

You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype