Don’t let winter weather keep you from MO state parks

Does the cold weather, snow and ice have you feeling down? Beat the winter blues by visiting a Missouri state park or historic site in the St. Louis area for fun-filled activities:

• March 27 at 10 a.m. – Toddler Thursday at Mastodon State Historic Site.

Join the team at Mastodon State Historic Site for Toddler Thursday. Learn, create and play during a free program that includes activities and a craft. The event takes place at the museum auditorium at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. Topics include:

• March 27 – The Very Hungry Caterpillar

• Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. – Story Time at Mastodon State Historic Site.

Come learn and create at Mastodon State Historic Site! This story time program features stories and activities related to various park topics. Each program takes place in the museum auditorium located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. These activities are designed for families with children age 10 and under, but all are welcome. Registration is not required.

• Thursdays through Sundays, March 1-30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site.

The story of women’s suffrage is a story of voting rights and of our civic development as a nation. The National Portrait Gallery exhibition “Votes for Women” seeks to expand visitors’ understanding of the suffrage movement in the United States. This poster exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution explores the complexity of the women’s suffrage movement and the relevance of this history to Americans’ lives today.

The exhibit will be on display in the Shaw House at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site on the corner of Second and Merchant streets in St. Genevieve throughout March. The site is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. The exhibit and activities are free and open to the public.

• Friday, March 28, Saturday, March 29, or Sunday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Basket Weaving Class: Fancy Market Basket at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site.

Make a beautiful, handcrafted basket in the interpretive center of First Missouri State Capitol Sate Historic Site. Materials are provided, but please bring your own drinks and snacks. Class size is limited, and registration is required. Cost for the class is $55 plus an additional $5 registration fee. To register, please visit Missouri State Parks – Programs And Special Events. You may register for any day the class is offered and for multiple classes. For more information, call 636-940-3322. First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site is located at 200 S. Main St. in St. Charles.

• Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. – Interp Chat: Prescribed Fire at Mastodon State Historic Site.

Park interpreters have a lot of knowledge to share. Join them in the auditorium at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial to learn about some of their favorite topics. Each chat includes a brief introductory-level presentation, including time for questions. Participants will hear experiences on the fireline and learn how and why the parks’ team conducts prescribed burns.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.