Field notes by Jeff Cantrell, photos by MO Department of Conservation
I wear an emblem on my work uniform; the same icon is featured on our hunter education booklets, fishing and Stream Team materials, wildlife codebooks, etc representing the state’s conservation department. The emblem is a nature-filled triangle; elementary school kids quickly notice the three life forms within the symbol. The raccoon reminds us what conservation means, “Wise use”, and represents all of Missouri’s wildlife. The oak leaf emphasizes forestry in the state, and extends to all habitats in our borders. Lastly, the bass not only recruits attention for Missouri’s fishes and other aquatic life, but especially to the region’s water resources themselves.
Water is an extraordinary and multipurpose topic. It is vital for human health, economics and the systems of the environment. Good sound advice regarding staying healthy always seems to have the tag line of: 1) eat nutritious food, 2) exercise and 3) drink plenty of water. Where would the business world be without a dependable source of water? Moreover, wildlife and habitats are depending on and adapted to certain amounts of natural forms of H2O.
The hot weather and often arid conditions of August make this month a fit time to take notice of our important aquatic resources. Annually the Wildcat Glades Park Friends Group hosts a water festival in celebration for this gift of nature. This year it will be Saturday, August 14th starting at 9 am. Please see the Friends Group Facebook or website for details https://fb.me/e/2p832oJEN. It is always a wonderful family event with cardboard boat races, water related recreation, food trucks on site and much more connected to water conservation and aquatic life. Another facility that welcomes the public interested in our water resources is the Neosho National Fish Hatchery. They have a fantastic visitor center and friendly staff to answer questions on the important work they do with game fish and locally endangered species and in the Missouri River Watershed. Being of “Neosho Roots”, I’m a huge Neosho Hatchery fan! https://www.fws.gov/midwest/neosho/
Lastly, I will mention educational resources available to homeschool parents and middle school teachers. A new unit of Discover Nature School curriculum is the Nature Unhooked student books. This and the teacher guide may be ordered and delivered free to a Missouri mailing address from the MDC teacher portal. Educators and youth leaders appreciate the hands-on activities, non-fiction reading and project based learning options. My coworkers in the region and co-instructors Andy Rhodes, Morgan Rodery and Lyle Whittaker and I are geared up to assist educators with free curriculum and aquatic field trip funding for classroom teachers who see the education value in giving their students this opportunity.
Please feel free to drop me a line if you have questions on educational resources. I can also direct you to the right contact for the Neosho Fish Hatchery and the upcoming water festival. I hope to hear your stories of water and water appreciation whether from your students or yourselves enjoying Ozark rivers, unique aquatic life, and recreation. Let us protect them and implement wise usage for all our natural resources. – Jeff