Private Events and Rentals
Facility Rentals

Dana Brown Overnight Education Center facility rental

The Dana Brown Overnight Education Center is a cluster of historic buildings located on the eastern edge of the Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri. This residential center provides an ideal setting for visitors seeking to strengthen their connection with the natural world. The Center is within walking distance of prairie, woodland, wetland and the Meramec River.

Dana Brown Overnight Education Center

 

Naturalist-guided Group Tours

Wilderness Wagon Tour

Shaw Nature Reserve has an open-air wagon (with a canopy roof) which holds a maximum of 28 people. A van pulls the Wilderness Wagon on a three-mile gravel road as a naturalist/guide describes the Nature Reserve's history, what's in bloom, the Pinetum conifer collection, the tallgrass prairie, wildlife and wetlands. The tour takes just under one hour.

Bus Tour

For a group arriving on its own bus, our naturalist/guide can step aboard to give the same tour as the wagon tour described above. It is important that the bus has a microphone. The advantage of the bus tour is that it is not affected by the weather as the wagon tour is, but the wagon tour is an "adventure" and adds a special touch to the tour. 

Group Tours

Photography
Wedding Photography

With the encouragement of professional photographers, Shaw Nature Reserve has developed a policy regarding wedding pictures being taken here. 

To view our policy download Wedding Picture Policy and Wedding Photography reservation form.

For more information, please call (636) 451-3512.

Nature Photography

Nature photography is encouraged at Shaw Nature Reserve. Visitors, including photographers, must remain on paths. To see the images of some of our visitors visit our Flickr page.

Weddings

Shaw Nature Reserve does not host weddings at this time.  If you are looking for a natural location like Shaw Nature Reserve to have a wedding we suggest:

Bethany Springs in Berger MO http://www.bethanysprings.com/Weddings.html

Missouri State Parks http://mostateparks.com/

Picnicking

We always encourage walkers to bring plenty of water and whatever snacks they enjoy when hiking. We also welcome picnicking for those who want more than a snack.

We ask that you picnic at the specified picnic areas. Near the Visitor Center are a number of picnic tables. This area is conveniently located near the Nature Explore Classroom (NEC). If you have children between the ages of 3 and 10, be sure to check out this creative, "natural" play area.

At the new Glassberg Family Pavilions (behind the Bascom House), there are many tables and the setting is beautiful as it is surrounded by the prairie near the Whitmire Wildflower Garden.

A third picnic area is at the Maritz Trail House. Monday through Thursday, April through November, there is vehicle access to the Trail House, making it easy to use a cooler and have a more elaborate picnic. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, walkers must pack in their food to the Trail House. It is about ¾ mile from the Bascom House/Whitmire Wildflower Garden to the Trail House.

There is no grilling or cooking over fire at SNR.