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A Publication of the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department - Nov./Dec. 2020

Historic Hays Home Opens Dec. 4 for Holiday Tours

The Daniel Boone Hays House is opening soon!

Whether you’re attending this year’s Christmas Candlelight Walks (scroll down to see Holiday Happenings information), or just want to enjoy a festive candle-lit adventure in the park, guests will be treated to a new attraction when The Daniel Boone Hays Home at Matson Hill Park in Defiance opens to visitors for the first time on Dec. 4. Located near The Historic Daniel Boone Home, holiday tours at the Hays Home will be part of the candlelight drive through the park. The newly renovated home also will be open from 6–10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4–5 and Dec. 11–12, during these special events. Visitors do not have to have a ticket to enter the newly developed area of the park to participate. Daytime tours of the historic home also are available from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, and are part of A Spirited Holiday Past.

Built by Daniel Boone Hays, grandson of the famous pioneer Daniel Boone, this 1830s stone dwelling features a new interpretive center with artifacts and displays that showcase the Hays and Boone families. The main floor houses exhibits, while the top floor features turn-of-the-century furnishings, including smaller artifacts once owned by family heirs.

During holiday tours, guests will get to experience a magical candlelight drive through the park and visit the house for self-guided tours. Upon arrival, park interpretive staff will greet guests outside and give an overview of the property surrounding the historic house. During these educational experiences, guests will learn about the history of the Hays family and the story of the land established in the scenic Femme Osage valley and how it relates to the rich history of the region. Guests also can visit the Hays family cemetery on park property where Daniel Hays, his wife, Mary "Polly" Hays, and six of their 12 children are buried. 

Located off Highway F, just two miles from The Historic Daniel Boone Home, guests interested in touring the house will enter the site at 3572 Stub Road on the north end of the heavily forested 474-acre park. Admission to the historic home is free and will be open on weekends from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 12–5 p.m., Sunday, for similar tours after the holiday tours end; walk-ins are welcome! Group tours of 15 or more and school field trips are available with a reservation. For questions and more information about this new park attraction, call us at 636-949-7535.

Future plans of the park include the development of an 1830s style timber-framed barn-like shelter with historic architecture and double doors that open on three sides. This new venue will accommodate up to 100 guests and be available to reserve for weddings and special events throughout the year. Follow us on Facebook to find out when the barn will open. 

Park Volunteer Receives National Interpretive Award    

Congratulations to Shirley Pecoraro for clinching the 2020 NAI Outstanding Volunteer Award
The Historic Daniel Boone Home in Defiance offers the public the nation's best when it comes to bridging the past to the future through historic first-person interpretation. For a third year in a row, an outstanding volunteer at the park has received national recognition as a leader in historic interpretation, bringing history to life.

Congratulations to longtime St. Charles County Parks volunteer Colonel Shirley Pecoraro, Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) at the Boone Home, who recently received the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) 2020 Outstanding Interpretive Volunteer Award, the highest honor in interpretation. This prestigious award recognizes mastery of interpretive techniques, program development and dedication to interpretation. According to NAI, which serves over 7,400 members in the United States and more than 31 nations, this exclusive award comes during the most competitive year to date, with more nominations being received than any previous year.

"Shirley’s achievements in front-line interpretation at The Historic Daniel Boone Home have been more than impressive," says Ryan Graham, Director of St. Charles County Parks. "Her long-term commitment to living history, ability to portray multiple first-person characters at our historic site, and extensive knowledge and passion to teach interpretation have made a lasting impression on many visitors over the past 13 years." 

Since 2007, Shirley has been a dedicated volunteer, donating hundreds of hours to serving as an advocate for historical and cultural preservation. She brings the legacy and era of the Boone family to life through her portrayal of Rebecca Boone, 18th century frontierswoman and wife of Daniel Boone. She was presented with the 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Award by St. Charles County Parks in recognition of her dedication and years of volunteer service. 

Shirley has been a member of NAI since 2008 and is a lifetime member of The Association of Missouri Interpreters. In 2008, she completed the second CIG class offered at The Historic Daniel Boone Home site and has been recognized by the Governor of Kentucky for her portrayal of Rebecca Boone. Her service as a goodwill ambassador to the visiting public and community led to her being a commissioned Kentucky Colonel, the highest honor a Governor from Kentucky can bestow, and one of a number of honorary titles of colonel conferred by U.S. states.  

Over the past five years, volunteers and staff at The Historic Daniel Boone Home have received six NAI Awards; four regional and three national. CIG Colonel Robert Pecoraro, Shirley's husband, was awarded the NAI Outstanding Interpretive Volunteer Award in 2018, and CIG Colonel Barney Combs received the award in 2019. The Pecoraros and Combs also received Outstanding Interpretive Volunteer Awards from the National Association for Interpretation Region 6. William Ray, Lead Park Interpreter, received the NAI Region 6 Master/Distinguished Professional Interpreter Award in 2018.

For more information about volunteering with St. Charles County Parks, or to schedule a tour of the Boone Home to experience these award-winning volunteer performances, call the park at 636-798-2005. 

BMX World Champion Tommy Zula to Visit YAP Nov. 7

BMX Pro Racer and 2019 Redbull UCI Pump Track World Champion Tommy Zula will visit the St. Charles County Youth Activity Park, Saturday, Nov. 7!
World-renowned BMX Pro Racer and 2019/2020 Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Champion, Tommy Zula, is coming to the  St. Charles County Youth Activity Park SOON, so mark your calendar NOW! 

