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Kansas City, Missouri – The Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center will offer a variety of outdoor and nature programs throughout the month of March in the heart of Kansas City. Staff at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) center have programs tailored to accommodate the seasonal change from winter to spring.
- A chat about native landscaping from 1-2pm on Friday 3 March will help gardeners prepare for spring. MDC native landscaping specialists Cydney Ross and Alix Daniel will discuss topics such as when to leave last year’s plant growth so beneficial insects can emerge and when to remove old growth to encourage new plant growth. This program is for children aged 14 and over. Registration is required. To register, visit
- A Nature Play at Sycamore Station event will be offered from 10am to 2.30pm on Saturday, March 4. Sycamore Station is a children’s play area in the centre’s open garden where children can climb logs, build forts and romp amid natural materials. For this event, staff will also be there to help children play with nature and other activities. This program is for children ages 4-12 on a walk-in basis, registration is not required.
- The Little Acorns book reading schedule is 10-11 and 11:30-12:30 on Saturday 4th March. Staff members or volunteers read nature books to children. Registration is not required for this walk-in program for children ages 3 to 6. The small acorns will be offered again on March 18th.
- Build a Bluebird Nest between 10.30am and noon or 12.30pm and 2pm on Saturday 11 March. The morning session is for adults 18 years and older. The afternoon session is for children aged 10 and over. Children under 10 will not be able to access the classroom during the afternoon session for safety reasons. Registration is required. To register for the morning session, visit For the afternoon session, visit
- The Discovery Center will also offer an eastern bluebird walk-in program from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, March 11. Special exhibits on the state bird of Missouri will be offered, and staff can answer questions about them. The program will take place in the indoor amphitheater and participants will have the opportunity to prepare a suet feeder. Registration is not required for this all-ages program.
- Learn about Missouri’s frogs and toads and their ecosystem needs from 10am to 11:30am and 12:30pm to 2pm on Saturday, March 18. MDC naturalist Kristen Muelleman will talk about which ones to listen for and watch out for as spring arrives. This program is for children ages 6 and up. Registration is required. To register for the morning session, visit For the afternoon session, visit
- The Discovery Center will offer cups of hot tea made from native plants from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, March 25. This Wild Edibles program is for all ages and no registration is required.
The Discovery Center’s outdoor native plant garden trails are open to visitors year-round at 4750 Troost Ave. COVID-19 safety precautions are observed in all programs. For more information visit
