Upcoming Events and Ongoing Programs

Upcoming Events

Monday November 16 - Friends Board Meeting - 6:00 pm for dinner and meeting at Country Kitchen on Providence Road

Tuesday November 17 - Leonid Meteor Shower (Friends Program) - 10:30 pm to midnight at the Gilbert Shelter in Rock Bridge MSP- Watch the Leonid meteor shower with Columbia astronomy expert Val German. We will gatheraround 10:30 p.m., the shower should begin after 11 p.m. if weather allows for viewing. Mr. German will have telescopes and his digital camera for viewing objects in the sky until the meteor shower begins. He says we may be in for a rare treat, so-called "earth grazers" that streak through the sky leaving long, streaking tails. The last time these were visible in Missouri was 2000. Dress appropriately, we plan to have coffee and hot cocoa. If weather is cloudy, we will decide on postponement around 3:30 that afternoon. For latest information, you can call Val at 573-289-8489 or Greg at 402-707-0982. The Leonids also will be seen the following night, so Nov. 18 will be our backup date.

Ongoing Programs

Nature Detectives - Summer

Enjoy the beauty of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and learn about nature with your preschool child (3 - 6 years old). Naturalists lead a short hike followed by nature craft activity. Free, but registrations required. Last year's event was co-sponsored by the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Boone’s Lick Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalists, Downtown Optimist Club, and Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

Urban Population Outreach Program (UPOP) Summer

An extension of our Bats on Parade, UPOP aims to reach children and youth who might not otherwise be able to participate. In cooperation with local youth agencies such as Boys and Girls Club, Fun City, Central Latino we offer field activities in the park that include camp skills, nature study, and cave tours. The Missouri Park Association provided financial support, and the Boone's Lick Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist provided program support.

FoRB Patches for Participation Year 'round

When visitors participate in various park sponsored activities they are eligible for a patch segment. Patches include: birding, camping, scouting, bats, boardwalk tour, hiking, biking, park staff led activity, as well as a membership patch.

Park Stewardship

Several times per year FoRB members sport safety vests and clean the section of Highway 163 that bisects the park. We also work on removing invasive plants such as Bush Honey Suckle and Autumn Olive and on removing sections of fencing remaining from when park land was an active farm.