Rebuild Joplin's backyard with Missouri State Parks

(From Missouri State Parks)

Missouri State Parks and Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center are partnering to build birdhouses for Joplin. On March 3, 13 Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites will host birdhouse building workshops assisting the Operation Backyard initiative to assist Joplin’s recovery efforts from the devastating tornado last year.

“We are pleased to assist in this worthy cause for Joplin,” said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “Missouri State Parks welcomes everyone to participate in this event as we help our friends in Joplin and surrounding communities experience nature and put their lives back together.”

This program is part of the Audubon’s “Operation Backyard” to use nature as a healing experience for Joplin tornado victims in their own backyards. Also, placing more birdhouses in the destruction area will provide roosting areas for birds whose habitat was destroyed.

There is no fee for this feel-good event to help restore nature in the wake of disaster. Materials and tools will be provided at each site to build a birdhouse for Joplin. Pre-registration is needed to ensure supplies will be available. Please see the individual park and historic site information for registration instructions.

The birdhouse building events will be held at the following state parks and historic sites. 

• Arrow Rock State Historic Site – noon to 3 p.m.; meet at the Visitor Center Small Gallery; pre-register at 660-837-3330, especially if you are a group.
• Crowder State Park – 1 p.m.; meet at the Camp Grand River Recreation Hall;

pre-register at 660-359-6473.

• Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park – 1 p.m.; meet at the River Hills Visitor Center; pre-register at 636-458-3813.
• Felix Valle House State Historic Site – 1 p.m.; meet at the Felix Valle House State Historic Site; pre-register at 573-883-7102.
• First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; meet at the interpretive center; pre-register at 636-940-3322.
• Ha Ha Tonka State Park – event limited to 10 people at the 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session and 10 people at the 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. session; meet on the porch of the Ha Ha Tonka Visitor Center; if temperature is too cold, meet at the Visitor Center to walk to Maintenance Shop area; pre-register at 573-346-2986.
• Knob Noster State Park – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; meet at the Visitor Center and weather permitting we will build houses outside at picnic tables near the Visitor Center; pre-register at 660-563-2463.
• Prairie State Park – 10 a.m.; meet at the Nature Center; pre-register at 417-843-6711.

• Roaring River State Park – 1 p.m.; meet at the Nature Center; pre-register at 417-847-3742.

• Sam A. Baker State Park – 1 p.m.; meet at Picnic Pavilion #1; pre-register at 573-856-4411.
• Scott Joplin House State Historic Site – 10 a.m., noon and 2:00 p.m.; pre-register for a specific time at 314-340-5790.
• Wakonda State Park – 9 a.m.; meet at the Wakonda State Park Maintenance Shop;

pre-register at 573-655-2280, please leave a message.

• Watkins Mill State Park and State Historic Site – 2 p.m.; meet at the Visitor Center and

Museum; pre-register at 816-580-3387.

For information on the “Operation Backyard” initiative, visit wildcatglades.audubon.org For more information on the birdhouse building day as well as all Missouri state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.