January 22, 2015
Contact: Nancy Lee Gomer, Marketing Coordinator, 636-949-7535 or cell 636-795-1137
St. Charles County, Missouri – Winter is a beautiful time of year to get out and explore nature, wildlife and the great outdoors, so don’t spend it cooped up inside; join the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department and participate in a variety of fun activities close to home that appeal to all ages! During the month of February, take advantage of the numerous inexpensive and free winter recreational opportunities the department has to offer at a St. Charles County Park near you.
Be a Bird Detective for the day and find out whooo...whooo...who’s in the woods! On Saturday, Feb. 7, join the parks department and explore a variety of bird’s habits, behaviors and life in the wild at Broemmelsiek Park, 1795 Highway DD, Defiance, MO 63341. Using sight and sound, together we’ll enjoy a leisurely walk through the park looking and listening for winter birds at 10 a.m. Program detectives will search to find clues about migratory and non-migratory birds, predatory birds, and water fowl in the area. We’ll finish out the morning by making a bird feeder to take home. The registration fee is $3 for this program. To register, contact the St. Charles County Parks Department at (636) 949-7535 or visit us online at www.stccparks.org and click “Online Registration” in the menu.
Skate Lessons are forming now at the Youth Activity Park, 7801 Highway N, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368. Skate School 101 classes begin on Monday, Feb. 9 and Skate School 102 on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Skate School 101 is designed for kids who are new to the skateboarding scene and for those who want to excel in the sport! Skate School 102 is geared toward skaters who are able to stand on the board, balance and roll down medium to small hills with ease. Each class meets 45 minutes per week for five weeks and is taught by skilled skate instructors. The $55 program fee includes five additional passes to the park, which is designed to provide a safe place for area youth to enjoy an assortment of alternative recreational opportunities. Participants must be pre-registered for class. Private lessons are also available! Register online at www.stccparks.org or contact us at (636) 949-7535.
Learn about Winter Wonders on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Broemmelsiek Park, 1795 Highway DD, Defiance, MO 63341. Baby its cold outside, but that’s half the fun! Bring your preschool-aged child to Broemmelsiek Park at 10 a.m. for an exciting day of winter wonders! First we’ll warm up with a short exploration hike to look for winter animals and explore nature. Then we’ll venture back inside for some hot chocolate, a reading of the book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and a craft to take home at the end of the program! Children must be pre-registered and accompanied by an adult. Registration fee is $3. To register, contact the St. Charles County Parks Department at (636) 949-7535 or visit us online at www.stccparks.org and click “Online Registration” in the menu.
Walk on the Wild Side of Winter on Monday, Feb. 16, at Broemmelsiek Park, 1795 Highway DD, Defiance, MO 63341 and experience winter in fun new ways. Jack Frost may be nipping at our nose, but that doesn’t stop the hustle and bustle of nature during the winter season! Winter is a great time to find animal and bird tracks and view nature in an extraordinary way! At 10 a.m. children ages 7 -11 will take a short guided hike to explore all things nature! We’ll come back inside, read the poem Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, sip some hot chocolate and create a col¬lage of things found on our hike. There is a $3 fee to register for this unique program. Registration is filling up fast! Call the parks department at (636) 949- 7535 to register today, or visit us online at www.stccparks.org.
Crank up the temperature by running in the Wild in the Woods Broemmelsiek Park Chill Factor on Saturday, Feb. 21 and take home a commemorative beanie! This year, choose from a 5 or 10 mile trail run at Broemmelsiek Park, 1795 Highway DD, Defiance, MO 63341. The run begins at 10 a.m. and light snacks and refreshments will be served afterward. Prizes will be awarded to top men and women in their age group. Register before Feb. 6 and receive a discounted rate of $30! Any registrations made after the Feb. 6 deadline will be $40. To register, call the parks department at (636) 949-7535 or visit us online at www.stccparks.org.
Bring your camera and get a closer look at our national icon during our Bald Eagle Winter Watch program, from 9 a.m. – noon, on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Hideaway Harbor Park, 1550 Hideaway Harbor Dr., Portage Des Sioux, MO 63373, and let’s celebrate the return of the American Bald Eagle to our area. From 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. there will be a live eagle viewing provided by the World Bird Sanctuary and donated by friends of the park Patti Hawkins and Bobb Holden. Look for migrating eagles in flight, nesting and feed¬ing off the open Mississippi River and perched in park trees through telescopes provided by the Astronomi¬cal Society of Eastern Missouri. Spotting scopes and binoculars are also available for public use. Children and adults can even help build a life-size eagle’s nest in the park! Guests will receive a park giveaway for participating in a short nature scav¬enger hunt on park property. Fire rings and free hot cocoa will be available to help combat the winter chill. If inclement weather exists on day of event, contact the St. Charles County Parks and Recre¬ation Department Closure/Cancellation Hotline at 636.949.7475 to find out if the program will be held.
To register for any program, class or race hosted by the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department, please visit us online at www.stccparks.org or contact our reservation desk at 636.949.7535. Space may be limited, so register early!
For more information, or to learn about all the park programs, activities, classes and special events going on throughout the year, check out the 2015 St. Charles County Parks Activity Guide on our website at www.stccparks.org or scan the QR code on your smartphone or mobile device.
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