Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Reed Detring with Mike Simpson, left, and James Hall , both of Springfield, receive a plaque engraved with the Park Service Mission and embedded with a commemorative National Park Service coin for the new cave exhibit at the Akers Contact Station. Hall designed and constructed the cave exhibit, with Simpson providing additional support and inspiration. James Hall is the owner of JH Creative Studios in Nixa and has designed exhibits for parks and museums across the country. Mike Simpson is a former employee of Ozark National Scenic Riverways and educator in the Springfield area. Both were volunteers on this project.

While Traveler has chosen to remain upbeat, and not to dwell on the tough economic times, it’s always good to hear positive news, benefitting both the outdoors and local contractors like that which came today.
Mark Twain National Forest has awarded $2,300,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contracts to improve forest roads and recreation sites. Read the rest of this entry »

Jo Schaper

“Mommy, what’s that bug? Can I really touch a snake?”
This year, the Ozark Riverways are going all out to celebrate National Park Week (April 18-26) presenting Jr. Ranger Day at Round Spring campground, located between Salem and Eminence on Hwy. 19.
According to Bill O’Donnell – aka “Ranger Bill” – the activities at Round Spring April 25 from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. are designed to get kids from 6 to 16 excited about the outdoors. Read the rest of this entry »

The Mo. Dept. of Conservation announced that fish losses at Missouri hatcheries in 2008 will result in about 180,000 fewer fish being stocked in 2009 at Missouri trout parks and other waters. This is about a 10% reduction, or 0.25 fish per angler, according to James Civiello, Trout Hatchery Program Director.

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Mother Nature has her own way of making us recognize her.  The dark long days of winter have given way to the longer springtime daylight.  Trees are budding, waiting until their right moment to pop their leaves to the world, waking up as the seasons change.  The flowers are starting to bloom.  Suddenly, it becomes a symphony of color in these hills; wildflowers, trees, and animals all greeting each after the quiet of winter. Read the rest of this entry »

Robert Vanderbrugen of Madison County, Missouri is this month’s winner of the River Hills Traveler hat. Robert said, “I look forward to reading the Traveler each month. I think the River Hills Traveler is the ‘outdoor authority’ when it comes to covering hunting, fishing, or any other outdoor recreation in Southeast Missouri. Readers enter the cap contest by finding our mascot, Trav, in the classified section of the print edition of Traveler, and sending an entry blank to our office.

Jo Schaper

Somehow I missed this in the hoopla last year over the Year of the Frog. At http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/herpetol/frog/id.htm MDC posted an online audio and visual guide to ID’ng Missouri frogs and toads. Read the rest of this entry »

Missouri Birds and Birding Basics class will be held on April 10 from 6-8 p.m. in the Lybyer Technology Center on MSU-WP campus in West Plains, followed by an optional field trip at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday April 11. This event is free. For details, contact Wendy Ziegler at the MDC at 256-7161 ext. 301.

If you happen to live elsewhere than Van Buren, Fremont, Grandin or thereabouts, you may not realize that 2009 is the sesquicentennial of the organization of Carter County. The good folks over there have a full year’s schedule of events to help remember the past and plan for the future. Read the rest of this entry »

At its March meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission suspended hunting and/or fishing privileges of 34 Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of eight Missouri residents. Those whose privileges were suspended are: Read the rest of this entry »