April and May events planned at Bennett Spring Park

There are several events planned at Bennett Spring State Park in April and May. Senior Naturalist and Resource Interpreter Sam Grove provided a list of them via email with the caveat that the May programs could change.

In April she noted there was Trail Triva (10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Oak Hickory Trail behind the Bennett Spring State Park Nature Center) on April 4, A Tree’s Life (2-2:30 p.m. at the Nature Center) on April 18, and Trail Triva (10 a.m.-3 p.m., same location as the first).

For the Trail Triva events, she said those interested could take an answer sheet from the Nature Center to take along the trail.

The Missouri State Parks website noted that the free A Tree’s Life program will look at the cross section of a tree, and those who attend the program would better understand the life of a tree and would learn how to count the rings of a tree.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation website, Veterans Free Fishing Day is April 18 in the park, and part of Zone 2 would be reserved and specially stocked for the veterans. They can pick up free trout tags the Friday before or on Saturday at the Bennett Spring State Park Store, the website said.

As for May, Grove noted Kids Free Fishing will be May 2.

Other scheduled programs she mentioned were The Mighty Mills (2-2:30 p.m. at the Nature Center) on May 9, Venomous Snakes (2-3 p.m. at the Nature Center) on May 23, Star Party (evening time and location not scheduled at the time of correspondence), and the Dickerson Park Zoo’s Missouri Raptors program (2-3 p.m. at the Nature Center, which is free and is where there will be live birds).

In the free The Mighty Mills program, the Missouri State Parks website noted the program would explain how many mills there were in the area that now belongs to Bennett Spring State Park from the mid-nineteenth century to the turn of the century and how they worked.

The website said that pets would not be allowed at the Missouri Raptor program whether it took place inside or outside because of safety concerns.

Grove also noted that the Nature Center has a volunteer fly tying most Fridays, as well every Saturday, and Sunday, which take place all day.

The park’s nature center is located at 26250 Missouri Route 64A. The Missouri State Parks website has the Nature Center’s hours Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. during the period of Feb. 25-October 31.