St. Louis County

So you’ve got maple trees and you love maple syrup… join this program to learn how to develop your very own backyard maple syrup and maple sugar operation. You’ll learn to identify sugar maple trees, details of tree tapping, cooking methods and finishing your sap to syrup. Join the growing community of maple sugaring enthusiasts and gain experience in every step of the process by working with naturalists. Call 636-458-2236 for reservations. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. At Rockwoods Reservation.

Tracks in the snow, hair on a fence, loud cries in the night. Could it be a mountain lion? The mountain lion and other large carnivores once served as nature's check on deer and other prey species. Today, humans control the deer herd, so the natural role of this big cat is gone. There aren't many animals that receive more interest in Missouri than mountain lions. 

Who's in the forest this time of year? Some Missouri owls stick around all year and are especially vocal during the winter months. Get together to discuss some of the owl's amazing adaptations, dissect some pellets to see what they're eating and take a hike to hear what they're saying. Dress for the weather.

Free. For ages 7 and up. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

As the St. Louis area’s only all-girls school for grades 1-5, Visitation Academy celebrates the unique way girls learn and instills confidence and self-esteem. At Visitation, girls are free to express opinions, ask questions, excel in academics and athletics, develop talents, and become leaders. 

The 4th of July Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. with a parade. The Family Fun Zone, which features games, crafts, a balloon artist, petting zoo, and more, is open from noon to 7 p.m. There will also be food vendors and live entertainment. The fireworks show kicks off at dusk.