There is 3 events held in the state of Missouri for National Get Kids to Parks Day; Frontier Children’s Festival in Ash Grove, Quest U City in University City, Spring Kids Fishing Day at Roaring River State Park in Casseville, MO.

That is just three places in Missouri that you can enjoy some of festivities, but if you are like me those 3 locations are a bit of a drive. Do not fret, we got ya covered! National Get Kids to Parks Day, can be any park, your local park, the State Park up the road, or a National Park that you have been dreaming of visiting.

To Locate a Park near you there is a few websites to visit: MO State Parks is one of my favorite, and how I discovered this event. Visit MO also one I frequent, let’s say daily, for recreational areas visit Missouri Department of Conservation, and do not forget Mark Twain National Park Services, all of these websites will help you locate a park near you.

Also head over to the National Park Trust Website and take your pledge to take your kids to the park on May 19, 2012 and sign up to get your own Buddy Bison.

Have an Adventures Day!

~Becky

Recent Park Adventures:
Burning off Spring Energy in the Great Outdoors
Tower Rock, Perry County Missouri
Vacation on a Dime in Missouri State Parks

A total of 21 trails for non-motorized use, such as hiking or bicycling, will receive $1.5 million; while 11 trails for motorized activities, such as off-road motorcycling or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, will receive about $780,000.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources administers Missouri’s Recreational Trails Program. Each year, the Missouri DNR administers a competitive grant process to award these federal funds for local trail projects. The funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. The Missouri DNR reviews grant applications submitted by local, state and federal agencies; non-profit organizations; and other groups, and awards the funds to projects that will best serve the recreational needs of Missourians. Applicants must supply at least at 20 percent match of the state grant.

A partial listing of these grants is as follows.

$550,000 to Eastern Missouri Non Motorized Projects

* $100,000 grant to Forest Park Forever- completion of dual trail in Forest Park.
* Audubon Center at Riverlands $100,000
* City of Chesterfield, Riparian Corridor Trail, $100,000
* City of Clayton, Shaw Park Recreational Trail, $100,000
* City of Fenton, Meramec Greenway Trailhead and Trail Connection, $51,521
* City of Sunset Hills and others, Sunset Hills Meramec Greenway, $100,000

Central Missouri Motorized Trail Projects

* Finger Lakes State Park, Columbia in Boone County – $62,824 for Off-Road Vehicle Trail Repair and Construction Equipment Purchase.
* Finger Lakes State Park, Columbia in Boone County – $99,906 for Off-Road Vehicle Children Track and Overflow Parking.

* Finger Lakes State Park, Columbia in Boone County – $126,747 for Off-Road Vehicle Loading Docks and Ramps/Restroom/Equipment/Storage.

Southeast Missouri Motorized Trail Projects

* Midwest Trail Riders Association, Iron County – $26,917 for the Viburnum Trend Riding Area Trail Renovations.
* Missouri Dirt Riders Inc., St. Francois County – $50,279 for the Monsanto Ridge Trail 110 Renovation.
* Missouri Dirt Riders Inc., St. Francois County – $66,290 for Off-road Vehicle Trailhead Restroom Replacement.
* St. Joe State Park, Park Hills in St. Francois County – $97,344 for the Off-Road Vehicle Staging Area Flush Toilets.
* St. Joe State Park, Park Hills in St. Francois County – $29,000 for the Off-Road Vehicle Staging Area Flush Toilets Phase Two.
* St. Joe State Park, Park Hills in St. Francois County – $19,500 for Off-Road Vehicle Education.
* St. Joe State Park, Park Hills in St. Francois County – $157,400 for Off-Road Vehicle Storage/Trail Equipment.
* Friends of St. Joe State Park, St. Francois County – $42,690 for the St. Joe Trail Maintenance, Signage and Restoration Project.

