events for kids and families in St. Louis

Beavers are always busy, it seems. They are very industrious and seem to never stop cutting down trees and building all kinds of neat stuff. Beavers are by far the largest rodents in North America, and a main reason that St. Louis was established here 250 years ago.

Kids ages 6-12 can learn more about the beaver, conservation efforts for them and why they are thriving in Missouri.

9:30-11 a.m. Free, but reservations are required.

At August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. 

Bring your little ones to Rockwoods Reservation to explore the underground world of earthworms. Be prepared to get messy, because they'll dig in the soil and touch living worms!

11 a.m. to noon. Free, but reservations are required.

More information: mdc.mo.gov

Peanut the turtle is a female red-eared slider who is famous for her figure. Her shape is the result of litter – a plastic six pack ring that she crawled through and got stuck in as a young turtle. After being rescued in 1993, she has since become the mascot for the “No More Trash” campaign.

Peanut now lives at Powder Valley Nature Center where she continues to spread the word about littering. 

Herps walk, crawl, jump, slither and creep. But what are herps? Students will become junior herpetologists as they explore characteristics, adaptations, and unique facts through fun, interactive activities. They'll also meet some herps up close indoors and then go outdoors to search for them in their native habitats.

From almost zero to half a million! The road to recovery for Missouri turkeys was a long and tough journey. Walk in the woods today and see turkey tracks or scat, but it wasn’t always that way. Celebrate the return of the wild turkey with stories, games, activities, and crafts to learn about these interesting and unique birds.

Then go outside and look for turkeys or their signs. 9:30 to 11 a.m. For ages 6 and up.

Free. At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Road in Kirkwood, near the intersection of I-44 and I-270.

Little ones can gather 'round the sugarbush for fun stories. They'll learn about maple sugaring through stories told by naturalists, and eveyone will get to taste maple syrup. Most of the program is outdoors, so dress for the weather. Recommended for ages 3 to 5. 10:30 a.m. Free.

At Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood.

Who hoots this time of year? Kids and teens ages 7 to 14 will learn about Missouri's owls, learn to hoot like an owl and dissect owl pellets in this joint program sponsored by the St. Louis Jr. Audubon Society and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

10 a.m. Free. 

At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood, near the intersection of I-44 and I-270. Call 314-301-1500 for reservations.