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Learn & Discover at Shaw Nature Reserve

 

Our classes for kids and families have been designed for children and adults to experience together. Instructors strive to engage children in age-appropriate activities, while providing adults examples of ways to learn about the natural world at home. 

Check out upcoming youth and family programs at the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Butterfly House. We also have opportunities for scouts and summer camp groups!

Boy looks through magnifier
Little Nature Explorers
Ages 3–5 with an Adult
Hands-on indoor and outdoor activities help strengthen your child's connection to the natural world. (Part of the Little Years early childhood series.)		 Child with just-caught fish
Shaw Family Adventures
Ages 3–10 with an Adult
Learn about nature as you have fun outdoors! Each program involves an outdoor activity where you use your senses and master a skill.

 

Registration Now Open for Fall Classes!

Spring/Summer 2024
OR
Fall 2024

We look forward to seeing you in a class soon!

Instructor with kidsImportant: All groups—whether led by a Nature Reserve Instructor or self-guided—must make reservations for their visit.

We have many classes available year round to teach you about plants, animals, our trails, and outdoor skills here at the Shaw Nature Reserve. See a list of classes available now

For information on cancellations/refunds please read our cancellation policy.

For general questions about our adult and family programs, please contact Rachel Weller, Public Programs Coordinator, at (314) 577-9526 or rachel.weller@mobot.org.

Girls balancing on logThe Nature Explore Classroom and Sense of Wonder Woodland are designed to help children develop a sense of wonder for the natural world through unstructured and creative play with natural materials in an outdoor setting.
Learn more

Boy looking at GPS unit Geocaching
Please keep all geocaches in their original location.
See the full list of the geocaches here and around the world by clicking here.  

Visitor Center TaleBlazer
After checking in at the Visitor Center you can learn more about the plants and animals of Shaw Nature Reserve with your phone while you hike. TaleBlazer games take place in the real world. Players interact with virtual characters, objects and data as they move around their real location. TaleBlazer games can be played on most GPS-enabled Android and iOS smartphones.

Once a game is downloaded to your smartphone, you don't need an internet connection to play your games! Download the TaleBlazer (MIT STEP Lab) app from your phones’ app store. Once downloaded the Shaw Nature Reserve games should appear.

Our three games include information on wild edibles in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden, wetland flora and fauna facts at the wetland trail, and the life cycle of a monarch at the Nature Explore Classroom and Sense of Wonder Woodland. Each game is for a different age group.