Special forest products conference benefits landowners

A conference on marketing special forest products will give landowners a chance to learn how to earn income, other than by growing trees for timber, from woodlands.

The conference, sponsored by the Missouri University for Agroforestry, willbe Oct. 25 and 26 in Cape Girardeau. Included will be information about producing and marketing mushrooms, tree and shrub seeds, medicinal herbs, wildflowers, craft materials, wild edibles, custom sawing and specialty woods.

Registration is $75. For information, contact Julie Rhoads, University of Missouri, 203 ABNR Building, Columbia, Mo., 65211, or (573) 882-3234.

Education conference puts will focus on environment

Connecting education and the environment is the goal of the Seventh Annual Conference on Environmental Education Nov. 22 through 24.

The theme for the event is "Stepping Stones -- Linking Education and the Environment." The event will highlight teachers and non-formal educators who are making a positive difference in student achievement. Activities will include more than 40 hands-on workshops and field trips. Keynote speaker Kim Stokely, with the national Adopt-A-Watershed program, will tell how to meld conservation and education.

More info: www.successlink.org, or call (573) 751-4115, ext. 3899.

Walk/run Aids Endangered Species

The fourth annual Endangered Species Walk/Run on Saturday on the KATY Trail will benefit endangered species in Missouri.

The event will include a 10K run and a 5K walk/run starting at 9 a.m. Event headquarters will be at the North Jefferson City Pavilion at the intersection of Highways 63 and 54. Participants will receive a long-sleeve T-shirt featuring artwork by Conservation Department artist Mark Raithel.

Money raised will go to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation. The foundation will channel the money into habitat restoration, research and education projects.

Registration costs $15 for adults and $10 for children 11 and younger. Info: (573) 751-4115, ext. 3807.

MDC's 2003 Natural Events Calendar on sale

Photos that capture the state's plants and wildlife are among the highlights of the annual calendar on sale now from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The 10-by-14 inch calendar contains more than 30 color photos of scenes from outdoor Missouri. Sights featured include views of a white-lined sphinx moth drinking nectar from a roadside thistle, raccoons frolicking in a tree and a field of purple coneflowers.

The calendar provides a wealth of insights about natural red-letter days and suggestions for seasonal activities.

Natural Events Calendars sell for $5 plus tax at Conservation Department Nature Centers and regional offices or call (877) 521-8632. Calendars also can be ordered online at www.mdcnatureshop.com.