Get Out!

Fun things to do and great places to discover nature.

• Smallmouth bass season opens for Ozark streams on May 27. Cast a crayfish lure into the deep water around boulders or under snags. With any luck, you’ll soon have a hungry smallmouth fighting on the end of your line.
• In May, monarch butterflies return from the south and begin laying eggs. Search the undersides of milkweed leaves to find the tiny white eggs. If you find one, check back every few days to watch the hungry caterpillar munch leaves.
• June 3 is National Trails Day. Celebrate by hiking a trail and picking up any trash you find along the way. Conservation areas have miles of multiuse trails to explore. Search for one nearby at mdc.mo.gov/atlas.
• To get a close-up look at the creatures that live in ponds, marshes, and streams, wash an empty bleach bottle. Cut off the bottle’s end and poke holes in the side opposite the handle. Scoop up mucky water, let it drain from the holes, and be astonished at the squiggly creatures left behind.
• May is the perfect time to start growing your own birdseed. Plant a few rows of sunflowers, and you’ll keep every cardinal, goldfinch, and chickadee in your neighborhood fat and happy all autumn long.

Looking for more ways to have fun outside? Find out about Discover Nature programs in your area at mdc.mo.gov/events.