THIS WEEK
JULY 26: Rockin’ & Readin’ Nature Tales – 10-11 a.m. for ages 2 and older at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area Nature Center in Blue Springs. A story hour to lead you on nature adventures. No registration required. Call 816-228-3766 for more information.
JULY 27: Naturalist On Call: Pesky Flying Things – 12:30-2:30 p.m. for all ages at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area in Blue Springs. Join a naturalist for an informal discussion about annoying flying insects and their importance. Flies, bees, and wasps can interrupt a picnic, but they are reasons they are needed. A naturalist will be located outside near one of the gardens. No registration required. Call 816-228-3766 for more information.
AUG. 1: Friday Night Live: Frog Festival – 6-9 p.m. for all ages at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area in Blue Springs. Learn about the importance of amphibians to the ecosystem. Frog Festival activities include walking the 5K Frog Hop. Burr Oaks asks that participants form teams of five and that each person contributes at least $5 ($25 per team) to Amphibian Ark, a global conservation response to the crisis aimed at generating awareness, education, and support for local as well as global amphibian conservation initiatives. For more information about the Year of the Frog and Amphibian Ark, go to www.amphibianark.org. Contact the Nature Center at 816-228-3766 for additional information to participate in the 5K Frog Hop.
COMING UP
AUG. 2: Missouri Department of Conservation Bow Hunter Education Class – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lake City Training Range (28900 E. Argo Road) near Blue Springs. Pre-register by calling 816-655-6250.
AUG. 2: Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education Class – 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Bass Pro Shops in Independence. Mike Mansell is the instructor. Students must be age 11 or older. Pre-register by calling 816-655-6250.
AUG. 9: Bass Pro Gun Safety Seminar – Starting at 10 a.m. at Bass Pro Shops in Independence. First 100 people to complete the free course at each store will be given a Project ChildSafe gun lock. Visit the basspro.com Web site and click on the links to the Independence store for more information.
AUG. 9: Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education Class – 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Lake City Range & Training Center near Blue Springs. Students must be age 11 or older. Jake Jacoby is the instructor. Pre-register by calling 816-655-6250.
AUG. 9: Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education Class – 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Lee’s Summit Police Department (Douglas and Tudor roads). Dan Jones is the instructor. Students must be age 11 or older. Go to north side of building to “Bail Bonding” door and ring buzzer to enter. Pre-register by calling 816-655-6250. For more information on hunter education classes in Missouri, visit the Web site (http://mdc.mo.gov/hunt/huntered/).
AUG. 9-24: Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic – A 17-day event featuring seminars and classes that focuses on hunting and the outdoors. Activities include: Outdoor University presented by Rick Windham, Aug. 16-17; Conservation Week, Aug. 10-16; Share the Harvest, Aug. 22-24; Women In the Outdoors Event, Aug. 22-23; Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations, Aug. 23-24; Antler Dogs, Aug. 23-24. Visit the basspro.com Web site and click on the links to the Independence store for more information.
AUG. 16: Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education Class – 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. Jake Jacoby is the instructor. Students must be age 11 or older. Pre-register by calling 816-655-6250.
AUG. 16: Hike Burr Oak Woods – 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for families with children ages 8 and older at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area in Blue Springs. Hike all the trails of Burr Oak Woods. Start off the morning with the Bethany Falls, Habitat and Hickory Grove Trails (approximately 5 miles). Then, break for lunch at noon and you can bring a backpack lunch to eat at the picnic shelter across from the Habitat Trail parking area (if not staying for lunch, it is a one mile walk along the road to get back to the cars parked at the Bethany Falls Trail head). At about 12:30 p.m., head down the road to the Nature Center area and hike the Missouri Tree and Discovery trails. Visitors are welcome to sign up for just the morning (a strenuous 6 miles) or afternoon (an easy approximate 1 1/4 miles) part of the program. Meet at the Bethany Falls Trail head in the morning or the Missouri Tree Trail head in the afternoon. Water bottles, sunscreen and bugspray are recommended. Call 816-228-3766 to register.
AUG. 16: Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education Class – 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit. There is a $2 building use fee per student. Class is held in the Campus Center, Room 241. Students must be age 11 or older. Don Sears is the instructor. Pre-register by calling 816-655-6250.
AUG. 23: Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education Class – 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Lone Jack Primary Education Building. Students must be age 11 or older. Andy Gerrard is the instructor. Pre-register by calling 816-655-6250.
ONGOING
RAYTOWN BASS CLUB: Local fishing club is seeking new members. For more information, call Dennis Mitchell at 913-787-5810 or visit the www.raytownbassclub.net Web site.
BURR OAKS FEEDING TIME – 3 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area in Blue Springs. Help feed the animals on display at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. No registration is required. Please call 816-228-3766 for more information.
LAKE CITY SHOOTING HOURS: Hours for public shooting are Wednesday through Sunday at Lake City Range and Training Center near Blue Springs. Shooters are required to provide own eye and ear protection. Booth fees are $3 per hour. 229-4448.
MISSOURI BOW HUNTERS ASSOCIATION: Organization dedicated to bow hunting, bow fishing and archery in the area and the state. For more information on the organization and how to join, call or write Dave Williams 816-578-4966, 69 V Street, Lake Lotawana, Mo. 64086) or Jeff Burnett (816-690-8105, 816 SE 19th Street, Oak Grove, Mo. 64075).
MISSOURI DEER HUNTERS CLUB: For more information on the organization and how to join, call 636-285-0893; write to P.O. Box 441, Dittmer, Mo. 63023; send e-mail to: deerhunt@brick.net; or visit the Web site at: ww.modeerhunter.com.
