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by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation
Applications for the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) managed deer hunts are open through July 31. MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center staff and regional staff are hosting two of the hunts in the Kansas City area. A mentored hunt for participants ages 18 and older will be offered Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22, at the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area. This hunt is open to adults who have never harvested a deer before. Mentors provided by Burr Oak Woods will assist hunters in the field. The hunting will be in forest and woodlands in some of the area’s 1,071 acres, not near the nature center building. Only 15 hunters will be allowed. Only shotguns with shotgun slug ammunition will be allowed. A mentored deer hunt for youths ages 11 to 15 will be offered Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9-10, at Smithville Lake. Hunters may use firearms including rifles. Two different hunts will be offered at the lake. Hunters must attend orientation sessions prior to the hunts. For more information and to apply for the hunts, visit MDC’s managed deer hunts page at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Wm. by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer several free programs useful to firearms owners during July at the Lake City Shooting Range near Blue Springs. That includes a free shooting day on July 15. The staffed range provides safe target shooting opportunities on rifle, pistol, shotgun, and archery ranges.
For more information about MDC’s Lake City Shooting Range, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4k9. The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer several free programs useful to firearms owners during July at the Lake City Shooting Range near Blue Springs, including a free shooting day on July 15. Photo credit: MDC
Celebrate Independence Day the old-fashioned way at Missouri Town Living History Museum, Tuesday, July 4 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., located in Jackson County’s Fleming Park near Lake Jacomo.
March in the parade, play Town Ball and enjoy patriotic activities as they did in the mid-19th century. Music, crafts and children’s games make the day exciting and educational. Hot dogs and drinks will be available for cash-only purchase. Admission is $8/adults, $4 for seniors and children (5-13). Children 4 and under are free. The Missouri Town Living History Museum is located at 8010 East Park Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64064. For additional information, visit Missouri Town online or call (816) 229-8980. Don’t fear the snake you encounter in the backyard or hiking afield. Instead, understand and respect them with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) free Snakes Alive program from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. Snakes are a valuable bug and mice eating predator in both our urban and wild lands ecosystems.
This class will teach about the different types of snakes, their habitat preferences, and their role in the natural world. A world that sometimes includes backyard gardens and fence lines. Jada Tressler, MDC naturalist, will discuss how to identify species. Tressler will also have some live, captive, snakes that are native to the Kansas City area to show participants. Snakes Alive is open to all ages. Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Pj. For more information about the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods. by Joe Jerek, Missouri Department of Conservation
With ongoing drought conditions around state, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds everyone to be extra careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. FIREWORKS: Don’t light fireworks in any areas where the sparks could ignite dry grass, leaves, or other potential fire fuel. Always have an approved fire extinguisher and an available water supply to douse sparks or flames. Wet the area around where fireworks are being discharged. Check with local ordinances and authorities for bans on fireworks and open burning. OUTDOOR BURNING: Don’t burn during wrong conditions. Dry grass, high temperatures, low humidity, and wind make fire nearly impossible to control. Check with local fire departments regarding burn bans that may be in place. A person who starts a fire for any reason is responsible for any damage it may cause. DRIVING OFF ROAD: Wildfires can start when dry fuel, such as grass, comes in contact with catalytic converters. Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field. Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle. When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact, and no oil leaks are apparent. Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road. Check for the presence of spark arresters on ATV exhausts. MAKING A CAMPFIRE: Clear a generous zone around fire rings. Store unused firewood a good distance from a campfire. Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquid to start a fire. Keep campfires small and controllable. Keep fire-extinguishing materials, such as a rake, shovel, and bucket of water, close. Extinguish campfires each night and before leaving camp, even if it’s just for a few moments. Learn more about camping on MDC areas at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/camping. CALL FOR HELP: Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control. REPORT FOREST ARSON: Wildfires are sometimes set by vandals. Help stop arson by calling 800-392-1111 and reporting any potential arson activities. Callers will remain anonymous, and rewards are possible. PRESCRIBED FIRE: Fire used in the wrong way can create disasters. Used in the right way, fire can help create habitat for wildlife. For more information on using prescribed fire as a land-management tool, visit mdc.mo.gov/your-property/fire-management/prescribed-fire. Jackson County Parks + Rec’s Sand Cinema will present Minions: The Rise of Gru on the giant inflatable movie screen at Longview Lake Beach on Friday, June 9.
Gates will open at 7:30 p.m. with the movie scheduled to begin at approximately 9:00 p.m. or once it’s dark. Admission is $10 per car. Families are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. No swimming or outside food, drink or pets are allowed. Concessions are available for visitors to enjoy. Minions: The Rise of Gru is the first of three beachfront family features this summer. The Sand Cinema schedule for summer 2023 at Longview Lake Beach is as follows, weather permitting:
“This Princess Life” will be on-site with complimentary character photos before each movie. It’s important to note that Longview Lake Beach will close at 6:00 p.m. on Sand Cinema movie nights to allow staff time to set up. Longview Lake Beach is located at 11101 Raytown Road, just two miles south of I-470. For more information and to stay up-to-date on upcoming events, visit www.makeyourdayhere.com/events. Enjoy a day filled with period music, dancing, food, crafts, games and more at the Missouri Town Spring Jamboree on Saturday, June 3 from 9:00am – 4:30pm at the Missouri Town Living History Museum, 8010 East Park Road, Lee’s Summit, MO.
Visitors of all ages will experience the work, play and daily life of Victorian children. Living history interpreters will guide activities to include lessons in the one-room schoolhouse, working the garden, competing in whistle and racing competitions, kitemaking, period children’s games, an 1850s photo booth, and caring for heritage-breed livestock. Admission is $8/adults, $4/children ages 5-13, $4/seniors 62+, and children under 4 are free. For more information, visit Missouri Town Living History Museum Jackson County MO Parks + Rec (makeyourdayhere.com). by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation
Summer brings the woods and meadows alive with native wildflowers blooming and wildlife on the move. A variety of free programs to connect people with nature will be offered during June at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. The classes are offered to a wide range of ages and abilities. Many require advance registration.
For more information about MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods. by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a free No Boundaries: Outdoor Skills event from 12:30pm to 4:00pm on Wednesday, May 31, at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. This program for ages 8 and older is designed to connect people with physical or mental ability challenges with nature and the outdoors. Guardians or assistants must accompany participants. MDC staff will teach participants skills such as fishing, canoeing, and target shooting with air rifles. All equipment and bait for fishing will be provided. Staff will coach and assist participants as they try out the skills. All lessons will be outdoors. Hats, bug spray, and sunscreen are recommended. Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4At MDC will host a No Boundaries: Outdoor Skills class on May 31st at Burr Oak Woods in Blue Springs. Photo credit: MDC
by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation May is springtime’s brightest blush, and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering several upcoming programs at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center to help people enjoy the outdoors. All activities are free, and they serve a variety of ages and abilities. Hiking trails are also open for visitors at the center, 1401 N.W. Park Road in Blue Springs. Registration is required for these programs.
MDC programs in May at Burr Oak Woods will connect visitors with birds, native plant teas, and creatures of the Missouri outdoors. Photo credit: MDC
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