Eagle Meet and Greet Sundays
Sunday, Noon - 4:00 PM
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
National Great Rivers Museum
#2 Lock & Dam Way
Alton, IL 62202
1-877/462-6979
www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Rivers

Come and see a live bald eagle up close and personal. Ask and learn about their species and habitats. FREE

Mid-Winter Eagle Trek
Sunday, 9:00AM
Chouteau Island
Near the Confluence
Registration: 618/566-4451 ext. 28
http://www.confluencegreenway.org/locations/ci.php

Join us for a morning of eagle viewing near the confluence of two of America’s greatest rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi. Travel to Chouteau Island, which is easily accessible off Route 3 (immediately south of Interstate 270) in Granite City. Travel over the canal bridge and take a left immediately past the end of the bridge.

Trekkers will have an opportunity to hike the northern tip of Chouteau Island, which offers an excellent view of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Eagles, migratory waterfowl and other forest-dwelling bird species are likely to be viewed. The trek, round trip, is approximately 2.6 miles, and should be considered easy.

Please bring appropriate clothing, shoes
and beverages. In the event of inclimate
weather a cancellation notice will be posted
on our website (www.swircd.org) by 7:00
PM on February 5th.

To register, which is encouraged, please email dave.eustis@swircd.org or call 618-566-4451 ext. 28.

Museum of Westward Expansion — Gateway Arch
Free School and Public Programs
Celebrating Black History Month
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
St. Louis, MO 63102
314/655-1614

Many school and public programs happening at the Museum of Westward Expansion during February, celebrating Black History Month. Programs include local storytellers, a visit from the Buffalo Soldiers, a visit from Angela Bates-descendant of the settlers who established the historic all African-American town of Nicodemus, Kansas, and a film series.

School programs are designed for grades 3 and above. School and civic groups wishing to attend program must make reservations. Please call 314-982-1410, ext. 0. No reservations are required for public programs.

Download the Schedule HERE

Bald Eagle Days at Pere Marquette
8:30 AM - day trip
IL Department of Natural Resources
Pere Marquette State Park Visitor Center
IL Route 100 – Great River Road
Grafton, IL 62037
618/786-3323

Scott Isringhausen, State Park Site Interpreter, presents informative programs about bald eagles during the winter. Visitors will learn to distinguish between immature and mature bald eagles, what eagles eat, why they spend winter months in the area and much more. Reservations are required. There will be a short video presentation followed by an observational drive to view the wintering bald eagles. Dress for the weather and have a full tank of gas.

Stories in the Greenhouse
Sunday, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
The Green Center
8025 Blackberry Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63130
314/725-8314
www.thegreencenter.org

Spend an evening listening to nature stories in the Geodome Greenhouse! As the sun sets, candles will light the greenhouse and storytellers will capture your imagination to create an unforgettable experience. All ages welcome. Pre-registration required cost is $2 per person.

Prairies, Potluck & Propagation
Thursday, 4:00 - 6:00 PM
The Green Center
8025 Blackberry Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63130
314/725-8314
www.thegreencenter.org

Potluck workshop focusing on tall-grass prairie ecosystems. We will explore the ecology, wildlife and flora, as well as efforts to conserve Missouri’s historic tall-grass prairies through lecture and hands-on experience. Learn how to collect, identify, process, and propagate native prairie plants.

Masters of the Sky
Saturday, 9 & 11 AM and 1 & 3 PM
Sunday, 11 AM, 1 & 3 PM
Monday, 11 AM, 1, 3 & 4 PM
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
National Great Rivers Museum
#2 Lock & Dam Way
Alton, IL 62002
1-877/462-6979
www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Rivers

Witness the “Masters of the Sky” birds of prey demonstration. Come see eagles, flacons, owls and other birds of prey at this educational and informational program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. Admission fee: $5 adults, $3 children 3 to 12 years, under 3 years are FREE. Limit of 10 tickets per person, order online at www.meetingoftherivers.org

There will also be a FREE eagle display at Noon and 2 PM for 30 minutes in the gallery each day.

Public Art and Ecology Project on Exhibit
Friday, 5:30-7:00PM
Steinberg Hall Review Room
Washington University, St. Louis
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63103
http://samfoxschool.wustl.edu/galleries/steinberg

Public Art and Ecology: A Watershed Project for The Confluence is a community-based, landscape scale public art project that will contribute to the cultural development of St. Louis, create a greater understanding of environmental issues related to the Mississippi River watershed, and serve as a functioning work in the watershed.

An exhibition of the concept designs can be viewed January 29 – March 6, at Steinberg Hall Review Room at Washington University, St. Louis. The exhibit is free and open to the public; viewing hours are 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. The project is a collaboration between The Confluence Partnership, Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, and St. Louis ArtWorks. Via Partnership is coordinating the project. The Regional Arts Commission and the Regional Arts Council provided funding for the first phase of Public Art & Ecology.

The public is invited to a Celebratory Event to be held in the Gallery on February 19, 5:30 – 7:00 PM.

The exhibition at Steinberg Hall presents the concepts developed as a result of the community based planning process. Students at the Sam Fox School developed the concepts for Design and Visual Arts with apprentices in the Creative Futures program with St. Louis ArtWorks and input from more than 300 community members.

