Osage Trails Chapter
Partner information
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or corrections that you would like posted here to rgaines@rgaines.com.
For additional information on each MMN Chapter
Partner see below:
Anita
B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center (MDC)
Discover ten
acres of gardens, wetlands, walkways and wildlife that surround the Anita B.
Gorman Conservation Discovery Center building, located near the banks of Brush
Creek at Troost Avenue in Kauffman Legacy Park. The environmentally friendly
building houses information and outreach services of the Missouri Department of
Conservation and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Located in
the heart of the urban core, the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center
focuses its educational programs on helping urban children and adults appreciate
the bounty and beauty of nature, and learn outdoor skills such as hiking,
camping, wildlife viewing and growing native plants. Hunting and fishing
permits, books, videos and educational materials highlighting the natural
resources of Missouri can be purchased in the Missouri Outdoors Nature Shop.
Hours are Monday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 4750 Troost Avenue, Kansas
City, MO
Contact:
Kathie
May Phone: 816-759-7300
ext. 2241 E-mail: kathleen.may@mdc.mo.gov
Website:
http://mdc.mo.gov/areas/kcmetro/discovery/
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:
Kate
Delehunt Phone: 816-309-0762
E-mail: kdelehunt@brwa.net
Website:
www.brwa.net
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 Email: Danny.Hartwig@mdc.mo.gov
Stacey Davis
E-mail: stacey.davis@mdc.mo.gov
Phone: (816) 228-3766
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: Sherry
Leonardo Email: home172@aol.com
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: Al Maddox or
Peggy Sloan
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.
Contact: Jeff Umbreit Email: jumbreit@indepmo.org
Phone: (816)
325-7115
City of Independence, Missouri - Parks & Recreation Environmental Programs
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:
-
teaching the value of
Kansas City’s community forest
-
training volunteers in
tree planting and care
-
creating opportunities
for hands-on tree planting and care.
Contact: Angela
Schreffler
Email: angela.schreffler@bridgingthegap.org
Phone: 816-561-1061,
ext. 110
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
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.
Contact: Forest Decker Email:
forest_decker@kcmo.org
Phone: (816) 513-8960
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 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
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: Emily
Miller
Phone: 816-561-1086 Email: emily.miller@bridgingthegap.org
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
Phone: 816-781-8598
Website:
www.naturesanctuary.com
Missouri
River Relief
For
seven years, communities up and down the Missouri River have been teaming with
Missouri River Relief to clean up this wonderful natural resource. We’ve held
46 clean-ups, bringing 8,605 volunteers down to the Big Muddy to haul 460 tons
of trash from 511 river miles of banks. Missouri River Cleanups are a fun, muddy
day of hard work, with a free boat ride and a chance to meet others that share
your love for this river.
Contact: Vicki
Richmond, Kansas City Coordinator
Phone: 816-812-5166 E-mail: vicki@riverrelief.org
Website: www.riverrelief.org
Platte
County Parks and Recreation
The
vision of Platte County Parks and Recreation is to enhance the quality of life
for all of its citizens by providing one of the premier county parks systems in
the region. The County Commission and the Parks Department hope to achieve this
vision by:
-
Knowing
and responding to the needs of our citizens.
-
Preserving
and enhancing our unique natural beauty and our county's rich history.
-
Developing
multi-purpose land uses and programs.
-
Practicing
the fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship our citizens expect.
We
will strive to utilize all of the resources in the county which can contribute
to the success of our vision by aggressively pursuing partnerships,
out-sourcing, and sponsorship opportunities.
Contact: Jim
Kunce
Phone: 816-858-3337
E-mail: jkunce@co.platte.mo.us
Website: http://co.platte.mo.us/parks_recreation/geninformation.htm
Powell
Gardens
P
owell
Gardens is a private, not-for-profit botanical garden located just east of
Kansas City, Missouri. Our mission: to be an experience that embraces the
Midwest's spirit of place and inspires an appreciation for the importance of
plants in our lives. Set on more than 915 acres of lush, rolling hills and
windswept meadows, Powell Gardens offers breathtaking display gardens,
interesting architecture, a 3.25 mile nature trail and a year-round calendar of
special events and classes for the entire family.
The
Gardens receive support from foundations, corporations, individuals, the Friends
of Powell Gardens and income generated through admissions, gift shop sales and
rentals. Powell Gardens is known for its spectacular garden displays
incorporating native plantings and its contemporary architecture by the
architectural firm originally established by Fay Jones, now Maurice Jennings
Architects. The Gardens can be rented for weddings, receptions, ceremonies and
other private events.
Contact:
Eric Tschanz,
President/Executive Director Alan Branhagen, Dir. of Horticulture
Phone:
816-694-2600
816-694-2600 x 241
E-mail:
etschanz@powellgardens.org
abranhagen@powellgardens.org
Website:
www.powellgardens.org
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