2010 RTP Non-Motorized Trail Projects

* Division of State Parks, Statewide – $35,000 for the Missouri State Parks Trail Book.
* Cuivre River State Park, Troy in Lincoln County – $99,828 for Equestrian Trailhead Improvement and Trail Repair Project.
* U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, John Spalding Recreation Area at Mark Twain Lake, Ralls County -$75,210 for Joanna Multi-Purpose Trail Waterborne Restroom Facilities at the trailhead.
* Van Meter State Park, Miami in Saline County -$16,664 for the Oumessourit Wetland Boardwalk addition.

Southeast Missouri Non-Motorized Trail Projects

* Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, Middlebrook in Iron County – $87,588 for an Accessible Trail to Park Store.
* Ozark Trail Association, Statewide – $26,840 for Ozark Trail Educational Maps.

Southwest Missouri Non-Motorized Trails

* Prairie State Park, Mindenmines in Barton County – $12,450 for trail bridges and gates.
* Southwest City Parks and Recreation, McDonald County – $37,035 for the Honey Creek Trail.
* Springfield Watershed Committee of the Ozarks – $85,000
* City of Bolivar – $85, 702 for Healthy Living Trail
* Table Rock State Park – $35,210 grant for improvements to the 10.25-mile White River Valley Trail
* Rockaway Beach – $84,323 to construct an ADA-accessible trail and pedestrian bridge to Lake Taneycomo’s Mallard Bay Island.

Western Missouri
Knob Noster State Park near Knob Noster to receive an $86,985 grant for renovation and construction of the McAdoo Equestrian Trail.

The recipients are expected to match at least 20 percent of the grant. A funding requirement also targets 30 percent of the funding for motorized trails, 30 percent for non-motorized trails and 40 percent for diversified trail use. Grant applications for the next fiscal year began April 1 and conclude June 13.

Festival of Lights recap:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake and the Wappapello Lions Club are proud to announce the success of another annual special event, the 18th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Auto Tour. The Redman Creek Campground was transformed into a winter wonderland by businesses, organizations and individuals who demonstrated their creativity and skills by decorating the campground with an array of Christmas lights, nativity scenes, inflatable blow ups, signs, etc. Approximately 10,500 visitors drove through the Redman Creek Campground and viewed the displays.

A special thank you is extended to all who participated and to Mr. Ray Lewis who served as a host volunteer in the campground for the duration of the event. This annual event commences on the Friday after Thanksgiving and runs through the Christmas holiday season.

*****
Dates announced for the 2011 special events at Wappapello:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake in partnership with numerous organizations, agencies, groups and individuals works diligently to bring you several events throughout the year, and we want to say thank you to all who make these events possible. The Corps takes pride in assuring that its events are family oriented and open to the public at no charge.

The schedule of special events for 2011 is as follows:

April 2 Annual Spring Roadside Cleanup ( April 9 Rain Date )
April 16-17 Annual Old Greenville Black Powder Rendezvous
June 11 Annual Army Birthday and Military Celebration
June 18 Annual Kid’s Get Outdoors Fun Day
July 2 Ranger Willie’s Wet and Wild Water Fest
September 2-5 Annual 25 Mile Labor Day Weekend Yard Sale
September 16-18 20th Annual Old Greenville Days
September 24 National Public Lands Day
October 1 W.O.O.D.S. Event
October TBA Annual Mobility Impaired Deer Hunt
November 25 thru Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Auto Tour
December 31

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Opportunities abound to take a winter hike:

Did you make your New Year’s resolution to get fit? Well, let us help you! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake invites you to check out our National Recreation Trails: Pine Ridge, Lost Creek, Johnson Tract Natural Area, Ozark Trail, and Memory Lane Historic Walk. A walk with nature is sure to help you on your fitness journey, let you experience the sights and sounds of wildlife, and enjoy some fresh Missouri air. And while enjoying your hike, bring some binoculars for an added “Audubon” experience.

Pine Ridge Nature Trail is a ¾ mile double loop trail located in the Spillway Recreation Area near the Management Office. This wood-chipped trail meanders through fragrant pine trees along the short ½ mile loop or the larger ¾ mile loop.

