MDC offers free holiday décor classes in the Kansas City are

Kansas City, Mo. – Tap nature for festive décor as the holidays arrive. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering free upcoming classes in the Kansas City area that teach how to use natural materials for crafts and holiday decorations.

• Learn how to make wreaths from natural materials from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, at MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. Participants are asked to bring a base, which can be purchased at local craft stores, and MDC will provide the natural materials. This class is open to participants ages 14 and older. Those under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. To register, visit http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZPh.
• Burr Oak Woods will offer a Kids Natural Craft Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 9. Participants can use natural materials to make one-of-a-kind gifts or to keep for themselves. MDC provides the materials. This program is open to all ages. Registration is required. To register, visit http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZPD.
• Learn to deck the halls with crafting materials found in backyards, prairies, and forests from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. Sessions for this popular annual program fill up quickly, so register early. Participants will build wreaths or other holiday décor using native evergreens, prairie grasses, wild nuts, berries, and seed pods. The classes are open to participants ages 12 and older. To register for the 11:30 session, visit http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZPK. For the 1 p.m. session, visit http://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zmu.
• Refresh from winter cold with hot tea made from native Missouri plant materials from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Gorman Discovery Center. The tea will be served alongside displays of native leaves and stems used to make the teas. All ages are welcome, registration is not required.

Information about Burr Oak Woods is available at  https://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods, and learn about Discovery Center at https://mdc.mo.gov/discoverycenter.