Three-day event at Runge touts gifts of nature

Assistant naturalist Kathy Widhaber holds a red-eared slider in 2011 as Nanci Beck, center, shows it to her grandson Noah Beck, 4, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, during Holiday Happenings at Runge Conservation Nature Center.
Assistant naturalist Kathy Widhaber holds a red-eared slider in 2011 as Nanci Beck, center, shows it to her grandson Noah Beck, 4, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, during Holiday Happenings at Runge Conservation Nature Center.

Visitors to the Runge Nature Center discovered gifts of conservation as they were treated to knot-tying demonstrations, crafts, games, fish identification seminars, winter fishing opportunities, pond-bubble stories, fish origami, live animals, scavenger hunt through the permanent exhibit, and a puppet show.

Tuesday's events emphasized clean water as the first of three days celebrating the Missouri Department of Conservation's 75th anniversary during the annual Holiday Happenings.

Today, forest happenings will include activities with twig pencils, acorn whistles and leaf prints 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dulcimer music and fire tower tours will complete the day.

Thursday's events on wildlife will stretch into ....