The superstar, sponsored by Airborne, will host a skills clinic, ride the park's Velosolutions asphalt pump track—the nation's largest—and visit with pump track lovers from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 7 at the park, 7801 Town Square Ave. in Dardenne Prairie. 

Don’t miss this exciting community event! Although a limited number of participants are able to attend the skills clinic, everyone can visit with Zula at the event, experience his mind-blowing performance on the track, and receive an autographed photo to take home. 

Park activities include:
 
•     9–10 a.m.: VIP skills clinic for 40 participants ages 6 and up; pre-registration required
•     10 a.m.–12 p.m.: meet and greet with fans
•     10:30 a.m.: public demonstration featuring Zula
•     Free hotdogs and popcorn are available while supplies last
 
The park opens at 10 a.m. on the day of the event and admission is free; helmets and a participation waiver are required. The private skills clinic costs $10 to attend and pre-registration is required. Guests interested in registering for the clinic can visit our website and click on "Activity Registration." Then choose "VIP Skills Clinic with Tommy Zula.”
 
For more information about this special event hosted by the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department, call the St. Charles County Youth Activity Park at 636-561-4964 or visit http://bit.ly/YouthActivityParkInformation.

Learn to Brew Beer Nov. 7 at the Heritage Museum 

Learn to homebrew your own beer with Little Hills Home Brewers Nov. 7.
If you’re 21 years or older and interested in learning how to safely homebrew beer, the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department has just what you’re looking for! Join us for the sixth annual Learn to Homebrew Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, at St. Charles County Heritage Museum. The free program is held on the patio outside the museum; social distancing and a valid photo ID are required.
 
With the help of the Little Hills Home Brewers, participants will learn the art of making beer at home through hands-on demonstrations. While sampling delicious homebrewed beer, you’ll learn about the equipment needed and how easy it is to start a home brewery. This educational, entertaining program was developed by the Parks Department to assist  members of the American Homebrewers Association in introducing non-brewers to this centuries-old hobby. Registration required online or by calling the Parks Department at 636-949-7535. 

Family-Friendly Holiday Happenings Begin Nov. 28

Our 2020 list of St. Charles County Parks Holiday Happenings is available!

‘Tis the season to visit a St. Charles County Park for an extra dose of holiday cheer and family-friendly fun! We have a wonderful lineup of safe, festive events planned for guests of all ages in November, December and January. 

Check out the 2020 list of Holiday Happenings below! You can learn about evergreen species and the history of the Christmas Tree with Park Rangers, experience the mesmerizing Holiday Toy Train Display and create a holiday wreath from nature at the Heritage Museum; send letters to Santa and enjoy a holiday pizza party at the Youth Activity Park; and take a festive Christmas Candlelight Walk at The Historic Daniel Boone Home. For more details about these very merry events, click on the links below.

Letters to Santa:
Monday, Nov. 23–Monday, Dec. 7
12–8 p.m., Sunday–Thursday; 12 – 10 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday
St. Charles County Youth Activity Park
Free; ages 8 and under 

Holiday Toy Train Display:
Saturday, Nov. 28–Sunday, Jan.10 
10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday – Saturday; 12 p.m.–5 p.m., Sunday
St. Charles County Heritage Museum
Free; all ages
   
Christmas Candlelight Walks:
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4–5 and Dec. 11–12
6–10:30 p.m.
The Historic Daniel Boone Home
$10 before Nov. 20; $15 after that date; all ages

Holiday Pizza Party
Saturday, Dec. 5
10 a.m.–12 p.m.
St. Charles County Youth Activity Park 
$12, pre-registration required by Nov. 21; ages 10 and under

Christmas Tree Workshops and tree giveaway
Saturday, Dec. 5
3:30–5 p.m. 
St. Charles County Heritage Museum
Free; all ages

Crafting by Nature: Holiday Wreath
Saturday, Dec. 19
10 a.m.–1 p.m.
St. Charles County Heritage Museum
$5, pre-registration required; all ages

To register for these and other park programs, visit Activity Registration or call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535.

More Events and Important Dates


Ongoing: Private Skateboarding, Scooter and BMX Bike Lessons

Nov. 3, 5, 10, 12: Boone Home School Field Trip: Survival on the Frontier
Nov. 4, 7: Quail Ridge Park Boot Camp
Nov. 6: Seasonal Nature Walks
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 2, 7 & Dec. 4, 11, 18: Friday Night Stargazing
Nov. 7: Yoga in the Park
Nov. 7: Pokémon Park Patrol 
Nov. 7: Mountain Biking Skills Clinic - Adult Level 1
Nov. 7 & Dec. 5
: Nature Journaling
Nov. 8: The True, Incredible Story of Clara Brown
Nov. 11 & Dec. 9: Senior Bike Rides
Nov. 12: Missouri Documentary Series: Spanish Lake
Nov. 13, 27 & Dec. 11, 29: Mountain Bike Night Ride 
Nov. 14 & Dec. 12: Trail Work Days
Nov. 21: Disc Golf Blind Turkey Toss 
Nov. 27, Dec. 11 & 5: Mountain Bike Night Rides
Nov. 29 & Dec. 27: Ranger-Guided Bird Walk

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201 N. 2nd St., St. Charles, MO 63301

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