ShareText and Photos by Jo Schaper

A couple weeks ago when I went to Shannon County for the Current River public meeting, we stayed over because Eugene had work to do on the way home at Montauk on Sunday.
He and Steve Bost, the naturalist there, went off on some A/V maintenance issue, leaving me to [...]

ShareBy Jo Schaper
Current River State Park has been in a contentious limbo since a 780-acre portion of the old Alton Club/Jerry J. Presley Center was transferred from the Missouri Department of Conservation to the Department of Natural Resources-Division of State Parks in March 2008.
At an open house/picnic on April [...]

ShareFor more information: 573-751-1010
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The public is invited to bring their ideas to an informational meeting Saturday, April 28, in the gymnasium located in Current River State Park outside of Salem. The informational meeting will begin at 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
Current River State Park is currently under development. [...]

ShareJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri State Parks encourages its vistors to help implement a green initiative, Camp Smart, throughout its park system that will help conserve energy, protect the environment and save money. Reducing energy use will also help Missouri State Parks keep camping fees low.
“We are about fun in the outdoors, but we [...]

ShareBat festival swoops into Onondaga
By Tom Uhlenbrock
Missouri State Parks
LEASBURG, Mo. – Rob Mies is coming to Missouri’s first ever Bat Festival on Saturday, April 21, at Onondaga Cave State Park. And he’s bringing a few of his furry friends.
Mies is the director and founder of the Organization for Bat Conservation, the largest grassroots bat conservation [...]

ShareA new water line construction project will provide better service this spring to guests and visitors at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. In April, Missouri State Parks will begin installing new water lines, spigots and valves at many locations throughout the park.
During [...]

ShareBy Tom Uhlenbrock
Missouri State Parks
MIAMI, Mo. – Wave after wave of migrating waterfowl moved in V formations across the winter sky on this late afternoon. The landscape below of marsh, wet prairie and forest known as the Oumessourit Natural Area was filled with the cries of Canada geese, snow geese and ducks. A bald eagle [...]

ShareThe state of Missouri has put a Trout Cam out there at Bennett Spring State Park:
Enjoy!

Share(Traveler note: Jo got to meet and chat with Mr. Hammond at the St. Louis Boat Show. Nice fellow!)
State Park Stories
Text and photos by Tom Uhlenbrock
Missouri State Parks
PITTSBURG, Mo. – The long, silvery body of a large fish broke the glassy surface of Pomme de Terre Lake just as Earle Hammond brought his pontoon [...]

ShareRecently I was reading a post by a fellow Mommy Blogger about State Parks in Illinois and bringing fun back to nature. I applaud her for being uniquely different, and speaking out that fun can be focused around real things.
Many of us forget about visiting our State Parks, and even more [...]