The Confluence Partnership recognizes the importance of public art in the development and stewardship of civic infrastructure as a tool that increases community use of the open space resources while building community pride. We are committed to presenting high quality opportunities to experience the arts in the river corridors and have commissioned several artists to create great artworks to achieve this goal.

Download more information here or visit www.jackiebrookner.net.

Masters of the Sky
Saturday, 9 & 11 AM and 1 & 3 PM
Sunday, 11 AM, 1 & 3 PM
Monday, 11 AM, 1, 3 & 4 PM
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
National Great Rivers Museum
#2 Lock & Dam Way
Alton, IL 62002
1-877/462-6979
www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Rivers

Witness the “Masters of the Sky” birds of prey demonstration. Come see eagles, flacons, owls and other birds of prey at this educational and informational program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. Admission fee: $5 adults, $3 children 3 to 12 years, under 3 years are FREE. Limit of 10 tickets per person, order online at www.meetingoftherivers.org

There will also be a FREE eagle display at Noon and 2 PM for 30 minutes in the gallery each day.

Upper Miss High School Education Symposium
Friday, 9am-2pm
Piasa Harbor, Jersey County, Illinois
618/462-6802
cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net

The Upper Mississippi River (UMR) Education Program was established in 2007 by representatives of the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center, Sierra Club, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and Prairie Rivers Network. Its goal is to introduce a comprehensive curriculum on the UMR in high schools along the Mississippi River. Several area schools, including Alton, Jerseyville, Edwardsville, Mascoutah, and Southwestern High Schools are participating using curriculum information developed by this committee. The issue solving session is meant to mimic a real-world civic experience where students from two schools work together to form consensus, utilizing requested input from the experts in their critical thinking process, and then present their solutions to the group.
Co-sponsors: Sierra Club, NGRREC, SIUE, Principia College, and Lewis and Clark Community College
Volunteers needed to moderate the small groups, training necessary. Register 618-462-6802 or cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net.

Confluence Trash Bash
Saturday, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
10950 Riverview Drive
St. Louis, MO 63137
314/436-1324

http://confluencetrashbash.wufoo.com/forms/2nd-annual-confluence-trash-bash-registration/

Help bring back the splendor of our great rivers at the 2010 Confluence Trash Bash!

• -Volunteers are needed to help clean-up at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and sites along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers as well as at Watkins Creek, Maline Creek, Cold Water Creek and Creve Coeur Creek.
• -School groups, service organizations, church and corporate groups, families and interested individuals will be working with area Stream Teams and over 60 municipalities in St. Louis and St. Louis County.
• -Volunteers will be working on the land and from the water. You can choose your place to help!
• -Trash Artists will be recycling some of the collected trash into art during the event
• -Prizes will be awarded for the weirdest, largest or most valuable items found during the event
• -Lunch will be provided to all volunteers from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

CLICK HERE to register online

The Confluence Trash Bash and Mission: Clean Stream, a St. Charles County Clean Up event, will be happening simultaneously as part of a region-wide clean up effort.

Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring gloves. In case of sites being inaccessible due to flooding, the event will be rescheduled for April 10th.

Financial contributions to support the Confluence Trash Bash can be made to The Confluence Partnership, http://www.confluencegreenway.org/m-supportus.php, or email contactus@confluencegreenway.org or call 314/436-1324. Contributions to the St. Charles event can be made through Greenway Network, www.greenwaynetwork.org or email greenwaynetwork@gmail.com or call 636/498-0772.

Mason Hollow Maple Syrup Tapping
Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
RR 1, Box 143
Grafton, IL 62037
1-800-258-6645
hindelang@gtec.com

See the process of tapping maple tress, collecting sap and making syrup. Mason Hollow is the only public maple syrup sugar bush in the Alton region. Sap runs are dependent on Mother Nature. Freezing nights and warm days are needed to make the syrup run at its best. Email for weekday trips or latest news on sap runs.

Arbor Day Festival
Saturday, 10am-4pm
Glazebrook Park
Godfrey, Il
618/462-6802
cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net

A family-fun day at Glazebrook Park with many activities, tree dedication ceremony, seedling give-away, and fishing derby for youth.
The Sierra Club will have informational booths to educate residents on trees and urban forest issues. They will also have an activity booth with kids rotating through.
Co-sponsors: Sierra Club, Godfrey Parks and Recreation District, Pride, Inc.
Volunteers needed to staff the Sierra Club’s children’s nature activity booths. Register 618-462-6802 or cfavilla10@sbcglobal.net

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
National Park Service
11 North 4th Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
314/655-1700
www.nps.gov/jeff

The Gateway Arch has resumed winter hours 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily.

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
National Park Service
11 North 4th Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
314/655-1700
www.nps.gov/jeff

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial will host a special exhibit from St. Louis artist Sheila Harris at the Old Courthouse from Feb. 14 through Aug.22, 2010. Created especially for the memorial, the exhibit consists of nearly 40 watercolor paintings of buildings that once stood on the Arch grounds.The exhibit will launch with an artist’s reception on Sunday, Feb.14, at 2 p.m.

Download more information HERE