Places to Go, Things to Do

Happenings4Youth rally and much more

Several of the Places to Go; Things to Do for October are featured in full stories in this edition of Young Saint Louis.com. Be sure to read the articles on the Happenings4Youth rally, the Pass a Book program and the Walk to School event.

But, there are plenty of other happenings during October that would be fun things in which to participate. These are listed below.

Each month, YSL.com puts together a list of events and activities that kids and their families can do. This listing gives you a chance to plan for your activities ahead of time.

Many of the activities and events are free. But, some do charge a registration or admission fee.

 

Teen Read Week

This is the 8th year the St. Louis County Library has sponsored Teen Read Week, which is Oct. 16-22 this year. A variety of programs are scheduled for various library branches.

The theme for this year's program is "Get Real @ Your Library."

Several of the branches have special teen movie nights planned. Also, there are Teen Trivia Lock In events.

The Grand Glaize branch will have a Teen Manga Mania event. That will involve lessons in all things Japanese, include drawing anime characters, creating origami paper sculpture, listening to Japanese music and sampling Japanese snacks.

For information, call your nearest local branch library or (314) 994-9255. You also can visit www.slcl.org

 

Fall Color Canoe Float

The St. Louis County Parks Department will sponsor Fall Color Canoe Float trips on two days in October. The trips will be on the Meramec River at Castlewood Park on Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22.

The float trips will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Canoes, paddles and life jackets are provided.

The cost is $15 per person.

The float trips run for nine miles through the Meramec valley's steep hillsides, lowlands and towering bluffs. The route runs from the Castlewood boat ramp to the put-in at Route 66 State Park.

Registration is required. Call early to (636) 391-3474 as space is limited.

 

Outdoor Skills Programs

The Missouri Department of Conservation will sponsor a variety of outdoor skills programs during October. They range from basic orienteering and global positioning to campfire and bird feeder building.

There are also hunting classes for rifles, handguns, muzzle-loaders and bow and arrow.

If you are successful in your hunting efforts, there are even classes in wild game cooking.

These are just some of the programming for the MDC facilities in the St. Louis area.

For further information, call (636) 441-4554 or visit www.mdc.mo.gov for calendars.

MDC operates shooting ranges at Busch Memorial Conservation area and the Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center. It also has recreation areas at Busch Memorial Conservation Area, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Rockwood Reservation and the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.

 

Red Ribbon Days

A variety of Red Ribbon Week activities in October will celebrate a 20-year effort to promote a drug-free St. Louis. Local schools sponsor Red Ribbon programs.

An area rally for middle school kids is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 26, at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. The next night there is a Movie Night at Washington University's School of Social Work.

For information, you can call the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse office in St. Louis at (314) 962-3456.

 

Fall Learning Labs

The Gifted Resource Council will hold Fall 2005 Learning Lab programs during October and November. The learning labs are enrichment classes held for pre-school through 8th graders.

This fall, the meeting dates are Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29 and Nov. 5, 12. The sessions will be held at Wydown Middle School in Clayton.

Classes are in a wide variety of creative subjects and some involve field trips. Class sizes are small with plenty of time for creative interaction between the students and the teachers.

For information, call (314) 962-5920 or visit www.giftedreasourcecouncil.org

 

Scottish Games and Cultural Festival

The Missouri History Museum is sponsoring the 5th annual Scottish Games & Cultural Festival on Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8.

There are both indoor and outdoor activities. The festival will include Scottish music, food and traditional competitions. Musician Alex Usher on the autoharp and the Highland Mist Scottish Country Dancers will perform.

For information and prices, call (314) 821-1286 or visit www.stlouis-scottishgames.com.

 

Trailnet's Regatta Bike Ride

The last seasonal Fun Club Ride for Kids sponsored by Trailnet.com will involve some vehicle travel but it should be worth it. The Regatta Ride will be held at Carlyle Lake in Illinois on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Carlyle Lake in central Illinois is the largest man-made lake in the state. And it's a fun place for outdoor recreation. The ride routes are 24, 35 and 61 miles and are mostly flat and easy.

For information, call Trailnet.com at (314) 436-1324 or visit www.trailnet.org