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10 Years of Learning & Fun at the Nature Center

The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center turns 10 this year, and they have quite the celebration planned!

The party kicks off with a free outdoor concert by Wildheart Friday, May 1, from 7 to 8 p.m. Celebrations will continue Saturday, May 2, with an event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., where the community can sample outdoor skills and activities such as archery, canoeing, nature art, native plant gardening and wildlife identification.

“We wanted to keep our focus on the community and the whole reason we’re here,” Sara Turner, the Nature Center’s manager, said. “So we’re making our anniversary celebration all about helping our community find more ways to discover nature as they enjoy the concert Friday night and then sample new outdoor activities together Saturday.”

Turner said 470,080 people have visited the center in the 10 years it’s been open. Naturalists and volunteers have led 4,925 nature programs, teaching community members all types of outdoor skills such as archery, Dutch oven cooking, fishing, canoeing and other skills.

Some of the large, more popular events hosted by the Cape Nature Center include the annual Native Plant Seminar in March, Day on the River in September and the Fall Festival in October.

“We’ve been encouraged to see attendance grow into the thousands at our bigger annual events,” Turner said. “That tells us we’re doing something right and to keep finding ways to introduce people to nature.”

If you haven’t visited this gem located in Cape Girardeau’s Cape County Park, take part in one of their many free programs, hike a trail surrounding the center or check out a free kids fishing pole or hiking backpack and discover nature with your little ones!  

Go inside the Nature Center with an interview with Sara Turner here.  The Nature Center is a great place to enjoy free fun with your family, and get the full run-down on planning your visit here.   

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