Places to Go, Things to Do

Lots of family fun activities for June

Wonders of Wildlife (WOW), KMOX Fishing Day, a Family Fun Day "Fly In" and a free Father's Day Family shooting outing. These are just some of the fun Places to Go; Things to Do during the month of June.

Other June activities available for kids include learning to draw and paint birds, bicycle rides, riding in a wilderness wagon and exploring the EarthWays Center's environmentally friendly home.

(Each month, Young Saint Louis.com gathers information about cool St. Louis-area activities and events of special interest to kids and their families. Most of the items either have free or low-cost admissions.)

Here's some more information about Places to Go; Things to Do for June:

Wonders Of Wildlife (WOW)

The WOW outdoor recreation and conservation school is coming to the heart of St. Louis. The instructors will be on hand Friday and Saturday, June 8-9, at Forest Park.

The event starts with an overnight camping experience, complete with a campfire and tents. Those who attend will get an introductory "learn to camp" lesson. The overnight starts at 5 p.m. Friday.

The all-day Saturday program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Included will be lessons in archery, nature photography, camping, canoeing, rock climbing and nature woodworking. Also, there will be instruction in Dutch oven cooking, introduction to reptiles and amphibians and other artistic and outdoor sports adventures.

For registration, call (314) 340-5794. The cost is $25 per family or $15 per individual.

KMOX Fishing Day

The KMOX Family Fishing Fair will be held Saturday, June 9, at Suson Park in south St. Louis County. The event runs from 7 a.m. to noon.

The event is hosted by KMOX's Dan Young. Admission is free. Food and snacks will be provided.

This will be a free fishing weekend, with no license needed, thanks to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

For information for other St. Louis County park activities, visit www.stlouisco.com.

Family Fun Day "Fly In"

The Missouri History Museum in Forest Park will host a Family Fun Day "Fly In" on Sunday, June 10, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The event will feature appearances by the Spirits of St. Louis Radio-Controlled Flying Club, the Aero Pilots Flying Club and the St. Louis Whirlybirds.

Youngsters will be able to create their own model airplanes from paper and balsa wood.

The event is to celebrate the museum's new exhibit, Flight City. St. Louis Takes to the Air. The exhibit tells the story of St. Louis' main flight accomplishments, from Lindbergh flying non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean to construction of advanced air and space craft.

For information, visit www.mohistory.org or call (314) 746-4599.

Father's Day Family Free Shooting

If you or your parents are hunters, the Busch Range and Conservation Education Center has just the present for Father's Day. The whole family can have two hours on the rifle/pistol, skeet, archery or patterning ranges.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. No registration is required.

For information on this or other Missouri Department of Conservation programs, call (636) 441-4554.

Painting the Birds

Also, at the Busch area, there's a neat art-lesson program for kids 8 and up. You'll learn to sketch and paint a bird, using watercolors.

The Painting the Birds sessions are on Thursday, June 7. One session is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. while the afternoon session is from noon to 1:30 p.m.

For reservations, call (636) 441-4554.

Trailnet Bike Rides

Trailnet has Family Fun and Pedal in the Park rides scheduled for June. These rides have relatively level routes and usually have a fun community event at the end of the ride.

The River des Peres Ramble is Sunday, June 3. This ride is one of the hillier rides with routes of 13, 24 and 35 miles. Registration is 8:30 to 10 a.m. from the music stand in Carondelet Park. A limited number of Lions Choice food items are available at the end of the ride.

The Route 66 Bicycle Ride and Festival will be Saturday, June 9. Registration is 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Domino's Pizza in Edwardsville. Return to festival after the ride for food and more fun.

The Bridge Birthday Bash and Bicycle Ride is Sunday, June 24. Registration is from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Return to the bridge for the birthday party, with food, music, cake and ice cream.

The June Peddle in the Park ride is the Picasso Pedal, sponsored by the St. Louis Art Museum. It will be Sunday, June 17, with registration from 1 to 2 p.m. This ride is only five miles and is a good Father's Day present for your parent.

For all Trailnet information, visit www.Trailnet.org or pick up a 2007 ride calendar at your local bike shop.

Shaw Reserve's Wilderness Wagon

 

The Shaw Nature Reserve in southwest St. Louis County sponsors Wilderness Wagon Rides on Saturdays and Sundays. Departures are at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Admission is $1 per person in addition to the reserve admission.

You get a 3-mile ride in a wilderness wagon that includes stops at the reserve's trail house and the wetlands.

This ride is in an area that has been returned to the condition and foliage of pioneer times.

For information visit www.shawnature.org or call (314) 451-3512.

Shakspeare Festival Summer Camps for Kids

The Shakespeare Festival Conservancy has a wide variety of camps for kids in June and July. There are camps for young kids to late teens and for beginning to experienced actors.

For instance, there's a series of half-day camps for kids ages 6 through 9. The kids can study as many as four different Shakespeare plays.

One other camp is a full-day, 3-week camp where actors ages 13-18 end up performing a 90-minute version of "A Comedy of Errors" in the Forest Park Amphitheater.

Or actors can go to camps and perform in the Laurmeier Sculpture Park.

For details call the Shakespeare Festival at (314) 531-9800 or visit www.sfstl.com.

Explore EarthWays Center

Families can get ideas on how homes can be converted to energy efficiency by touring the EarthWays Center in downtown St. Louis. The center is open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is $2 for adults but children 12 and under are admitted free.

For information, visit www.earthwayshome.org or call (314) 571-0220.

And More….

Every Day Circus: The City Museum offers the Every Day Circus shows as a part of its regular admission. Shows include clowns, stilt walkers, jugglers, magicians and mimes. For information, visit www.everydaycircus.net or call (314) 645-4445.

Ice Cream Making lessons: At West Tyson Park in St. Louis County, there will be a lesson on homemade ice cream making on Saturday, June 16. Hours are 1 to 3 p.m. and cost is $5 per person. Using one of grandma's recipes, families can combine sugar, cream and fruit into a favorite dessert. Register at (636) 391-0922.