Discover outdoor fun at WOW St. Louis June 4-5

St. Louis – Are you looking for family fun with an outdoor twist? If you want to experience something new and learn more about the outdoors, WOW St. Louis is for you. Enjoy a day filled with outdoor activities at the 2011 WOW St. Louis event to be held in Forest Park on Saturday, June 4. This exciting experience begins that morning with classes in a variety of outdoor skills and ends with a cookout on Saturday night, followed by an overnight camping experience.

WOW National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School is packed with opportunities to learn skills to enhance your outdoor experience. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, Bass Pro Shops, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, Wonders of Wildlife, National Park Service, St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, St. Louis County Parks, and Audubon Society at Riverlands, the event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. An enhanced day camp experience is offered for younger participants. Participants may also register for an overnight camping experience that extends through Sunday morning. This annual event features exciting courses for adults and youth nine years and older.

This year, the event will offer classes in a variety of outdoor skills including archery, canoeing, fishing, woodworking, orienteering, rock climbing, outdoor cooking and more. WOW St. Louis is designed to teach participants how to enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation activities while practicing personal safety and outdoor responsibility.

Classes are open to anyone age nine or above. The cost to attend is $10 per person or $25 per family, making it an affordable day of family fun. Financial assistance is also available. Advance registration is required, and the deadline to register is May 25.

In addition, the “It's All About Outside” Kids Camp is open to kids ages four to eight whose parents and older siblings are participating in WOW. Led by qualified National Park Service and Missouri Department of Conservation staff and volunteers, the kids camp will offer children an exciting day of activities, including fishing, treasure hunting, crafts and games.

The day of classes will be followed by a cookout and overnight camping experience in Forest Park on Saturday night including outdoor games, a campfire and campfire stories with Cowboy Bob, a Leave No Trace Workshop, and stargazing. Tents will be available to those who don’t have one on a first-come, first served basis. The event will end on Sunday morning with breakfast snacks.

For more information or to request a registration packet, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at (314) 340-5794 or toll free at 1-800-334-6946 (voice) or 1-800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). Or, you can send an e-mail to moparks@dnr.mo.gov. Registration information and forms are also available on the Web at http://mostateparks.com/wow