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ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to give every student the opportunity to discover the fun of the outdoors. MDC is working with teachers to expand the opportunities for learning outdoor skills in the St. Louis area by offering a multi-day outdoor skills workshop tailored specifically for educators. Teachers have the option to attend one, all, or any combination of workshops, depending on their needs and focus areas. The workshops will take place between June 20—23.
Workshop topics include hunter education, for both student and instructor certification. Missouri's hunter education course is required for any hunter born on or after January 1, 1967. It is also recommended to all hunters, regardless of experience. Hunter education has a proven track record in Missouri for helping to instill hunting safety and ethics. Since it became mandatory in 1987, hunting incidents and deaths have been reduced by more than 70 percent.
The workshops also provide certification for Missouri’s National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP). MoNASP teaches the basics of archery as part of the school curriculum. Archery has demonstrated it can help motivate kids to attend school, increase their self-esteem and get them outdoors. It’s an activity accessible to students of almost any age or level of physical ability. Grants are even available through MoNASP to help schools acquire archery equipment.
Another workshop offers teachers the chance to become Discover Nature—Fishing instructors. MDC’s Discover Nature—Fishing Program is based on studies that show it requires multiple contacts with an activity to get someone to stick with it. Discover Nature—Fishing is a free program that consists of four progressive lessons. Each one propels newcomers one step farther through the basics of the sport, and empowers them with the knowledge to make fishing a life-long activity.
A detailed listing of each workshop is as follows:
Hunter Education Student Certification
Date: Monday, June 20, 2016
Time: 8:30-5:00
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, High Ridge
Hunter Education Instructor Certification
Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Time: 8:30-5:00
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, High Ridge
MONASP Basic Archery Instructor Certification
Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Time: 8:30-5:00
Location: St. Peters Catholic School Gymnasium/Parish Center, St. Charles
Discover Nature- Fishing Instructor Training
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2016
Time: 9:00-4:00
Location: August A Busch Memorial Conservation Area, St. Charles
Each workshop is free but advanced registration is required. For more information on MDC’s multi-day outdoor skills workshop for teachers, contact Outdoor Skills Specialist Scott Sarantakis at Scott.Sarantakis@mdc.mo.gov, or 314-301-1506, ext. 4217.
