An ariel picture of the Columbia Bottoms area.

Many outdoor activities in June

Columbia Bottoms recreation area is open

St. Louis area kids and their families have a new outdoor area for their use. The Columbia Bottoms Area at the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers has been reopened.

(For many more outdoor activities and events, see below.)

A Missouri Conservation Department held a grand re-opening of Columbia Bottoms on May 30. That marked completion of Phase I of redevelopment of the 4,300-acre recreation area.

One of the neatest things now open to the public is a brand-new observation deck. That overlooks the confluence of the two great rivers.

Another feature is five miles of new paved roads. There also are five miles of limestone biking trails. Three miles of hiking trails along the Missouri River have been added.

For those who like boating and fishing, there is a new boat ramp and a new fishing pier.

More improvements are scheduled in Phases II and III. Conservation officials hope re-development will be finished by 2004. That will be in time for the start of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

It's easy to get to the Columbia Bottoms. From 1-270, you get off at the Riverview exit. Going east on I-270, that's the last exit before you cross to Illinois. Coming from Illinois, it's the first exit in Missouri.

You then go north on Columbia Bottoms Road for 2 1/2 miles to the park entrance.

If your family is looking for another Missouri-Mississippi river adventures, you could visit the new Lewis and Clark State Historic Site just across the Mississippi in Illinois.

Young Saint Louis.com described the opening of that site in January, 2003. To learn about that Illinois site, click here.

 

Outdoor music concerts at Botanical Garden

The Whitaker Music Festival will feature nine weeks of outdoor concerts at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The free concerts are an excellent opportunity for families to picnic while the music plays.

The concerts are held for nine consecutive Wednesday evenings, starting June 4. The concerts are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The schedule:

June 4: St. Louis Stompers, dixieland jazz at its best.
June 11: Hard Bop Heritage plays hard bop jazz.
June 18: Renowned jazz pianist Peter Martin.
June 25: Willie Akins, a tribute to a St. Louis treasure.
July 2: Vargas, jazz on the cutting edge.
July 9: Farshid Etniko, Latin jazz with a Persian flavor.
July 16: Raven Moon plays bluegrass, folk and more.
July 23: Ralph Butler Band, public entertainer No. 1.
July 30: Dan Rubright, jazz guitarist.

 

Conservation theme weeks in June

Three Missouri Conservation Department areas in St. Louis will have outdoor theme weeks during June.

* At Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles County will have the following theme weeks:

Wild Edibles Week on June 2, 4, and 6. Subjects are plant identification, more ID and collection and Cooking 101. Programs run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. each day. Recommended for ages 10 through 16.

Herpetology Week on June 9, 11 and 13. Subjects are amphibians, turtles, snakes and lizards. Programs are from 10 to 11:30 a.m. each day. Recommended for ages 7 through 12.

Birding Week on June 16, 18 and 20. Subjects are build a bird feeder, birding by day and birding by night. Times vary day to day. Recommended for ages 7 through 12.

Night Exploration Week on June 23, 25 and 27. Subjects are bats, night insects and spider sniff. Programs are 8 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

For details or to make reservations, call (636) 441-4554.

* At Rockwoods Reservation in western St. Louis County, the theme weeks are:

H2O Oh My Gosh! Week, June 2, 4, 6. Subjects are pond exploration, spring study, stream seek and aquatic jeopardy. Programs are 10 to 1:30 a.m. each day. Recommended ages 7 through 12. Program directors urge kids to "dress for a mess!"

Outdoor Skills Week, June 9, 11 and 13. Subjects are tracking, archery and riflery. On June 13, there will be an outdoor skills challenge from 11:30 to 12:30. Regular programs are 10 to 11:30 a.m. Recommended ages 11 through 15.

Get Outdoors Week, June 16, 18 and 20. Subjects are backpacking/camping, campfire cooking and flytying. Regular classes are 10 to 11:30 .m. On June 20, there will be an outdoorperson challenge from 11:30 to 12:30. Recommended ages 7 through 12.

Survival Skills Week, June 23, 25 and 27. Subjects are orienteering, wild edibles and fire/water/shelter. Regular classes are 10 to 11:30 a.m. On June 27, there will be a skills challenge from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Recommended ages 7 through 12.

For details or to register, call (636) 458-2236.

* At Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood, the theme weeks are:

Kids Outdoor Skills Week, June 9, 11 and 13. Subjects are gun safety, archery and fishing. Regular classes are 9:30 to noon. Recommended ages are 10 to 16.

Maze Days Week, June 16, 18 and 20. Subjects are trees maze, mammal skulls and bats mazes and fish and ducks mazes. Classes are 9:30 to noon. Recommended ages are 7 through 12.

Lewis and Clark Week, June 23, 25 and 27. Subjects are the Keelboat, journaling, plants and animals, Native Americans and endangered species. Classes are 9:30 to noon. Recommended ages are 7 through 12.

For details or to register, call (314) 301-1500.

 

St. Louis County's History Summer Camps

The St. Louis County summer camps in June have three historic themes. There's one on the Revolutionary War, one on the Civil War and one on the World Wars.

The Revolutionary War Camp will be held June 9-12 at the General Daniel Bissel House. The daily schedule is from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Civil War Camp will be June 16-19 at Jefferson Barracks Park. Daily schedules are from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The World Wars Camp will be June 23-26 at Jefferson Barracks Park. Daily schedules are from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Recommended ages for all the camps are 9 through 15. Each camp costs $100 per child.

For details and registration, call (314) 868-0973.