Calendar of Prairie-Related Events
SAVE THE DATE!! OCTOBER 26-29, 2010
37th Annual National Natural Areas Conference in Missouri
This annual national conference brings together natural area conservation professionals, students and other dedicated, passionate conservationists.
There will be a special MPF-cosponsored Prairie Ecology and Management workshop on Oct. 27 and a guided prairie field trip on Oct. 28.
Register now--early bird full and daily registration rates available until September 15--for this national conference held this year at Tan-Tar-A Resort at Lake of the Ozarks. There is an impressive schedule of speakers, workshops, poster session, vendors, field trips and other activities. The last time this conference was held in Missouri was 2000--so don't miss this one! Full and daily registration is available. Visit the conference web site for full details and to register.
Workshop speakers include:
Patch-Burn Grazing & Grassland Conservation--Samuel Fuhlendorf, Oklahoma State University
Nesting Ecology of Grassland Birds--James Herkert, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Prairie Plant Ecology--Kevin James, National Park Service
Mead's Milkweed Occurrence & Management--Emily Horner, biologist
Hydrology & Water Quality Characteristics of Tallgrass vs. Agricultural Soils--David Heimann, USGS
Prairie Invertebrate Ecology and Management--James Trager, Shaw Nature Reserve
UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER, 2010
Native Plant School offered by Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO.
*****AUGUST 1-31, 2010*****
Global Fayre Fundraiser for MPF
Buy holiday gifts early--fair trade, free shipping and benefits MPF!
Global Fayre is a a fair trade gift store at 324 S. Campbell, Springfield MO and is offering 10% of sale proceeds to MPF, including in-store and on-line purchases. Free shipping!
HOURS:
Tuesday through Thursday 10AM to 6PM
Friday and Saturday 10AM to 7PM
Phone: 417-873-9792; info@globalfayre.com
To make an on-line purchase, visit Global Fayre and enter the coupon code PRAIRIE at checkout. When buying items in the store, kindly mention the MPF fundraiser.
Pictured above are, from left, MPF President Stan Parrish, MPF board member Glenn Chambers, and David Crump, co-owner of Global Fayre, on August 6 at Global Fayre. Behind them are several of Glenn's prairie grouse images that were on display for the evening.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2010
Overnight campout on the prairie
Preregistration is required
call (417) 843-6711 or email prairie.state.park@dnr.mo.gov
Prairie State Park 128 NW 150th Lane, Mindenmines MO
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
10AM to 4PM Biennial Prairie Jubilee Event ~ FREE!
Prairie State Park 128 NW 150th Lane, Mindenmines MO (Barton County)
Enjoy many activities on Missouri's largest publicly owned, original prairie--almost 4,000 acres!
Enjoy many prairie-related stations, demonstrations and activities, including: Living History Loop, Historic Children's Games, Bison Tours, Civil War Drill Stations, Nerf Cannon Demonstration, Period Music, Bison Chip Throwing Contest, Native Plants for Sale, One-Room School, BBQ Bison Lunch, Face Painting, and an Indian Flute Demonstration.
There will also be a Prairie Wilderness Backpack Campout Sept. 24th. Call (417) 843-6711 to register for the campout by Sept. 17th.
For more information contact the park at (417) 843-6711.
Volunteers are needed to staff the MPF booth at the Jubilee--contact MPF member Van Wiskur at 816-651-4809 if you can help for an hour
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
10AM TO 4PM Prairie Day Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit MO
Enjoy this popular, biennial event near St. Louis!
COST: $3 Missouri Botanical Garden members and Shaw Nature Reserve passholders; $5 nonmembers; $1 for children 12 and under
Hitch up the wagons and head out to Prairie Day at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit. This fun-filled family event portrays prairie heritage through activities and demonstrations, and showcases the Reserve’s 250-acre re-created tall grass prairie. Hike with a naturalist through the prairie to learn about prairie life, check out the teepee, play pioneer games, listen to a live band, and watch weavers, spinners and other craft demonstrations.
Some of the exhibits include mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and insects. Living history characters will re-enact the lives of early prairie inhabitants. An archaeologist and a flint-knapper will display and interpret artifacts of prairie life. Native plant nurseries will sell wildflowers and seeds.
Hungry? Visit the concessions to purchase bison burgers, homemade baked goods, root beer, and kettle corn. Come join the fun!
SPONSORS: Missouri Department of Conservation, Shaw Nature Reserve
Shaw Nature Reserve of the Missouri Botanical Garden, in Gray Summit, Mo., is located south of Interstate 44 at exit #253; watch for signs to the designated parking area.
INFO: (636) 451-3512
Volunteers are needed to staff the MPF booth at Prairie Day--contact MPF board member Bill Davit at 636-390-8025 if you can help for an hour.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
10AM to 2PM IN TOUCH WITH NATURE FIELD DAY IN JEFFERESON CITY
Come out to Lincoln University's Busby Farm and enjoy native plant garden tours, farm animal petting zoo, fish i.d., wagon tours, and more!
Lincoln University Cooperative Extension invites you to attend its third annual field day at Alan T. Busby Farm located on Goller Rd. off US-54 W, 5 minutes from Jefferson City.
Great for families! Presenters include LU staff/faculty, Missouri Department of Conservation, MU-Extension, and others local groups. During this field day visit exhibits, get involved with hands-on demonstrations, and take part of walking or wagon tours.
