Places to Go, Things to Do

March is good time for sports fans

March is a good month for kids who like to watch sports, either on TV or in person. This month is especially good for fans in St. Louis.

The Missouri Valley Conference will hold both its men's and women's tournaments in the local area. The men will play at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis while the women will play at the Family Arena in St. Charles.

This year, the NCAA's national wrestling championship meet also is at Scottrade.

Mid-States High School Hockey holds its 35th Challenger Cup meet in March also.

And, for those who like comic fun with their basketball, there's the Harlem Globetrotters appearance at Scottrade on March 14.

For those kids who also like to do, not just watch, Young Saint Louis.com also spotlights other participatory activities available during March.

(In this edition, YSL.com features an in-depth look to allow advance planning for a series of spring-break sessions and a preview of spring biking and hiking events. For a look at these events, click here.)

Missouri Valley Conference basketball

For the second year, the Missouri Valley Conference will hold both its men's and women's basketball tournaments in the St. Louis area.

The men's tournament will be at Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis March 3-8.

The women's meet will be at the Family Arena in St. Charles March 12-15.

The men's tournament has been held in St. Louis for several years. But, this is only the second year here for the women's tournament. The women's meet previously rotated among the campuses of conference schools.

Also, this year, Young Saint Louis.com is cooperating with the AAU youth basketball program to select two boys and two girls to help at meet games. (To see a story about the 2009 ball kids, click here.)

For information on the men's tournament, call (314) 421-0339 or you can visit www.mvcsports.com.

For women's tourney info, call (636) 896-0676 or visit www.familyarena.com.

NCAA national wrestling tournament

The NCAA national collegiate wrestling tournament will be held at the Scottrade Center March 19-21.

For information, call (314) 992-0676 or visit www.stlouisports.org/events.

Mid-States Hockey meet

The 35th annual Mid-States High School Hockey finals will be held March 4 at the Scottrade Center.

The Wickenheiser Cup Finals will be at 5:30 p.m. and the Challenge Cup Finals will be at 8 p.m.

Over 40 school teams are involved in the Mid-States competition.

For complete information, visit www.midstateshockey.org.

40th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

The 40th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held March 14 in downtown St. Louis.

Also, the 31st annual St. Patrick's Day Parade 5-Mile Run will be the same day.

For parade information, call (314) 294-7287. For run info, call (314) 231-2598. Or you can visit www.irishparade.org.

St. Louis Symphony's Youth Orchestra

The St. Louis Symphony's Young Orchestra will hold a concert at Powell Hall on March 15.

For information, call (800) 241-1880 or visit www.slso.org.

Preparing for Purple Martins' Return

One of the most interesting birds that returns to the St. Louis area during the spring is the Purple Martin. The colorful birds often return to Missouri from their winter migration locations during the first week of March.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has two classes during March where kids can learn about the birds and how to attract them to their backyards.

One class (for kids 7-12) will be Saturday, March 7, at the Powder Valley Conservation Area. Another (for kids 14 and up) will be Saturday, March 14, at the Busch Wildlife Area in St. Charles County.

For information on these and other classes, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis.

GO FISH classes in trout fishing

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the St. Louis Parks Department have a number of GO FISH programs focused on trout fishing.

The classes will be on Saturdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28.

The classes are at the Bellefontaine, Busch, Suson Park and Forest Park conservation areas.

For reservations, call (636) 441-4554 or visit http://www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis/.

GPS overnight camp at Shaw

The Shaw Nature Reserve in west St. Louis County will have an overnight camp where kids can learn to use GPS devices to locate different landmarks and destinations.

The overnight camp runs from Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m. to Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. The camping is at the Dana Brown Overnight Camp.

For information, visit www.shawnature.org/events/2009classes.aspx.

Zoo's Breakfast with the Bunny

The St. Louis Zoo will hold two Breakfast with the Bunny events during March. One is Saturday, March 28, and the other Sunday, March 29. They are from 9 to 11 a.m.

The breakfasts are at the McDonnell Center at River Camp at the zoo.

For info, call (314) 646-4857 or visit http://www.stlzoo.org/events/.

River Cleanup along Mississippi, other streams

If you'd like to do some hard work in a good cause, you might like to sign up for the Confluence Trash Bash on Saturday, March 28.

That a spring cleanup sponsored by the Confluence Greenway organization.

The cleanup event is Saturday, March 28. Volunteers are to meet at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in northeast St. Louis County. The event is from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The volunteers will clear trash from around the bridge on both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the river. Then also will work on nearby creek areas.

For information, visit www.confluencegreenway.org/m-events.php.