Learn About the Outdoors By Camping in Forest Park

Do you want to learn camp without ever leaving the city? If so the Missouri Department of Conservation's WOW St. Louis is for you. This educational family event will be held in Forest Park Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27. 

WOW National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School is packed with opportunities to learn outdoor skills. 

According to a press release, WOW St. Louis is presented in two parts. Saturday will feature outdoor skills. The program will offer classes in a variety of outdoor skills including archery, canoeing, fishing, geocaching, orienteering, rock climbing, kayaking, outdoor cooking and more. 

WOW St. Louis is designed to teach participants how to enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation activities while practicing personal safety and outdoor responsibility. Classes are open to anyone age 9 or above. For children under 9, a kids’ camp will offer activities tailored especially for young children.

The second portion is the overnight campout. Participants will have the opportunity to spend the night in Forest Park. The camping experience will include a campfire, cooking demonstrations, informal learning stations on how to set up a tent, Leave No Trace camping, plus stargazing courtesy of the St. Louis Astronomical Society.

Tents will be available to those who don’t have one on a first-come, first served basis. 

The cost to attend is $10 per person or $25 per family of four. Registration includes equipment for all activities and lunch, along with a hotdog cookout Saturday night and breakfast snacks on Sunday. Scholarships to cover to cost of the event are also available.  

Advance registration is required. The deadline to register has been extended; registration forms must be received by Friday, Oct. 11.

For more information or to request a registration packet, log onto the WOW website. You can also request registration information and forms by calling the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at (314) 340-5794 or toll free at 1-800-334-6946 (voice) or 1-800-379-2419 (TDD).