The annual Junior Ranger Day event at Ozark National Scenic Riverways will return to Alley Spring on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.   

Area students and youth organizations are invited to spend a fun-filled day learning about a wide range of environmental education topics. The main event for students will be a live presentation featuring raptors from the World Bird Sanctuary. Special programs and active learning will be presented about bats, snakes, large mammals, fish, wildfires, river safety, hellbenders, owls, and much more.  Activities, displays, and presentations are targeted toward 4th and 5th grade students but will be interesting for all ages. Schools and large education groups should RSVP by calling Josh Chilton at (573) 226-3945 or email josh_chilton@nps.gov. Participants should bring a picnic lunch and dress to spend the day outdoors. Everyone will be sworn in as official Junior Rangers during the lunch break!   

Participating organizations include Ozark Riverways Foundation, Missouri State Parks, Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Forest Service, Ozark Trail Association, Back Country Horsemen of Missouri, Missouri Bat Census, and park volunteers. 

Alley Spring is located five miles west of Eminence, Missouri, on State Route 106. For more information, phone (573) 226-3945, or visit the park’s Facebook page or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.  

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding natural resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. For more information visit, www.nps.gov/ozar or call 573-323-4236. 

Original source can be found here.