Lost Creek Nature Trail is a one mile trail with a ½ mile Watchable Wildlife Loop located five miles north of the dam on Highway D, then left on County Road 523 (follow signs). You can relax at the overlook or bench located along the trail. Great blue herons and eagles are common sights when viewing the waters of the wildlife refuge along this trail.

Missouri has an outstanding state park system, with 83 total parks and historic sites. The parks are generally safe and clean, and they hold miles and miles of trails for walking and hiking. Hawn State Park is one of the larger parks in the area. It’s 4,953 acres boast hiking, camping, and picnicking.

Pickle Creek, which runs through the park, crosses the trails in several places, creating a sense of adventure for the novice hiker, as stepping (or leaping, when the water is higher) across large rocks is a requirement of continuing down the trail. This photo is of the first creek crossing we came to:

I’ve been coming to Hawn State Park off and on since I started driving, at 16 years old. The trails have changed a bit, as errosion has affected some of the steeper trails. The dogwood tree is the state tree of Missouri. The view from this bluff today was made more beautiful thanks to the white flowers on the dogwood trees:

While I can’t verify this, I believe that the first six miles or so of trail would be Class 1. I hiked today in trail running shoes, though boots, particulary water proof ones, would have proven helpful in a few spots. I can’t vouch for the other four miles of trail, though my friend claims that they do get more difficult as the trail goes deeper into the park.

According to the park map, there is a total 10 miles of hiking along a large figure eight trail. At least one shorter trail exists. My friend and I hiked half of one of the two looped trails that make up the larger figure eight. Trail signs recommend that you allow up to nine hours to hike the full 10 miles, though based on my experience this afternoon, I think that nine hours is a very conservative hike time.

Hawn State Park is located 60 miles south of St. Louis between Farmington and Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, in Ste. Genevieve County. The drive from Farmington is roughly 20 minutes, while the drive from the intersection of Hwy 32 and Interstate 55 is slightly shorter. The park is located off of Route 144, which can be reached from Missouri State Highway 32 in Ste. Genevieve County. Find detailed directions here.

This small town girl recommends Hawn State Park for longer, overnight hikes, as well as for family picnics and day trips.

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Originally posted on A Small Town Girl’s Guide. ]]> http://rhtrav.com/wordpress/hawn-state-park/feed/ 0 http://rhtrav.com/wordpress/traveler-ventures-into-video/ http://rhtrav.com/wordpress/traveler-ventures-into-video/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:00:01 +0000 Emery http://rhtrav.com/wordpress/?p=1124 By Emery Styron

This is Traveler’s first foray into video production. We hope you like it. The video was shot at our office in Valley Park, Mo., using hand puppets owned by our assistant editor, Jo Schaper. Jo and yours truly were running the puppets, while Jo’s brother, Bill Schaper, operated the camera.

My son, Jackson Styron, who has a degree in film production from Webster University and does freelance video work in Washington, D.C., edited our rough takes and added subtitles and music, using Final Cut Pro software.

The video is posted on YouTube with tags such as “Missouri outdoors” that will help our audience find it. It is also posted on Traveler’s Facebook page, my personal Facebook page, Traveler’s own website and on Styron Observer. The idea is to get it out there on all the channels we have available. It can also be played on a computer at trade shows or run on local cable television.

We did this project for fun and for a serious purpose. We want to promote Traveler in a way that appeals to the younger, video-oriented generation. We’re also developing our own video production skills so we can offer this service to Traveler Publishing Company’s customers.

If you are interested in a video for your business, please send us an email or give us a call. We’re happy to consult with you at no charge to understand your needs and objectives. We can produce a video to your specifications using existing footage, and adding type, voice overs, special effects and music. We can also shoot high definition footage at your location.

Contact Emery Styron, 800-874-8423 ext. 1, estyron@rhtrav.com or Jackson Styron, jstyron@styronmedia.com, phone 202-290-0379.