Outdoor Fun with the Missouri Department of Conservation

By Julia Bollman on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 6:37pm

I’m always amazed at the people on the reality show Survivor. It seems like none of them know how to make fire. Wouldn’t you learn that before you left home? Perhaps they should enroll in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s upcoming event Campfires 101: Snack, Crackle and Pop.

In this class, your family will learn the ins and outs of building a successful campfire. You’ll be taught the basics of campfire building, the uses, benefits and dangers of fire and the proper construction of three types of campfires. Then you’ll get a hands-on practice building your own campfire. The evening ends with traditional campfire activities and snacks. Mmmmm s’mores...

If you have already mastered the art of fire, the Missouri Department of Conservation has many classes to help make your outdoor experience even better. Have your kids ever seen a bat? Attend MDC’s Goin’ Batty program and learn about the bats that live in Missouri’s caves. Your family will also find out about the dreaded White Nose Syndrome (WNS) that is threatening local bats and their habitats. Don’t forget your flashlight and bug spray.

Campfires 101is taking place on Saturday, August 21 at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. It’s suitable for kids 6 and older. Goin’ Batty is happening on Friday, August 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rockwoods Reservation. Kids must be 7 or older to attend. These events are free, but you must register by August 20 for both of them. Click here for more information or to register. Or you can call 314-877-6014 for Campfires 101or 636-458-2236 for Goin’ Batty.

Share This Story

by Julia Bollman, publisher of STL Parent

Things to Do

Flying Bird Show at the World Bird Sanctuary

Take your family to watch birds of prey fly right over your head, meet the wonderful bird ambassadors of the World Bird Sanctuary up close and much more.

View this event »

Family Sunday at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Families are invited to the Saint Louis Art Museum on Sunday afternoon to participate in free hands-on art activities with fun themes and to explore the galleries. Each Family Sunday focuses on a different family-friendly theme.

View this event »

Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo

See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.

View this event »

Preschool Science Series at the Saint Louis Science Center

The Preschool Science Series is an open exploration learning lab for young scientists, ages 18 months to 5 years and their families. Activities are designed around research that shows children learn best through play, inquiry and shared experiences with their parents and caregivers.

View this event »

Ka-Chow Cars Event at Edwardsville Children's Museum with Lightning McQueen

Sunday, June 14, 2026

What better way to celebrate the 100th birthday of Route 66 than a road trip to Radiator Springs? Your family is invited to join Lightning McQueen at the Edwardsville Children’s Museum’s third annual Ka-Chow! Cars Event. With free action-packed activities and high-octane fun, this is one event no young racing fan should miss!

View this event »

See All Things to Do

Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.

Popular Stories

Kids Unleash Their Creativity at Hands-On Summer Art Camps

Your creative child may have numerous opportunities throughout the school year to express themselves through art projects and other hands-on art experiences, but what about summer? When the classroom is closed, what do you do? Send your child to an artistically engaging summer camp, of course!

Dinoroarus Comes Roaring Back at the Saint Louis Zoo

The Dinoroarus exhibit will bring prehistoric fun back to the Saint Louis Zoo this summer with 20 lifelike dinosaur animatronics and sculptures on the Zoo's Historic Hill.

Travel Back in Time Every Friday at the Missouri History Museum’s Free Summer Family Fun Series

There comes a point every summer when all that “free time” isn’t so fun anymore. Your kids are bouncing off the walls, it’s too hot to hit the playground, and every activity seems to come with a big price tag. That’s when the screens come out, and parents find themselves counting down the minutes to bedtime. Thankfully, when Friday rolls around each week, your family can experience a mini summer getaway through history – no travel required.

Summer STEM Camps Create Hands-On Fun + Immersive Learning for Kids & Teens

Want your child to learn about subjects in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and have fun doing it? Help them further understand the inner workings of what's all around them by enrolling them in a STEM-fueled summer camp. You may be surprised at the wide variety of highly-acclaimed summer camps in the St. Louis area that put new and exciting twists on STEM concepts, creating hands-on fun for kids with the benefit of introducing them to some of the latest technologies in AI, engineering, coding and more.

Get Ready to Climb and Explore at These Free Big Truck Days

If your kids love to explore big trucks and vehicles, these upcoming Big Truck Days are a perfect weekend outing. They'll get to climb on and explore fire trucks, police vehicles, bulldozers, bucket trucks, ambulances and lots more.

You Might Also Like...

One hour a week. It doesn't sound like much. But ask any Olympia parent, and they'll tell you - one hour a week has a way of changing everything. Maybe it's the moment your toddler sticks their first landing and looks up with that enormous grin. Maybe it's watching your school-age kid tackle something hard and realize they can do it. Maybe it's your teen finding a place where they truly belong.

Those moments add up, week after week. At Olympia Gymnastics, we've been creating those moments for St. Louis families for 47 years. Our coaches don't just teach skills, they show up for your kids. They get to know them, celebrate their wins, and cheer loudest on the hard days. One hour. Big Impact. Olympia Gymnastics + Ninja | 9 locations across the St. Louis area. LEARN MORE

Our Summer Camp Guide at stlcamps.com is the fastest and easiest way to find the perfect summer camps for your kids! We feature camps for ages 18 months to 18 years of age, and for every interest you can imagine. Our guide is searchable for your child's age, camp location, type of camp, camp dates, and even extended care availability. Whether your child is into sports, arts, robotics, coding, outdoor adventures, musical performance, climbing or just about anything else, you'll find it at stlcamps.com! Book your child's camp sessions now! GET STARTED

Visit the Missouri History Museum on Fridays in June and July for their Summer Family Fun Series! Enjoy a variety of free family activities, including crafts, performances, food, movement, and more! All activities are tied into Museum exhibits and St. Louis history, and focus on a different theme each week. This summer kids and families can learn about Juneteenth, celebrate America’s 250th birthday, explore Vietnamese culture in STL, and discover the wonders of the Mighty Mississippi!

Storytelling in the Museum programs are part of the fun this year, with themes that match the rest of the day’s activities. Don’t forget, the History Clubhouse is open for play and exploration! In this hands-on family gallery, kids can travel back in time to the World’s Fair, Cahokia and more as they learn about the history of the city they call home. Appropriate for ages 2–12. Fridays, June 5-July 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more detailed information on each day’s activities, visit the Museum’s website.

From Our Sponsors