JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – If you’re looking for a quick getaway before school starts again, be sure to check out these activities at state parks and historic sites in the St. Louis Region.
- Thursdays, Aug. 15 and 29 at 10 a.m.: Toddler Thursday at Mastodon State Historic Site
Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site! Toddler Thursday programs are designed for toddlers and their grown-ups. Each Toddler Thursday focuses on a different topic and includes hands-on activities. Toddler Thursdays take place outside in the field near the museum. Participants should dress for the weather. In the event of inclement weather, including extreme heat, the program will be moved indoors to the museum auditorium. To register, call 636-646-2976. The fun begins at 10 a.m. at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. - Various dates in August, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Missouri Becomes a State at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. In August 1821, Missouri officially became a state. That same year, the state seal was designed. All the elements in the design have meaning to the state’s history, as well as hopes for its future development. Join the team in the Shaw House throughout August to learn the history of the seal and make your own while supplies last. Dates the supplies are available are Aug. 7-11, 14-18, 21-25 and 28-31. Felix Vallé House State Historic Site is located at 200 Merchant St. in Ste. Genevieve.
- Wednesdays – Sundays, August through Sept. 1, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: The History of Slavery in St. Louis at Felix Vallé Historic Site. The History of Slavery in St. Louis exhibit was developed by Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site park staff in consultation with an advisory panel of area historians and educators, and is on loan to the Felix Vallé House State Historic Site from Aug. 1 through Sept. 1. The institution of slavery existed in St. Louis for more than 100 years and when the Civil War broke out, nearly 4,500 Black Americans were enslaved within the city’s limits. Using primary sources, historical artifacts and individual stories of enslavement, this exhibit aims to connect the growth of slavery with the political, economic and social history of the Gateway to the West during the 18th and 19th centuries. Felix Vallé House State Historic Site is located at 200 Merchant St. in Ste. Genevieve.
- Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m.: Junior Explorers at Mastodon State Historic Site
Calling all junior explorers! Join us for outdoor learning and fun! In this free, interpreter-led program, participants will engage in hands-on activities to explore the great outdoors. This program is designed for families with young children, and the event will take place entirely outdoors. Participants are encouraged to wear weather-appropriate clothing that they are comfortable after getting dirty or wet. Explorers should meet at the playground in the picnic area located at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial.
Friday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m.: Night Hike at Mastodon State Historic Site See the park through the lens of one of the many nocturnal animals that live in the area during a short night hike. We’ll talk about the special adaptations that nocturnal animals have to help them survive and thrive in the dark. The hike will take place on Spring Branch Trail, a 0.8-mile trail with a flat, packed-gravel surface. The trail is accessible to strollers and wagons, so bring your little ones, along with a flashlight or headlamp. Registration is required and space is limited, so call or text 636-215-9784 to sign up. Participants will meet at the Spring Branch Trail trailhead, located in the picnic area at 1800 Seckmand Road in Imperial.
- Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Jour de Fête at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. Felix Vallé House State Historic Site will participate in St. Genevieve’s annual Jour de Fête, southeast Missouri’s largest outdoor crafts fair. Shop unique finds and enjoy live music, foods, living history demonstrations and other free activities. Event times across downtown vary. Crafters will be present on the grounds of Felix Vallé House State Historic Site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The event is free and open to the public. The event takes place outside, so be sure to dress for the weather. For more information, go to visitstegen.com.
- Sunday, Aug. 11 at 10 a.m.: Stream Team Volunteering at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park. Are you interested in volunteering for a one-time event (or more) that allows you help with a Stream Team event? Then sign up to be selected to help out. This event helps the park collect data on stream health by looking at both the aquatic invertebrates and the chemical analysis of the stream. Seats are limited to 20. To register, visit icampmo.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Default.aspx and use the “Choose Date” option to find the event. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park is located at 800 Guy Park Drive in Wildwood.
- Monday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m.: Mondays at Mastodon: Hunting the Herd at Mastodon State Historic Site. Learn and have fun at Mondays at Mastodon! This free program is designed for families with elementary-aged children, but all families are welcome. Registration is required and can be done by calling 636-215-9784 or by visiting icampmo.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Default.aspx. Participants will try hunting with an atlatl and learn how Missouri’s megafauna went extinct. Meet at the museum entrance at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
- Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 2-4 p.m.: Explorer Hour at Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site. Become a Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites explorer! This program is a great way to learn about nature and Missouri’s past. An interpreter will be stationed at Sandy Creek Covered Bridge with various interpretive activities. This program will help you launch or complete your Explorer Patch journey. Registration is not required. In the event of inclement weather or extreme heat, you are encouraged to call the site office at 636-464-2976, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site is located at 9090 Old Lemay Ferry Road in Hillsboro.
For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.