 A Publication of the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department - March/April 2020
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"First Light" Celebration Planned at Broemmelsiek Park
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The wait is finally over! The largest public viewing telescope in Missouri is set to open, Friday, March, 20, at the Astronomy Viewing Area at Broemmelsiek Park! To commemorate this prestigious occasion, St. Charles County Parks and the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri (ASEM) are hosting a "First Light" grand opening celebration from 7-10 p.m. in the park.
Guests ages 7 and up and at least 48-inches tall are invited to climb to the top of the 32-inch Dobsonian telescope to view deep-space objects in the sky, such as distant galaxies, the Great Orion Nebula (M42), globular star clusters, a Supernova Remnant (M1) and so much more! When using this massive and powerful scope, objects in the sky will appear brighter and with more clarity and detail. Other high-powered telescopes focusing on different constellations and stars in the sky will be available for viewing as well, and attendance prizes will be given away at the top of each hour.
"The Parks Department is excited to call St. Charles County home to the largest publicly available telescope in Missouri," says Ryan Graham, Parks Director. "We are proud to be able to offer this new amenity to the public for their enjoyment during the ASEM's Friday Night Public Stargazing events, as well as other special occasions at the site."
In case of cloudy or inclement weather on the evening of the event, the "First Light" grand opening celebration will be postponed until Friday, March 27. Before heading to the park, get up-to-date information about the status of the program by checking the St. Charles County Parks Rainout Line at 636-707-0011 or visit us at stccparks.org and click on the Rainout Line app.
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Watercraft Rentals Open April 1!
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Our new self-serve watercraft stations with reservable kayaks and stand-up paddleboards will open for public use, Wednesday, April 1 at Broemmelsiek Park in Defiance, Klondike Park in Augusta and The Park at New Melle Lakes in New Melle.Guests must reserve a watercraft in advance through this rental link that is posted on our website under " Activities, Amenities and Rentals." Rentals are available on the hour from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., April through October, and cost $10 per hour for a kayak or paddleboard and $15 per hour for a tandem kayak. Each rental comes with paddles and life jackets. For a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a reservation, watch this short video. To celebrate the opening of these new park amenities, the department is hosting a Paddleshare Demo Day from 1 - 5 p.m., Sunday, April 5 at Betty's Lake, located in Broemmelsiek Park. The event is free and offers guests of all ages the opportunity to try their hand at kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding; rules and regulations apply. For more information about watercraft rentals, call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535.
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Amazing Park Summer Camps Await Children Ages 6-15
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From extreme sports to fishing, nature, history and explorer camps – the St. Charles County Parks Department has fun camp adventures for children age 6-15. R egistration for these unique children’s camps is available now! Visit stccparks.org or call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535 to reserve your child's spot today. Space is limited for these exciting summer camps planned in our parks:- Nature Camp: Children ages 9-13 can fully explore the outdoors from
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., June 8-12 at Indian Camp Creek Park during this full-day summer camp. Cost is $100; pre-registration is required.
- Camp X: Children ages 11-15 can participate in this half-day extreme sports day camp from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., June 8-12 and July 6-10 at the Youth Activity Park. Camp activities will include exclusive use of the skate park and rock climbing wall prior to the park opening and a mini competition on the last day. Cost is $60 per child, per week; pre registration required.
- Youth Fishing Camp: These single-day camps are perfect for beginners as well as intermediate anglers. Camp costs and details vary for each session; space is limited. Children ages 8-15 can join Park Rangers for these five fun fishing excursions:
- Park Explorer Kids Club: Children ages 7-11 discover the outdoors from
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. during these half-day, week-long camps. Cost is $50 per week, per child; pre-registration required. Join us for these camp sessions:
- Camp YAP: Children ages 6-12, bring your lunch and we'll provide the T-shirt and fun! Activities include sports, arts and crafts, games, special guests, snacks and a movie during these week-long camps from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., June 22-26 and
July 20-24 at the Youth Activity Park. Cost is $110 per week; pre-registration required.
- History Explorer Kids Club: Children ages 6-14 discover history in fun and exciting ways using local history experiences, historic-themed activities, challenges and crafts during this week-long, half-day camp from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., July 13-17 at the Heritage Museum. Cost is $40 per child, which includes camp T-shirt; pre-registration required.
- Daniel Boone Home Day Camp: Children ages 10-17 can discover the frontier in new and exciting ways at The Historic Daniel Boone Home! Campers travel back in time to 1830s Missouri and learn by doing during this exciting, eventful week-long camp from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., July 27-31! Cost is $150 per child, which includes camp T-shirt; pre-registration required.
