Our goal is to help families learn together, share in the joy of natural outdoor experiences, and discover the interconnectedness of all living and nonliving things. Use one of the following activity guides or kits to enhance your family’s experience at the Shaw Nature Reserve.
Treasures of Nature Map
This scavenger hunt is designed to be used on the Wolf Run Trail (one mile) and uses the five senses to focus on nature. Children can color the map when they get home!
Cost: $1
Target age: PK–1st Grade
Wetland Trail Guide
This trail guide focuses on the wetland complex of the reserve and is to be used along the one-mile Wetland Trail Loop. This informative trail guide includes activities for children to do along the walk.
Cost: $2
Target age: Grades 5 & up
Little Acorn Trail
Take your young learners on an exciting adventure along this easy self-guided trail. Pick up a key and backpack at the Visitor Center so that you can unlock the activity boxes along your hike. You’ll discover hands-on activities about insects, plants, mammals, reptiles and much more. You may choose to learn about camouflage, or you may want to examine a rotting log and the insects that call it home. There is no starting point, no order in which the activity boxes must be found and no minimum number of stations you must complete.
Cost: Free (Reservations appreciated, but not required! Please call (636) 451-3512 x 6075)
Target age: PK–2nd Grade
Prairie Activity Guide
This guide provides a series of engaging activities that introduce kids to a tallgrass prairie ecosystem. It defines the terms “adaptation” and “succession” and explains how these terms apply to prairie communities. The guide also covers things like camouflage, insects of the prairie, medicinal plants and the roots of prairie plants. The last page of the guide provides the rules for a classic prairie-themed game that kids love! Upon completing this guide, kids can return to the Visitor Center to receive a free package of native plant seeds. A Prairie Activity Guide patch can also be purchased for $2.
Cost: Guide is FREE; Prairie patch is $2
Target age: Grades 2–5
Wetland Activity Guide
This guide is designed to introduce kids to a wetland ecosystem. It includes a fun mixture of activities to help kids learn about things like frogs, birds, life cycles and the signs of seasons as they change from one into the next. Overall, the guide is an excellent way to familiarize kids with the sights, sounds and ecology of a wetland community. Upon completing this guide, kids can return to the Visitor Center to receive a free package of native plant seeds. A Wetland Activity Guide patch can also be purchased for $2.
Cost: Guide is FREE; Wetland patch is $2
Target age: Grades 2–5
Forest Activity Guide
This guide is meant to teach kids about forests. It includes a series of fun activities that are intended to lead kids to a better understanding of the plants and animals that live in forests. This guide also includes a short section about glades, which are unique communities that can be found within some of Missouri's forests. Upon completing this guide, kids can return to the Visitor Center to receive a free package of native plant seeds. A Forest Activity Guide patch can also be purchased for $2.
Cost: Guide is FREE; Forest patch is $2
Target age: Grades 2–5
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