Nature Center marks 10th anniversary

For 7-year-old Connor Baker, he's all about shooting something or blowing it up.

At least that's what his mom, Liz Cotner, says.

Cotner and her two children were among more than 300 people who celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center on Saturday by shooting arrows at traditional targets as well as miniaturized black bear, turkey and deer-shaped targets.

As Connor released the third arrow from his compound bow, he looked to his mom and said: "See, mom? I killed that deer."

Cotner said for Christmas last year, Connor and his 8-year-old sister, Madison Sadler, received bows. The family hunts thoughout the year, and she said the conservation center is a frequent summer destination.

Anna Grace Sipp of East Prairie, Missouri, watches an alligator snapping turtle Saturday in the Cape Girardeau County Conservation Nature Center. (Fred Lynch)

"Honestly, I love when they change things indoors all the time, and the kids love to come up here and have fun. And it's just something to do; you know, there's just not much of that around here," Cotner said. "This is one of the few places we can bring kids up here, and there's something for them to do."

The two-day event also hosted a concert Friday night. On Saturday, the center gave participants the chance to canoe, fish, go hiking, learn about nature art and native plant gathering.

A.J. Hendershott, a regional supervisor for outreach and education division at the center, was active in the center since the beginning, almost two decades ago.

"I helped with the designs and planning, worked with the exhibits and interpretive themes and helped get the place going," Hendershott said. "Ten years, plus eight years it took to get to this point. So I've been here 18 years; it's like my own kid's birthday."

At Hendershott's primitive art station, he explained to visitors that even today, people continue to use natural materials in everyday life.

Shawn Downs and his daughter, Emmie, try fishing at the pond during the Cape Girardeau County Conservation Nature Center's 10th anniversary Saturday. (Fred Lynch)

"The whole point of the entire facility is to connect people with the land in some way shape or form," he said. "We're still living off the land today, and that's some of the points we're trying to make. We're trying to convince people that they're living off the land, and if you take an interest in it you're going to treat it a whole lot better."

Even though Hendershott was explaining the same tools throughout the day, his enthusiasm never faltered. From an arrow tip made of an alligator gar scale to a hoe made from a bison's shoulder blade, he explained each item and how it was used in the past.

While he holds a personal interest in the tools, Hendershott said the visitors and volunteers always will be a favorite part of working at the center.

"I had a favorite program or a favorite exhibit, but what it boils down to is working with the people," he said. "The people who want to be here, volunteers and staff, that's probably my favorite thing, and that's what makes this place great."

smaue@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

2289 County Park Dr., Cape Girardeau