WOW St. Louis Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School

MO DNR Environmental Newsroom

Published March 13th, 2026

Detected March 20th, 2026

Summary

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced the upcoming WOW St. Louis National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School, scheduled for April 11-12, 2026. The event aims to empower families with outdoor skills and offers various participation options, including day classes and an overnight experience.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a notice regarding the WOW St. Louis National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School, taking place April 11-12, 2026, at Beaumont Scout Reservation. This event is designed to provide families with skills and confidence for outdoor activities, offering different program tracks for various age groups, including a Magical Minis Day Camp for ages 5-9 and hands-on classes for ages 10 and up. The notice details costs ($15 for Saturday, $25 for the full weekend) and mentions scholarship availability, with advanced registration required by April 1, 2026.

While this is primarily an informational notice about a recreational event rather than a regulatory mandate, compliance officers should note the sponsoring agencies, which include the Missouri DNR, Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and National Park Service. The notice serves as an announcement of a public program and does not impose new compliance obligations on regulated entities. Interested parties can register online or contact the provided phone number for more information.

What to do next

Register for the WOW St. Louis event by April 1, 2026, if interested in attending.
Review program details and costs for potential family participation.

Source document (simplified)

Friday, March 13, 2026

Empowering families through outdoor education

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 13, 2026 – Families looking for a safe way to discover outdoor adventures are in luck! The St. Louis WOW National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School offers a comprehensive gateway to the outdoors.

Join experienced instructors April 11-12 at the Beaumont Scout Reservation in High Ridge, Missouri. Can’t stay the whole weekend? No problem. Participants can register for Saturday classes only or stay for the full overnight experience. The curriculum is specifically designed to give participants the skills, comfort and confidence to enjoy nature.

Whether you're a family of five or an individual adventurer, there’s a path for everyone:

Ages 10 and up: Dive into a variety of hands-on recreational classes.
Magical Minis Day Camp (ages 5 - 9): Younger explorers enjoy age-appropriate crafts and outdoor activities.
The Full Experience: Stay overnight for the ultimate camping trip! You’ll be treated to s’mores, an owl prowl, a live raptor program by the World Bird Sanctuary and stargazing with the St. Louis Astronomical Society. There is a cost for the event, but scholarships are available upon request. For Saturday-only events, the cost is $15 per person and includes all activities and lunch. The full weekend totals $25 per person and includes the two-day experience, plus dinner and breakfast. Tents and sleeping bags can be furnished upon request.

Advanced registration is required by April 1. Register online at MoStateParks.com/wow (the full course PDF is available here). For questions concerning WOW or scholarship information, call 314-340-5792. Can’t make it to High Ridge? Look for similar WOW programs in Kansas City and Roaring River State Park, both coming this fall, at MoStateParks.com/wow.

WOW St. Louis is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Wonders of Wildlife Museum, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Gateway Region YMCA, World Bird Sanctuary, James Foundation, Beta Fund, River City Outdoors, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House and the St. Louis Astronomical Society.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.