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Park Volunteers Wanted for Spring Projects
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The Parks Department is looking for volunteers of all ages to assist with spring projects in our parks. Whether you're looking to fulfill service hours, or just want to give back to the community by making a mark on a County park, please join us for these upcoming volunteer opportunities: - Trail Work Days: Join Parks staff and members of Gateway Off-Road Cyclists from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. to assist with trail building and trail maintenance in the parks; lunch will be provided to all who lend a hand! Bring a set of gloves, a pair of sturdy boots and safety glasses and do your part to grow our park trails on the following dates:
- Mission Stream Clean: 8 - 11 a.m., Saturday, April 4 at Veterans Tribute Park – Join St. Charles County Parks, Greenway Network and the communities of Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Lake Saint Louis, O'Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters, and Wentzville to remove trash from local streams and lakes. Meet at Shelter #3 in the park, then disperse to your designated cleanup site. The first 50 participants that register by March 17 will receive a free T-shirt.
Organizations, individuals, and groups interested in helping at these volunteer opportunities should register online (click on links above) or call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535. For information about year-round volunteer opportunities, visit our website.
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Bushcraft Olympics Coming Soon!
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If you're interested in the outdoors and have the primitive and survival skills to compete in our new "Bushcraft Olympics," then rise to the challenge and aim for a victory on Saturday, May 2 at Indian Camp Creek Park!
Participants must be at least 16 years of age and have their own knife to compete in this skilled-base competition that takes place from 1 - 4:30 p.m. in the park. Fire building, shelter construction, navigation and marksmanship, as well as a secret challenge are some of the categories planned during the event. Prizes will be awarded to the first place winner. And everyone is invited to watch!
Entry fee is $25 per person and pre-registration is required by April 15; admission is free for all spectators. For more information or to register, call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535 or visit stccparks.org.
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More Events and Important Dates Ongoing: Private Skateboarding, Scooter and BMX Bike Lessons
April 2: Little Explorer Nature ProgramApril 3, 10, 17 & 24: Friday Night StargazingApril 3: Seasonal Nature WalksApril 4: Hands-On Heritage: Hearth CookingApril 7: Moonrise at Sunset HikeApril 10: Mountain Bike Night RideApril 15,19 & 22: Wildflower WalksApril 16: Senior Bike Ride on the Katy TrailApril 16: Different DynamicsApril 18: Wild About BirdsApril 18: Mountain Bike Night RideApril 18: A Visit with Daniel and Rebecca BooneApril 18: Ride the CentennialApril 19: Nature JournalingApril 19: ICC ChallengeApril 24: Mountain Bike Night RideApril 25: Farming Ways FestivalApril 25: Painting Stones 101April 30: Missouri Documentary Series: We Always Lie to StrangersMay 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29: Friday Night StargazingMay 1: Seasonal Nature WalksMay 5: Smartphone Photography WorkshopMay 6: Moonrise at Sunset HikeMay 7: Little Explorer Nature ProgramMay 7: Mountain Bike Night RideMay 7: Bikepacking Seminar May 9: Ladies in the ParkMay 9: Mother's Day TeaMay 10,16 & 20: Wildflower WalksMay 14: Senior Bike Ride on the Katy Trail May 15: Late Skate and RideMay 16: Daniel Boone Home Brew FestMay 17: Nature JournalingMay 22: Mountain Bike Night RideMay 23: A Visit with Daniel and Rebecca BooneMay 23: Mountain Biking Skills Clinic – Adult Level 1May 28: Home School DayMay 28: Missouri Documentary Film Series: Rich HillMay 29: Adult Recess – Veterans Tribute ParkMay 30: Light Up The LakesMay 31: Ranger-Guided Bird WalkJune 3: Senior Bike Ride on the Katy TrailJune 4: Moonrise at Sunset HikeJune 5: Mountain Bike Night RideJune 5 & 27: Paddleboard Lessons June 5, Paddleboard Lessons June 27June 5: Seasonal Nature WalksJune 5: Ranger-Guide Night HikeJune 6: Frontier Trail Adventure RaceJune 6 & 7: National Boone Day June 5, 12, 19 & 26: Friday Night StargazingJune 12: Lights and LeashesJune 13: Nature JournalingJune 13: River Cane Fishing WorkshopJune 14: The True and Incredible Story of Clara BrownJune 16: Pokémon Park Patrol – Veterans Tribute ParkJune 18: Pokémon Park Patrol – Quail Ridge ParkJune 18: Mountain Bike Night RideJune 19: Concert in the Park – 4th Street BandJune 19: Late Skate and RideJune 20: National Go Skateboarding Day (celebrated a day early) June 20: Father's Day Grill OutJune 26: Adult Recess – Youth Activity ParkJune 27: Sunset SizzlerJune 27: Mountain Biking Skills Clinic – Adult Level 1June 28: Ranger-Guided Bird WalkJune 30: Pokémon Patrol – Broemmelsiek Park
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