Places to Go, Things to Do

Build winter bird feeders;
visit Winter Wonderland

When winter comes, birds in the St. Louis area will need help in finding food. The Missouri Department of Conservation has classes during November to help kids build bird feeders.

Twelve-year-old Albert Barnett and his 9-year-old brother, Matthew, of Wright City got a head start in October with a bird-feeder building class. The MDC has more classes in November.

Trailnet also has a late season bike ride in conjunction with the Missouri History Museum's new "Shifting Gears" exhibit about the auto industry.

November is also a good time to register for a variety of activities that will happen later in the year or in early 2007.

Toward the end of November, there will be a variety of Winter Wonderland displays, including the famous Tilles Park light show.

(Every month, Young Saint Louis.com searches for a list of Places to Go; Things to Do for our readers. We're looking for a variety of things that will appeal to kids and families. We like to focus on activities and events that are free or inexpensive. When possible, we include website addresses where you can get additional information.)

Here are the November selections:

Bird-feeder and Birdhouse construction

Albert Barnett

Albert and Matthew Barnett and their mother, Mary, were at the bird-feeder class at the Busch Conservation Area on Thursday, Oct. 19. They learned how to build a hanging bird-feeder for their backyard.

One good thing about the class was that participants were given pre-cut and pre-drilled pieces for the feeder. That even included plexi-glass panels that allow them to see the level of the birdseeds in the feeder.

Matthew Barnett

All they had to do was line up the pieces and fasten them together. There were even power screw-drivers and adult instructors on hand.

The kids also received a "Woodworking for Wildlife" booklet that gave instructions for building all sorts of other bird houses. There's even a plan for a rabbit trap.

Matthew said their bird-feeders were a first for them. However, he said they do have a bunch of brilliantly red, daisy-like flowers that attract humming birds in the summer.

The November bird-feeder class at Busch in St. Charles County will be Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 6-to-9 p.m., there will be a class on building Chickadee Bird Houses.

Call for registration at (636) 441-4554. For other MDC conservation area classes and activities, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areas.

Tilles Park's Winter Wonderland

The St. Louis County Park's Winter Wonderland is a St. Louis tradition among the lighted holiday displays in the metro area. This year, the display opens on Wednesday, Nov. 22, and will run through Monday, Jan. 1, 2007.

Over a million lights and over 100 displays will line the mile-long route inside 75 acres of Tilles Park Families drive through the display on Sunday through Friday. Saturdays are reserved for horse-drawn carriages only.

For reservations, call (314) 534-1111 or buy tickets at www.metrotix.com.

Advance registrations in November

Advance registrations are called for in November for a variety of programs. Among those are the 2007 Gateway Young Achievers and the MDC's Arbor Day Poster Contest.

Deadline for nominations for the 2007 Gateway Young Achievers will be December 15.

Awards include $1,000 scholarships to the 10 2007 awardees. The awards are for outstanding achievements in academics, outside activities and community service.

For application information call (314) 961-5978 or visit www.youngachievers.us.

The 2007 Arbor Day Poster Contest sponsored by Missouri Department of Conservation is open to all Missouri fifth-graders. Contest packets are mailed to fifth grade teachers.

If you want to enter, be sure to ask your teacher for contest information. You need to get started now since the entry deadline for artwork is January, 12, 2007.

If your teacher doesn't have the information, she can get it by mailing a request to Donna Baldwin, Poster contest coordinator, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102 or e-mail Ms. Baldwin at donna.Baldwin@mdc.mo.gov.

History Museum Storytelling

A series of nine "Storytelling in the Galleries" events will be held on Saturdays in November and December at the Missouri History Museum. The events start at 1 p.m. and are for kids 10 and over and their families.

Among the subjects of the 45-minute events are "Celebrate Families," "Salute a Soldier," "Happy Turkey Day," "Pets Are the Best," "Hats Off to the Chef," "Winter Wonderland," "HolidayHullabaloo," "Traveling Tales" and "Happy New Year."

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

Shifting Gears Bicycle Ride

Trailnet has organized a Shifting Gears Bicycle Ride in Forest Park for Saturday, Nov. 4. It's in conjunction with the opening of the Missouri History Museum's new exhibit that looks at St. Louis' role in the nation's auto industry.

Registration is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the north entrance to the museum in Forest Park.

There are special routes that show off some of the historic statues and monuments in the park. This ride is especially designed for families.

You can ride on your own or you can join a guided tour that starts at 11 a.m.

The ride is free and, after you've completed the ride, you can get in free to the Museum's auto industry exhibit.

For more information on fall events you can visit www.greatrivers.info or www.trailnet.org or call (314) 416-9930.