CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For many adults, summertime as a child meant freedom. It was a time of relaxation, and a break from the daily school grind with all the time in the world to enjoy nature. This summer, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center is offering that same sense of liberty during Grand Adventure Camps.
Register today – it’s FREE – so you and your grandchildren can have that lifelong memory of taking things slow (the way summer was meant to be).
Conservation Families: Grand Adventure Camp: A Day on the Water | Registration period: April 12 – May 30 | When: 9 a.m. – noon on Tuesday, May 31 | Where: Tywappity Community Lake
What better way to spend time with your grandkids than fishing and canoeing? This camp is part of our “Grand Adventure” series targeted at students aged 6-12 and their grandparents. Activities will be at a beginner level and all instruction and supplies will be provided; you are welcome to sign up for any number of these half day adventures. Please make sure to register everyone that will be attending.
For this program, participants will meet at Tywappity Community Lake near Chaffee. Participants are asked to dress for the weather and water, with quick drying clothes or swimwear and a water bottle. A more detailed itinerary and packing list will be provided prior to the event.
If you are participating in Cape Nature Center’s “A Year in Color,” this program earns a blue aquatics bead.
Conservation Families: Grand Camp: Exploring the Forest as a Naturalist | Registration period: April 12 – May 31 | When: 9 a.m. – noon on Wednesday, June 1 | Where: Cape Girardeau Nature Center
Explore the forest at the Cape Nature Center through the eyes of a naturalist. During this program we’ll stop to smell the flowers, explore the microscopic world in the undergrowth, and test our senses as we take in the beauty of a Missouri forest. This camp is part of our “Grand Adventure” Series targeted at students aged 6-12 and their grandparents. Activities will be at a beginner level and all instruction and supplies will be provided; you are welcome to sign up for any number of these half day adventures. Please make sure to register everyone that will be attending.
For this program, participants will meet at the Cape Nature Center. Participants are asked to dress for the weather, bring athletic or hiking type shoes, and a water bottle. A more detailed itinerary and packing list will be provided prior to the event.
If you are participating in Cape Nature Center’s “A Year in Color,” this program earns a yellow adventure bead.
Conservation Families: Grand Adventure Camp: Creek Crawl | Registration period: April 12 – June 1 | When: 9 a.m. – noon on Thursday, June 2 | Where: Old Plantation Access
Missouri’s many clear-running streams are nature’s waterpark. These habitats are filled with sun, fun, and all sorts of amazing creatures and discoveries to explore! This camp is part of our “Grand Adventure” Series targeted at students aged 6-12 and their grandparents. Activities will be at a beginner level and all instruction and supplies will be provided; you are welcome to sign up for any number of these half day adventures.
For this program, participants will meet at Old Plantation Access Conservation Area (CA) west of Millersville. Participants are asked to dress for the weather and water, with quick drying clothes or swimwear, water shoes, and a water bottle. A more detailed itinerary and packing list will be provided prior to the event.
If you are participating in Cape Nature Center’s “A Year in Color,” this program earns a red wildlife bead.
Conservation Families: Grand Adventure Camp: Getting Creative | Registration period: April 12 – June 2 | When: 9 a.m. – noon on Friday, June 3 | Where: Cape Girardeau Nature Center
Let’s get our creative brains pumping! This morning of nature crafts and campfire cooking is sure to please. This camp is part of our “Grand Adventure” series targeted at students aged 6-12 and their grandparents. Activities will be at a beginner level and all instruction and supplies will be provided; you are welcome to sign up for any number of these half day adventures.
For this program, participants will meet at the Cape Nature Center. Participants are asked to dress for the weather and some time on the trails, with athletic or hiking shoes and a water bottle. A more detailed itinerary and packing list will be provided prior to the event.
If you are participating in Cape Nature Center’s “A Year in Color,” this program earns a purple craft and cooking bead.
Registration
Advance registration is required for most programs and can be completed here. All family members that plan to attend in-person and virtual events must be registered. First, create a profile here. Once a profile is created and event registration is complete, additional details about programs will be sent via email. If you’re having difficulty registering online, you may contact the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center at (573) 290-5218.
Stay connected
Questions about events can be emailed to MDC Cape Nature Center Manager Laci Prucinsky at Laci.Prucinsky@mdc.mo.gov.
The Cape Nature Center sends program registration reminders and updates to those who sign up by texting “MDC Nature” to 468311. 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.
Cape Girardeau Nature Center is located at 2289 County Park Dr. in Cape Girardeau, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. White Oak Trace Trails are open daily, from sunrise – 10 p.m.