MDC's free outdoor skills sessions upcoming at Burr Oak Woods in Blue Springs

Kansas City, Mo. –The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has openings for free outdoor skills sessions for youths ages 8-11 at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. These sessions will help youngsters learn or improve an outdoor skill such as fishing or canoeing.

Burr Oak Woods staff and volunteers will teach the skills in two separate sessions on weekdays. Openings are available in programs from June 8-16. The sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 to 4 p.m. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed in all sessions.

Block 1 will include target shooting with air rifles and archery, plus canoeing. Instructors will teach basic gun safety and skills with air rifles at target ranges. Participants will learn about archery equipment, shooting techniques, and try their skills with bow and arrows. The session will move to the Burr Oak Woods education pond for training in canoe paddling and float trip gear. All paddlers will wear personal floatation vests while on the water.

In Block 2, participants will learn about fishing, orienteering, and atlatl. Instructors will teach basic fishing skills. MDC will provide tackle and bait. In orienteering, youths will learn how to use a compass and map to find their way through the outdoors. Throwing the atlatl dart, an ancient hunting tool, is another skill learned in the program.

Both blocks will be offered in various morning and afternoon sessions. Participants will need to dress for the outdoors. Registration is required. To register, visit the MDC events page for the Kansas City region at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z6L. Scroll down through the event listings to find the outdoor skills block listings for Burr Oak Woods.

For more information about Burr Oak Woods, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods.

MDC will offer free outdoor skills sessions for youths ages 8-11 during June at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs.