Enjoy nature with free MDC programs in May at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs

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.

• A Birds Fill the Bill program will be offered from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. Birds have a variety of beak shapes and sizes to help them catch food effectively. Staff will have educational stations set up with exhibits that show how birds use their beaks to eat. Visitors can arrive any time and visit the stations at their own pace. This program open to participants ages 6 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4As.
• A Nature Rx: Birds and Blooms program will be offered from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 13. This program is part of a monthly series devoted to teaching how contact with nature can reduce stress and the health problems associated with stress. This program will focus on observing spring wildflowers and songbirds. Participants must be ages 18 and older. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Ae.
• Learn about wild edibles Teas and Tonics from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16. Instructors will teach which native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees can be used to brew teas. This program is open to participants ages 14 and older. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4An.
• A Little Acorns Nature’s Nurseries program from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17, will take participants to a pond, a prairie, and a forest to learn how baby animals are provided for in nature. This program is designed for children ages 3 to 6. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Ah.
• A Sensational Serpents program to teach the beneficial side of Missouri’s more than 40 species of snakes will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 20. The presentation will include fun facts and some of the center’s captive live snakes. This program is open to participants ages 5 and older. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4A7.

For more information about MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods.

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