Discover Nature Events

Artwork on display in lobby.

Carnivore, Herbivore, or Omnivore? Let’s learn all about what, how, and why Missouri mammals are eating! Together we’ll investigate a few awesome animals, looking at their teeth, their habitat and their scat to determine what they might be eating. Afterwards, each participant will be able to make and accessorize their very own slime to take home inspired by one of the animals they learned about.

All materials will be provided, including disposable gloves for slime making. It is recommended to bring an old t-shirt or smock for slime making.

Please register each individual who will be making slime. Parents who will not be making their own slime do not need to register. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

What looks like a spikey dinosaur patrolling the murky bottoms of our southeast Missouri swamps is actually the largest species of freshwater turtle in North America. Join us as we dive into the natural history of this turtle and separate fact from fiction.

Artwork on display in lobby.

Volunteer Naturalist Myra Scroggs will help you find migrating birds during this indoor and outdoor program. Ages 7 to adult.

Have you ever walked by a wildflower and wished you knew what it was? Well, this is your program! April showers bring an abundance of colorful May flowers to our Missouri landscape. In this program, you will learn how to identify these flowers and enjoy a short walk around the nature center trails and grounds to find these beautiful blooms. Afterwards, cool down by enjoying some dandelion iced tea and dandelion cookies.

Walk-in (all ages) April showers bring May flowers, and lots of them! Native plants are blooming left and right this time of year. Join our native landscape specialists for a springtime walk around the grounds. This program is in partnership with Deep Roots KC. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

Explore the different species of cicadas found in Missouri and learn about the emergence of the periodical cicadas this summer. Please include a valid email address when you register so we can send you a virtual program link. This program will not be recorded.

Share the experience of spring bird migration with us! Kennedy Forest in Forest Park attracts a high concentration of beautiful birds, and it's a "collector" for these birds escaping the concrete of the city. They will be looking for food, hopping around in the trees, and singing their little hearts out. How do they have enough energy and spunk to be singing after flying hundreds, if not thousands of miles?

If migration allows, we will be in for a spectacular show of colors, patterns, energy, and endurance! We will be moving very slowly through the forest along 0.5 miles of blacktop trail and boardwalks, looking for and learning about warblers, buntings, orioles, grosbeaks, flycatchers, and more!

We encourage all to attend. No prior bird knowledge required. Dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, bird field guide, and binoculars if you have them. There will be a limited number of binoculars to borrow.

**We will meet at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Forest. We'll meet near the corner of Wells Drive and the road leading to the Forest Park Picnic Pavilion #11. Park on Wells Drive.**

Please register each participant individually.

From fluttering wings to tiny paws, we'll discover how pollinators help flowers bloom and fruit grow!