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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center has a full schedule of programs planned for August, which includes canoeing, pinning insects, and making jams and jellies. Some programs require registration in advance, so Cape Nature Center Assistant Manager Jamie Koehler said it’s important guests familiarize themselves with MDC’s event website for the center at www.mdc.mo.gov/southeastevents.
Koehler said the feature event in August is FlutterbyFest, Saturday, Aug. 3, from 1 to 4 p.m.
“Summer breezes lift butterflies, moths, and skippers up into the sunlight and they’re so fun to learn about while they’re out in the open,” said Jamie Koehler, assistant manager of the nature center. “The ponds are a buzz with dragonflies right now, so we’ll be learning about these fascinating insects.”
Koehler said activities at FlutterbyFest will encourage children to experience life as a butterfly as they explore the butterfly life cycle. There will be caterpillar races, as well as specimens and displays depicting the differences between moths and butterflies.
“We’ll be hanging out at the pond watching and maybe catching some dragonflies,” Koehler said. “We’ll also talk about dragonfly migration and how they actually travel farther than butterflies.”
Koehler added a reminder that this, like all events the nature center, is a free event. Children are welcome to wear any wings or antennae to this event. No registration is required and all families and groups are welcome.
Koehler also said parents should also know about regular occurring age-specific programs at the center, such as Babes in the Woods, Little Acorns, and Conservation Kids. Babes in the Woods is specifically designed to give infants and toddlers up to two years old an introduction to nature. Little Acorns is for children ages three to six, and Conservation Kids is for children ages seven to 11.
“One size doesn’t always fit all, so we have programs that happen every month that are designed for the specific needs of these age groups,” Koehler said. “This tailoring to age ranges helps to engage children where their needs are at each age and gives them a wonderful foundation of nature knowledge to build on as they get older.”
August programs at the nature center include:
Nature center guests can conveniently manage program registration online at www.mdc.mo.gov/southeastevents. The first step in registering for a program is creating a profile, then signing up for future programs is simple. Once someone creates a profile and registers for an event, they will receive details about programs they’ve registered for.
“Another popular feature we offer is our texting subscription,” Koehler said.
The nature center sends program registration reminders and updates to those who sign up by texting, MDC Nature, to 468311. Koehler said an online subscription is also available to “sign up for updates” at www.mdc.mo.gov. A variety of updates are available at this option, but Cape Girardeau specific updates are available under facility updates and news for southeast region.
Find information about age specific monthly programs, such as Little Acorns, Babes in the Woods, and Conservation Kids, as well as other programs at www.mdc.mo.gov/southeastevents. Events at the nature center are free, thanks to the 1/8th of 1 percent Conservation State Sales Tax. The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature is located inside Cape County Park North, just east of I-55 exit 99.
