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.

Dresser Island Pelican Hike
Saturday, 9AM - Noon
314/877-6014

Indulge your Spring Fever with a hike along the Mississippi River on Dresser Island, watching for pelicans, eagles and other spring migrants. We'll hike just to the northern end of the island where the pelicans congregate, and back, but this will give us a good opportunity to see ducks, eagles, hawks, gulls, herons and possibly trumpeter swans. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. Viewing scopes will be provided. We will walk up to 4 miles. Due to the walking surface no strollers please. Reservations begin February 21 for this family-friendly hike through the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area at 314-877-6014.

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.

CLICK HERE to download the flyer.

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.

Spring at Fort Bellefontaine
Sunday, 1:00-3:00PM
Ages 6 and up
314/877-6014

Hike the Fort Bellefontaine County Park 3-mile trail to see spring's arrival bursting forth. Walk across a prairie springing to life with the first shoots of native grasses. Follow Coldwater Creek through the woods where the Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, trout lily, May apple and ferns make their debut beneath the blooms of pawpaw, maple and spicebush. Listen and look for migrating waterfowl over the Missouri River and its nearby confluence with the Mississippi River as they head back north for the summer while returning songbirds set up nests. Explore the site of the first American fort and ruins of other structures built by the WPA in the 1930s. Reservations begin on March 14 through the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area at 314-877-6014.

Rain Barrel Workshop
Thursday, 7:00-8:30 pm
The Green Center
8025 Blackberry Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63130
314/725-8314
riverdesperes@thegreencenter.org

Discover the benefits and logistics of having a rain barrel at your home. Members of the River des Peres Watershed Coalition will conduct a brief introductory discussion on placement, construction, and other considerations followed by a hands-on session where participants will make their own barrel to take home! Cost for class is cost/barrel constructed. $45 Garden Member/$55 Non-member. Instructor: Kim Petzing.

Free the Forest-Restoration Event
In honor of Daniel Talonn
Saturday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Ruth Park Woods
314/725-8314
events@thegreencenter.org

Help us restore wildlife habitat in the 26-acre Ruth Park Woods. Spend a morning with fellow volunteers planting native shrubs and removing invasive bush honeysuckle in this U City treasure. Dress for the weather. Refreshments provided. Free.

The Prairie at Calvary Cemetery: A Treasure in our Backyard
Saturday, 9:00-10:00 am
Walnut Park Library
5760 W. Florissant
St. Louis, MO 63120
314/725-8314
info@thegreencenter.org

Come learn more about the only remaining Tallgrass Prairie remnant known to exist in St. Louis. This gem is located right in your neighborhood at Calvary Cemetery. Join The Green Center staff for a hands-on session to learn more about this native ecosystem, its historical importance, and wildlife inhabitants. Free.

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

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.

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