Activities include native plant garden tours, dutch-oven cooking demonstrations and food tasting, storytelling, pet zoo with chicken, goats and sheep, mini-pet zoo with amphibians and fish, insect id, and more. Learn about prairie and woodland native plants beneficial for pollinators and other wildlife. Environmental education activities will be offered for children.
For more information about this event and if you or your group are interested in having an exhibit please contact Nadia Navarrete-Tindall or Kathy Wildhaber.
Directions to the farm: From Columbia, head on US-63, merge onto US-54 W/US-63 S via the ramp to Jefferson City. Continue to follow US-54 W for 7.9 miles, after passing Neighorn creek, take the left side of the road on a long hill, turn left just at the crest of the road on Monticello Rd. (opposite small Phillips gas station) and right on Goller Rd. Once on Goller Rd. look for signs and balloons.
Volunteers are needed to help staff an MPF booth at this event. If you can help for an hour, please contact Carol Davit or 1-888-843-6739.
OCTOBER 5 - 8, 2010
7th Eastern Native Grass Symposium Flyer (PDF)
“Native Grasses on Working and Natural Landscapes”
Knoxville Marriott Hotel, Knoxville, TN
The Eastern Native Grass Symposium features a special emphasis on working landscapes that will include sessions on biofuels, ecosystem restoration, forage, seed production/landscaping, land reclamation (mines, landfills, etc.) wildlife management and other topics of interest for native grasses in the eastern United States and Canada.
Several field trips are being planned to sites in East Tennessee that will include the recently completed cellulosic biofuels production facility, the first of its kind in the United States, associated biomass production fields (switchgrass), forage production fields, the largest oak savannah restoration project east of the Mississippi, a pine savannah restoration site, wildlife management areas, and more.
The symposium will be held in downtown Knoxville,Tennessee at the Knoxville Marriott. Reservations may be made by contacting them at 800-228-9290 or at the same web page where you register for the meeting and clicking on the link named “Hotel.” (make sure to use the group code "gragraa" to receive the discounted rate)
You may register on-line and click on the links named “Native Grass Symposium” and “Register On-Line Now.” Rates will go up after August 25. A credit card is required to register on-line. If you would prefer to pre-register using a check, you may do so by sending your payment, along with a printed registration form (see above link to obtain a copy) to: Eastern Native Grass Symposium Registration, Attn: Lisa Cashion, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Rm 274 EPSB, Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
Please plan to join us in East Tennessee for an excellent program, greatfield trips, and an outstanding opportunity to network with leaders and practitioners in the native grass field!
***SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010*** MPF EVENT
4:30PM MPF Annual Meeting and Board meeting, Cole Camp
Second Annual Missouri Prairie Foundation & Audubon Missouri Cole Camp Prairie Day Reception Oct. 9
You are invited to the Second Annual Cole Camp Prairie Day Reception at a private prairie outside of Cole Camp on Saturday, Oct. 9. at 5PM Enjoy complimentary wine & cheese and enjoy classical music from the Prairie Strings Quartet. RSVP for the reception by Oct. 1 to info@moprairie.com or 1-888-843-6739.
You are also invited to take part in the following on October 9:
2pm Prairie tour with prairie owner Dr. Wayne Morton
4:30PM MPF Annual Meeting
Carriage rides, star gazing, and camping on Dr. Morton's prairie are available as well. All Prairie Day events during the day in the town of Cole Camp, and at Wayne Morton's prairie, will be posted soon at www.moprairie.org. When you RSVP, please indicate if you plan to camp Friday and/or Saturday evening.
Cole Camp is approximately 20 miles south of Sedalia. To reach the
reception from Cole Camp, take Hwy. 52 west and go 0.75 mile west. Turn north (right) on Klink Road (gravel) at the propane distributor. Go 1.5 miles and turn west (left) on Hi Lonesome Road. Go 0.5 mile to a gate on the south side of the road. Watch for signs and the big tent.
If you can help staff an MPF booth for an hour at the Cole Camp Prairie Day, please contact Carol Davit or 1-888-843-6739.
A few of the many guests who enjoyed the 2009 Cole Camp Prairie Day Reception. Join us for the Second Annual Reception on Oct. 9, 2010.
OCTOBER 26-29, 2010
37th Annual National Natural Areas Conference in Missouri
This annual national conference brings together natural area conservation professionals, students and other dedicated, passionate conservationists.
There will be a special MPF-cosponsored Prairie Ecology and Management workshop on Oct. 27 and a guided prairie field trip on Oct. 28.
Register now--early bird full and daily registration rates available until September 15--for this national conference held this year at Tan-Tar-A Resort at Lake of the Ozarks. There is an impressive schedule of speakers, workshops, poster session, vendors, field trips and other activities. The last time this conference was held in Missouri was 2000--so don't miss this one! Full and daily registration is available. Visit the conference web site for full details and to register.
Workshop speakers include:
Patch-Burn Grazing & Grassland Conservation--Samuel Fuhlendorf, Oklahoma State University
Nesting Ecology of Grassland Birds--James Herkert, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Prairie Plant Ecology--Kevin James, National Park Service
Mead's Milkweed Occurrence & Management--Emily Horner, biologist
Hydrology & Water Quality Characteristics of Tallgrass vs. Agricultural Soils--David Heimann, USGS
Prairie Invertebrate Ecology and Management--James Trager, Shaw Nature Reserve