Osage Trails Chapter Partner information 

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Partners & members please provide any additional information or corrections that you would like posted here to rgaines@rgaines.com

You can double click on the name of each partner organization to get more information from their website.

PARTNER

CONTACT

EMAIL ADDRESS

Blue River Watershed Association

Ginny Moore

gmoore@brwa.net

Burr Oak Woods

Danny Hartwig

Danny.Hartwig@mdc.mo.gov  

Burroughs Audubon Society

Michael Stoakes

mstoakes@juno.com  

Cave Spring Historic Site & Nature Center

Grady Manus

cavespringkc@aol.com  

George Owens Nature Park

Jeff Umbreit

jumbreit@indepmo.org  

Heartland Tree Alliance

Angela Schreffler

angela.schreffler@bridgingthegap.org 

Jackson County Parks & Recreation

Laura Rush

lrush@jacksongov.org

Kansas City Parks Recreation & Boulevards

Marci Jones

marci_jones@kcmo.org  

Kansas City WildLands

Linda Lehrbaum

Linda@bridgingthegap.org

Keep Kansas City Beautiful

Andrea Babbit

andrea@bridgingthegap.org  

Lincoln University Extension

Tina Wurth

wurtht@lincolnu.edu

Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

Michael Sandy

michael@naturesanctuary.com  

Additional information for local MMN Chapter Partners is listed in alphabetical order below:


Blue River Watershed Association

The Blue River Watershed Association is a nonprofit, grassroots community organization that engages Kansas Citians in protecting and restoring the Blue River Watershed. BRWA works to connect you to the Blue.

Do you live in the Blue River Watershed?  We all live in a watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common body of water. The Blue River drains much of the KC metro area south of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, on both sides of the State Line.  Click on The Blue River to see if you live in the Blue River Watershed.

What does BRWA do? BRWA focuses its efforts in 3 areas - community education, environmental stewardship and strategic partnerships. Our goal is to inform Kansas Citians about watershed concerns, like flooding and poor water quality, and to engage our community in addressing these issues, so that we can all enjoy the benefits of clean rivers and streams, great recreational opportunities and a healthier, more beautiful Kansas City.

Contact: Ginny Moore, Executive Director  Email: gmoore@brwa.net. Phone: 816-309-0762.


Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center

Burr Oak Woods State Forest is in Jackson County, 20 miles east of downtown Kansas City. The forest is composed of 1,071 acres of woodlands, fields and ponds and includes a scenic portion of Burr Oak Creek.

Burr Oak Woods was purchased in 1977. Its natural features include a 33-acre natural area with forested hillsides that quickly drop as much as 100 feet. Scattered limestone boulders and outcrops, with 8-foot-deep mazes through them, add interest to the area.

Nearly 70 percent of Burr Oaks Woods is forested and contains a wide variety of tree species, including white oak, red oak, chinkapin oak, black walnut, hackberry, white ash, shagbark hickory, Kentucky coffetree and many others. Understory trees include roughleaf dogwood, redbud, pawpaw, red elm and yellow buckeye.

Additional natural features include glades, fields, rock outcrops, ponds, wildlife, streams and native grass plantings.

Wildlife management practices such as food plots, native grass plantings, old field succession, brush piles and tree plantations can be seen along the main road. Management of the forest, wildlife and watershed is complemented by the conservation education and interpretive programming at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center located in the Forest.

Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, completed in 1982, features a collection of permanent and temporary conservation exhibits.

The center serves as the focal point of nature interpretation and conservation education. It includes a 154-seat auditorium and a 3000-gallon aquarium displaying native fish. Special events are scheduled throughout the year. Conservation programs and hikes are available to organized groups upon advance request.

The nature center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m

Burr Oak Woods State Forest

Contacts: 

Danny Hartwig     EmailDanny.Hartwig@mdc.mo.gov

Stacey Davis  E-mailstacey.davis@mdc.mo.gov         

Phone: (816) 228-3766


Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City

Burroughs Audubon Society promotes the appreciation of birds, the enjoyment of nature, natural history education and conservation of habitat. 

Volunteer Opportunities: field trip leader, board member, committees, campaigns, outreach events, newsletter, library staff, children's activities, etc.

Contact: Mike Stoakes.  Email: mstoakes@juno.com  Phone: 816.554.1956.


