Hiking

Grab your hiking stick for a guided hike at Thousand Hills State Park (Adair County); 4 miles – moderate. Meet at Runge Nature Center or the trailhead. Some transportation is provided but carpooling may be necessary. Hike leaders will contact participants before the hike to give directions if needed. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and pack a lunch/snack. Registration required. Ages 18+

Join avid outdoorsman Don Brink for an introduction to backpacking. Learn about the types of equipment, things beginners should know, and places to go in the Ozarks. After attending this program you’ll be ready to head out on your own. Ages 10 to adult. Registration required.

Join us on a gorgeous, glowy hike at Emmenegger Nature Park. Golden hour is known for producing warm toned lighting, perfect for photographers or individuals looking for the best selfie to post online. Take a hike that meanders through the forest and up onto a glade-y bluff overlooking parts of the city. This hike will take place on the Bluff Creek trail on the long loop, which measures to be about 2 miles long. Wear good walking shoes, dress for the weather, and be prepared for steep inclines and declines. Participants attending the hike in a group should register each individual member attending, including children. NOTE: If the forecast is rainy or cloudy, this hike will be cancelled as we will not get the desired effect of golden hour.

Put on your hiking shoes and join us for a guided hike at Three Creeks Conservation Area (Boone County); 4 miles – moderate. Meet at Runge Nature Center or the trailhead. Some transportation is provided, but carpooling may be necessary. Hike leaders will contact participants before the hike to give directions if needed. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and pack a lunch/snack. Registration required. Ages 18+

First annual “Adventure Day” for blind and low vision individuals and their families. The Missouri Department of Conservation is partnering with the Springfield chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and Freedom Park to host the event. The event will be come and go between 9:00am –3:00pm held at Freedom Park just east of Springfield.

The day will be filled with fun adventures allowing participants to experience fishing, archery, corn hole, and nature hiking. All equipment and some adaptive equipment will be provided. All participants will be covered by a group fishing permit. Bottled water will be provided, but participants should bring snack/lunch and all other needed personal items. Participants that will be fishing near the water are encouraged to bring their own PFD (personal floatation device), but PFD will be provided. Transportation options are available in the following counties Bates, Barton, Benton, Camden, Cass, Cedar, Dallas, Henry, Hickory, Laclede, Morgan, Miller, Polk, St. Clair, and Vernon counties. Transportation by New Growth transit by calling (417)283-7991 in the following counties.

Bates, Barton, Benton, Camden, Cass, Cedar, Dallas, Henry, Hickory, Laclede, Morgan, Miller, Polk, St. Clair, and Vernon counties. The Blind Community Thrift store in Springfield is donating 50 starter packs of NaviLens codes for the first 50 participants! To register for the event:

1) Register on the Missouri Department of Conservation website

2) Call Janice with the Federation of Blind at (417)761-0253

Freedom Park

6176 State Hwy VV

Rogersville, Mo. 65742

Hiking just became more fun with nature journaling for families!

Join an MDC Naturalist in Powder Valley Classrooms C & D to learn about how your family can incorporate nature journaling into your hikes. Hear about how this simple activity can help your kiddos connect more with nature and make hikes more enjoyable, then take a guided stroll to practice some family nature journaling activities on our Tanglevine Trail (about .25 miles long). This trail is completely paved and decently flat, making for a great walk for those pushing strollers. All participants will be provided with journals and coloring/writing tools. Please wear good walking shoes, bring water, and dress for the weather. Please make sure to register all members of your group, including children, so that our naturalist can gather the right number of materials necessary.

Notes: This program takes place at Prairie Garden Trust located just north of New Bloomfield.

Celebrate the fall equinox on the trail at Prairie Garden Trust. We will hike down to Hillers Creek, a 2-mile out-and-back with opportunities for bird watching, wildlife viewing, and enjoying native plants. Wear or bring shoes that can get wet as we will also have time to explore the small creek. All ages are welcome, but this trail is not suitable for strollers or wagons of any kind. Transportation to the trailhead will not be provided. Participants will be emailed detailed information the week of the program. Registration required. All ages

Meet up with the volunteer Cerutti sisters on the hilly but paved trails at Powder Valley. This class is for parents/guardians and their babies in strollers. We will get out to take relaxing walks to enjoy the changing of the seasons. There will be frequent stops to appreciate the calmness and beauty of nature, to hydrate, take in a snack or two, and breathe the fresh air. Remember to dress for the weather and bring plenty of water and snacks.

Is it hard to find time in your busy schedule to make time for exercise? Let alone motivate yourself to get up early to exercise when you’re the only one? Join us on this sunrise hike before work and enjoy the beauty of nature and a community of other early-morning walkers as you hike one of our nature center trails. We will be hiking along one of our nature center trails, which is moderately difficult with steep grades of over 15% and is not ADA-accessible.

It’s a bird!? It’s a plane!? No- it's Missouri’s only flying mammal! Meet at the Myron & Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area parking lot for a Naturalist guided sunset hike on the Glassberg Trail to view bats as they awaken at dusk to hunt for insects as they prepare for winter hibernation or migration. As we walk, we’ll learn more about the bats of Missouri, and see what species are flying in the area using a bat detector.

The Glassberg trail is about 3 miles and is a moderately rated loop trail with hilly terrain. Most of the trail is natural surface, with a small portion that is paved, so this trail is not ADA accessible. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are highly recommended. Please bring water, a headlamp or flashlight, and any snacks you may want. Trekking poles will be available to use for anyone who wants them. We will stop several times along the trail, including at an overlook to watch the bats fly over the field and river.

Sunset is at 6:48pm, so we will be hiking in the dark with flashlights for the last half of this program.

Children are welcome to attend based on adult discretion of their ability to hike 3 miles and must be accompanied by a trusted adult.

Please register each person attending individually.