Need a break from the hustle and bustle of crowded malls? Get back to nature at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. They are holding several events in December to help get kids in the holiday spirit.

Kids can spend the day traveling to various craft stations making glittery stick stars, tree cookie coasters, cards from recycled paper, tree bark mantle pieces and much more. Keep the crafts to decorate your home for the holidays or give them as gifts. Reservations are required. Ages 3 and up. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area.

 More information: 636-441-4554 or mdc.mo.gov    

November is for the birds. Actually, it’s all about the turkey. An estimated 45 million turkeys will be sold this month. While most of us are familiar with the farm-raised turkeys that will end up on our plate, around a half a million wild turkeys live in Missouri. A few decades ago, Missouri turkeys were near extinction. Learn about the amazing story of their restoration and other fun turkey facts at an upcoming Missouri Department of Conservation event.

With all this amazing weather, it’s hard to believe that November is knocking on our door. Take advantage of these unseasonably warm temperatures with an outside event hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Even if the thermometer decides to plunge, bundle up the family and come anyway. And remember, it’s not cold out. It’s invigorating.

Join a badger, pelican, lizard and their other animal friends at the Columbia Bottom Wildlife Masquerade. Kids will make treats for birds, roast marshmallows and scurry through a skull maze. There will be a costume contest, so come as your favorite Missouri critter. This event is taking place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 29 at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. It’s free to attend, but you must register at 314-877-6014 by October 28.

Why do some leaves turn yellow while others turn red? Come to Rockwoods Reservation and find out.

There are 306 species of endangered plants and animals in Missouri alone. That’s a lot of fauna and flora that are in jeopardy of forever disappearing. But as Whitney Houston would say, the children are our future. That’s why we need to educate them why all animals are so important and what we can do to help them.

I’m always amazed at the people on the reality show Survivor. It seems like none of them know how to make fire. Wouldn’t you learn that before you left home? Perhaps they should enroll in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s upcoming event Campfires 101: Snack, Crackle and Pop.

If you ever travel to Wyoming, you will see “Be Bear Aware” signs everywhere. Encountering a brown bear on a hike is a very real possibility. This past weekend, a bear at Yellowstone National Park mauled several campers as they slept. Of course, that’s Wyoming. You probably aren’t going to walk outside your door to find a Grizzly rummaging through your trash.