Cave Springs Historic Site and Nature Center

Cave Spring / William M. Klein Park (Kansas City, MO) -- This historic site was once a rest stop on the Santa Fe Trail, the farm of Harry S. Truman's grandfather and is now a 36-acre nature park operated by Cave Spring Association, Inc. On a visit to Cave Spring, you will find an interpretive center with changing exhibits, picnic area, hiking trails, wildlife pond habitat, butterfly garden and small cave. Guided hikes and educational programs are available for school field trips and organized groups. Interpretive Center hours are Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hiking trails are open daily 9 a.m. - Sunset. Call 816-358-2283 or visit us at 8701 E. Gregory Blvd.

Contact: Grady Manus     Phone: 816/358-2283      Email: cavespringkc@aol.com


George Owens Nature Park

George Owens Nature Park is open year-round and is a great place to rediscover the world around you. The park features over 85 acres of beautiful natural park land, four miles of nature trails, and two fishing lakes. Located off of Missouri 78 Highway, at 1601 South Speck Road, the park is close enough to visit in the evenings for a nice seasonal walk. 

Inside the lodge, find interesting archaeological finds from the area, an aquarium, and wildlife exhibits. The lodge, pavilion, and campground are available for rentals. For more information, contact park staff at
325-7115

City of Independence, Missouri - Parks & Recreation Environmental Programs

Contact: Jeff Umbreit   Email: jumbreit@indepmo.org   Phone: (816) 325-7115


Heartland Tree Alliance - Bridging The Gap

Bridging The Gap, along with its partners, has created a non-profit community forestry organization - Heartland Tree Alliance. This organization will serve the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area, working regionally in both Kansas and Missouri. Our mission is to engage people of the Greater Kansas City region to take action and advocate for a healthy community forest.

Incorporating and expanding upon the work many have already done, our initial focus will be on:

Contact: Angela Schreffler  Email: angela.schreffler@bridgingthegap.org  Phone: 816-561-1061, ext. 110


Jackson County Parks and Recreation

Jackson County Parks and Recreation administers and maintains approximately 22,000 acres of parkland divided among 31 different park locations. Regional park development has constituted the major thrust of Jackson County's park development in the last decade. Regional parks are generally over 2,000 acres in size and include a major feature, providing a variety of recreational opportunities. They attract users from surrounding counties as well as Jackson County.

Contact: Laura Rush  Email: lrush@jacksongov.org   Phone: (816)229-8980 ex: 20


Kansas City Parks and Recreation

Mission Statement

To improve the quality of life by providing recreational, leisure, and aesthetic opportunities for all citizens, and by conserving and enhancing the environment. We will accomplish this mission by providing quality programming, making the best use of existing resources, developing a supportive and influential constituency, developing effective collaborations and partnerships, and acquiring and preserving natural features.

About Us

Parks and Recreation currently oversees more than 212 parks, 132 miles boulevards and parkways, 49 ornamental fountains, 134 ball diamonds, 10 community centers, 105 tennis courts, five golf courses, five museums and attractions, 30 pools, 47 shelters, dozens of outdoor events, and more than 400 recreational and educational programs.

Opportunities for chapter Members exist at Jerry Smith, Rocky Point Park in Swope, and Hidden Valley. 

Contact: Marcie Jones, South Parks Region   Email: Marci Jones   Phone: (816) 513-7530

Lakeside Nature Center 

 Managed by Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department

WHERE CAN YOU . . .see hawks, owls  and other Missouri wildlife up close. . . go on a hike along a marsh or glade . . .learn about wildlife and wild places . . .get involved in wildlife conservation . .or take an injured animal for emergency help?

LAKESIDE NATURE CENTER
Experience the wild world of nature in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri. Lakeside Nature Center, located in Swope Park, at 4701 East Gregory Blvd, exhibits wildlife native to the area, offers educational programs, coordinates community conservation projects, and is one of Missouri’s largest wildlife rehabilitation facilities and is owned and managed by Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department.

Swope Park is an 1,800 acre wooded park that also houses the Kansas City Zoo, Starlight Theatre, Blue River Golf Course, Swope Memorial Golf Course, a Disc Golf Course, Swope Park Pool, ball fields, picnic areas, and a pond for fishing. Additionally, the Blue River winds through the Park.

Lakeside Nature Center is an incredible place to enjoy learning about local native wildlife, including birds of prey, snakes, amphibians, turtles, fish, and invertebrates. Whether you wish to explore the exhibits on your own, or sign up for a wildlife program, your visit is certain to be enjoyable.  Need a map?

Contact: Susan Bray, Naturalist     Email: FOLNC@con.org      Phone: 816.513.8960


Kansas City WildLands

Kansas City WildLands is a coalition of resource professionals, private conservation organizations and conservation minded citizens established to restore and manage the remnants of Kansas City's original landscape.

