Discover Nature Events

Join us for a virtual journey through the skies as we explore Missouri’s birds of prey. Please include a valid email address when you register so we can send you a virtual program link. This program will not be recorded.

Registration required by visiting www.deeproots.org/get-involved (ages 15+) June is the start of spectacular prairie blooms. Get your hands dirty and learn how to maintain full-sun species in your native garden. All experience levels are welcome. Enjoy a naturalist-led garden tour following the end of the session. Contact cydney@deeprootskc.org for more information.

Registration required (adults) Today's sophisticated phone cameras have opened up a whole new way to shoot and enjoy nature photography and there is no better time to capture wildflower images than the first week of June when all across Missouri prairies are bursting with color. Learn about tallgrass prairie plants while making great images as we explore the Discovery Center's native landscape. We will teach you three basic photography skills that will instantly make you a better nature photographer using your phone. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Registration required (adults) Join MDC's Communication Branch Chief, Heather Feeler, for this fun and lighthearted presentation. So many of us feel like we are in survival mode tackling life's challenges. Get your groove back and stay inspired with Heather's strategies to refocus your day, take back your schedule and rekindle your passion for life through gratitude. Get your gratitude mojo back in no time with helpful tips on finding inspiration, mentoring and maybe even a daily dose of laughter. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor after registering and at least one week prior to the program.

Discover the importance of Missouri reptiles and amphibians and see what it takes to keep our education animals happy and healthy. Bring your family and watch as we introduce and feed several different reptiles and amphibians. Youth and adult organizations welcome.

Walk-in (all ages) The Missouri Department of Conservation and Kansas City Police Department are partnering to offer a free movie experience at the Discovery Center. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs as a naturalist provides a short introductory program to get you connected with nature. The family friendly movie "Migration" will start at sunset with movie snacks available. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

If you're wondering what a glade is, or how to manage and restore one on your property, then this workshop is for you! Join MDC's Private Land Conservationists, Mark McLain and Danita Rechkemmer for a glade workshop at Glade Top Trail. This workshop will be a driving tour with 5 stops, including lunch.

Meet us at the Ava USDA NRCS office at 8:30AM on June 8th. Carpooling will be our best option but some may have to drive, or if you prefer to drive, expect rough road conditions.

Directions: From Mansfield take HWY 5 South to Ava. Turn left at the first stop light on Springfield Rd, continue for .1 miles and turn left onto Haden St, (right after signal gas station before the bank). Continue straight until road ends, it’s the large building on the left. Parking is on the left and in front of the USDA building.

Special instructions:

1. Lunch will be provided by MDC – if you have special dietary needs, please contact Mark McLain at mark.mclain@mdc.mo.gov

2. We will try to carpool from the USDA office to reduce the number of vehicles, but some participants may have to drive.

3. If you prefer to drive yourself, bring a vehicle that can traverse several miles of rough county gravel roads and Forest Service trails.

4. This is a remote location with no amenities.

Meet at the Nature Center and carpool to Prairie State Park which encompasses nearly 4,000 acres of tallgrass prairie in western Barton County near Lamar. This 2.5-mile hike covers uneven and possible muddy terrain. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring binoculars if you have them. Bring a sack lunch, water, snacks, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Ancestral Skills Specialist Don Brink will demonstrate how to start a fire without matches and butane. Learn multiple methods of fire-starting and try your hand at this age-old skill. All ages.

Walk-in (ages 12+) Nature provides incredible inspiration and one-of-a-kind supplies in our own backyards. As spring and summer colors have exploded at the Discovery Center, we've collected dried stems, flowers, leaves, grasses and more from our landscape to help you tap into your creative side. Explore a variety of colors and textures as you create your own natural summer garden lantern! If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.