Places to Go, Things to Do

Lots of fun events in area in August

August is the time for ice sledding in a St. Louis County park. Also available are conservation classes to help kids get ready for upcoming hunting seasons.

Then, an early warning about September: The colorful St. Louis County Fair and Air Show will be held on Labor Day Weekend, which is Sept. 2-5.

Each month, Young Saint Louis.com gives advance notice of upcoming places and things that would make good activities for you and your family. Check them out now and make plans for fun outings.

Ice grass sledding Saturday, Aug. 13

With hot weather we've been having this summer, you can be sure there won't be snow sledding in August. But, that doesn't keep you from having a unique sledding experience.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, at Sioux Passage Park in St. Louis County, there will be ice grass sledding for everyone. Your sled will be a giant block of ice that'll slide quickly down a grassy slope. The event runs from 1-3 p.m.

Be sure to bring a carpet square or a heavy towel to sit on. Afterwards, there will be cookies and cold drinks.

Register by August 10. To register and get directions, call (636) 391-3474. Cost is $7.

Archery and rifle hunter education classes

There are hunter education courses for both firearms and bow hunters during August at two Missouri Conservation Department ranges.

At the Jay Henges Outdoor Education Center, the bow hunter course will be held Friday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m. These courses are mandatory in states where certification to hunt is required.

At the Henges center, the firearms education courses will be held Saturday, Aug. 27, and Sunday, Aug. 28. Classes are at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.

At the Busch Outdoor Education Center, the bowhunter classes will be held Friday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m.

The Busch firearms classes will be Tuesday, Aug. 9, and Thursday, Aug. 11. Classes both nights start at 5:30 p.m.

Classes are open to kids 11 and over. Kids 11 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

To register for either Henges or Busch classes, call (636) 441-4554.

Final Cardinals Kids 2005 baseball clinics

The final two Cardinals Kids Clinics 2005 sessions will be held in Ellisville on Thursday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5.

The Thursday session is for kids 8 to 10. On Friday, kids from 11 to 13 attend. The sessions from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The price is $99 per kid.

Each clinic is taught exclusively by former Cardinal players or coaches.

Besides the instruction, kids receive at Cardinal T-shirt and cap, two free Cardinal tickets and prize drawings. There are autograph sessions with former players also.

To register, call (314) 425-0600 or visit www.stlcardinals.com

Conservation nature film series

The Missouri Conservation Department's Powder Valley Nature Center will show nature films each weekend in August. For information, call (314) 301-1500.

Twenty different films will be show during the four Saturday and Sunday sessions. These are Aug. 6 and 7; Aug. 13 and 14; Aug. 20 and 21, and Aug. 27 and 28.

There are children's films and others that are for all ages. Kids films are show at 9 to 10 a.m. and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and all-ages films are shown 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m.

The films are free and no reservations are needed.

Kids Fun bicycle trail rides

Trailnet, Inc. has two Fun Club for Kids Rides scheduled in August. These rides are over fairly easy routes and always end with a special event or treat.

The Fahrradtour and Augustfest Ride is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 7. It starts at Sheve Park in Mascoutah, Ill., with registration from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

The rides are 16, 25, 37 or 50 miles. After the ride, kids and their families are invited to Mascoutah's annual German Heritage Festival where there will be food, drink and entertainment.

The second Fun Ride is the My Just Desserts Bicycle Ride on Sunday, Aug. 28, at Orchard Farm, Mo. Registration is 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Ride routes are 12, 31, 40 and 52 miles. These routes include crossing the Mississippi and Illinois rivers on the Grafton Ferry. Longer routes include visits to Eckert's Orchard and Pere Marquette State Park. Refreshments come with a stop at My Just Desserts restaurant for food, drinks, custard and pie.

For more information on these and other rides, visit www.trainlnet.org

Also, Moonlight Ramble bike ride

The world's largest nighttime bicycle ride-The Moonlight Ramble-will be held Sunday, Aug. 21, starting at 12:01 a.m. from Forest Park.

The cost is $20 in advance or $25 at the starting line. Participants get a T-shirt, ride ticket and an after-party at the City Museum. For information, call (314) 644-4660 or visit www.moonlightramble.com

Botanical Garden's young scientist class

Another in the Buzz series of young scientist classes will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Sakes Butterfly House at Faust Park. The subject this time is how to mount butterflies and other insects for display.

The 90-minute class will start at 2 p.m. The Buzz classes are for kids 8 and up and an adult must accompany. Price is $13 or $9 for members.

For more information, visit www.butterflyhouse.org

Art Museum's Ford Family Sunday programs

The subject for the free Ford Family Sunday sessions in August is "Beautiful Beasts and Mythological Creatures." Sessions will be Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28.

On Sunday, Aug. 7, the session also includes storytelling on the subject, "Animal Tales from around the World."

Sessions are 1 to 4 p.m. For more, visit www.slam.org

St. Louis County Fair & Air Show

A little early warning about a Labor Day Weekend event of interest: The St. Louis County Fair and Air Show will be Sept. 2-5. It's held at the fairgrounds at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in the Chesterfield Valley.

Attractions include carnival rides, several breathtaking air shows and the area's largest static aircraft display.

To learn more, visit www.stlcofair.org