Relatively undisturbed prairie, glade, savanna and forest natural communities still exist on public lands in the metro area, but they need our help.  Over time, many such communities have been overtaken by trees and brush, invaded by exotic plants and deprived of the natural processes that maintained them.  In addition to a lack of management, these natural communities also suffer from a lack of recognition and appreciation by the urban public.  An equally important dual goal of the WildLands coalition is to involve the citizens of the metro community in the care of these lands that represent Kansas City's natural heritage. See map.

Program Coordinator and Primary Contact: 

Contact: Linda Lehrbaum    Email: linda@bridgingthegap.org     Phone: 816-561-1061 x116

 

Excerpts from Larry Rizzo's 1/5/2007 message

There were two separate signup lists at the KC WildLands table on Dec 18. One was for those interested in various capstone projects and the other was for any of you interested in WildLands in any way including being notified when service hour opportunities come up. If you did not sign either or both lists and wish to, or are not sure if you are either list, please contact WildLands coordinator Linda Lehrbaum as soon as possible: linda@bridgingthegap.org or 816-561-1061 x116

Sign up for volunteer Service Hours, Capstone Projects, & Workday Leadership Opportunities

Workday leadership roles:  At a given site on one of our workdays, we typically have a minimum of two and sometimes as many as 4-5 leaders. Responsibilities are divvied up and no one flies solo, and of course, you will be trained/mentored. So if you would be interested in leadership at a WildLands site, please let Linda know.

Once we are certain we have everyone on the lists, we will then create a specific group list for you folks and will be sending you updates on events and opportunities. (We just scheduled a tree-planting day along the Blue River Parkway for March 24, for example.)

We will be contacting those of you who expressed interested in workday leadership, seed collecting and photo-monitoring in the coming months. Larry.Rizzo@mdc.mo.gov


Keep Kansas City Beautiful

Keep Kansas City Beautiful works in partnership with individuals, business and government to create a cleaner and more beautiful Kansas City.

Why? Beautiful cities are great cities. Beautiful cities attract businesses, visitors and create incredible community pride. Clean neighborhoods mean healthier, safer and more livable communities. By working to keep Kansas City beautiful, we connect environment, economy and community in ways that benefit us for generations to come.

Keep Kansas City Beautiful focuses its efforts in three areas: public awareness, litter abatement and education.

Contact: Andrea  Babbit    Phone: 816-561-1086  Email: andrea@bridgingthegap.org


Lincoln University Extension

Kansas City Urban Impact Center  "An oasis to the neediest of the needy." 

The West Central Region 1890 Extension Programs are delivered through the Kansas City Impact Center, which is located in the 12th Street Heritage District. The programs target limited resource and minority audiences in the Kansas City Area by providing survival skills in the areas of workforce preparedness, youth-at-risk activities, assertiveness, money management and personal health. Clients enrolled in the program participate in a series of three-hour workshops culminating in a graduation and certificate exercise.

The Vision: Lincoln University Cooperative Extension plans to implement a project that focuses efforts on one community at a time to deliver essential programs. Then it branches out to other neighborhoods once revitalization has been completed.

To have the desired impact it intends to have, this project will require partnerships between Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, and various community and governmental agencies and grass roots organizations.

Contact: Tina Wurth  Email: wurtht@lincolnu.edu   Phone: (816) 920-7937


Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is a private nonprofit nature organization with 100 acres of land. The Nature Sanctuary is the dream of Martha Lafite Thompson. She wanted to create a place a place for wildlife and you. This Sanctuary is not supported by city, state, or federal government tax dollars. The Missouri Department of Conservation leases us the Rush Creek Conservation area, but they do not pay for operating costs.

The Nature Center has about 4 miles of trails. Most of the trails are less than a mile in length. A map of the hiking trails is available in the visitor boxes with the guest register. There are two asphalt trails, one of which is ADA accessible. The ADA accessible trail (a.k.a. Rush Creek Trail) is about a 1 mile round-trip from the picnic shelter, pictured above, to the creek overlook and back. Trails are open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sundays.

The Nature Sanctuary offers a wide variety of public and private programs. Many of these are listed monthly in our newsletter. We offer public programs for all ages; we also offer private programs for birthday parties, scout groups, and school field trips. If you would like more information brochures are available at the front desk.

View map and get directions.

Contact: Michael Sandy   Email: michael@naturesanctuary.com  


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