WIN: Women in Nature

at Prairie State Park

11/21/2026 | Prairie State Park | Mindenmines, Mo.

Come join us at Prairie State Park for Women in Nature’s full-day experience. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the tallgrass prairie, see the park's resident bison herd, and learn some new skills. All activities will be led by female instructors and take place in a relaxed, supportive environment.

This event is free, and everyone over the age of 9 is welcome. Space is limited, and registration is required.

Event Times:

  • Start: 8:30 a.m.
  • End: 4 p.m.

Event Location:

  • Meet at the park's Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center.
    • Address: 128 NW 150th Lane, Mindenmines, Mo.

Age Requirements:

  • Participants must be at least 10 years old.
  • Any participants under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Things to Bring:

  • Sturdy shoes
  • Sun protection
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
  • A reusable water bottle

Activities (may be subject to change):

Bison Saunter (Moderate*)

A saunter is similar to a hike but slower and less intense. We'll start off the event by sauntering out on the prairie to look for the bison herd. Along the way, we'll discuss other features of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, as well. We will saunter about 2 miles over uneven terrain.

Needle Felting (LOW*)

After the saunter, we'll head inside the nature to create a needle-felted bison out of real bison wool.

Cordage Bracelets (LOW*)

While in the nature center, we'll also make cordage bracelets using native plants.

*Physical Activity Guide:

Please be advised that WIN: Women in Nature programs are outdoor activities. Participants will be walking on tread surfaces at times that contain roots or embedded rocks and may have elevation changes.

To help participants anticipate each course and know what physical levels to expect, a physical activity rating system has been created. You will find a physical level rating for each course next to the course name in the Activities section of this page.

  • Low: requires minimal physical skill/endurance (example: lecture-based and hands-on activities in a classroom)
  • Moderate: requires moderate physical skill/endurance (examples: lecture-based and hands-on activities while standing or taking short walks)
  • High: requires high levels of skill/endurance (examples: lecture-based and hands-on activities while standing, hiking, lifting or engaging in full-body movement)

Registration and Cancellations:

Space is limited to 20 participants; registration is required.

Click on the “REGISTER HERE” link below to register. When you get to the registration website, click on the "Show 1 session" box below the full-day listing. Then, click on the green "Sign up!" button to register.

Registration open and close dates are listed on the registration website. All slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register here

Waitlist:

If the activity you are looking to join is full, please join our waitlist by signing up for that program on the registration tab. Once a cancellation has been approved, a staff member will contact the first waitlist individual via email to prompt them to secure their spot within a 48-hour period. No response within that 48-hour time period will result in the customer being removed from the waitlist and the next individual being contacted.

How to Cancel a Reservation:

Seven or more business days in advance of the scheduled event date: To cancel, the customer should log in to their icampmo account, find the reservations/activities that they are signed up for, and hit "Cancel" for the reservation that they wish to cancel.

Six or fewer business days in advance of the scheduled event date: Anyone needing to cancel a reservation six or fewer business days in advance of the scheduled event date should contact kintauna.myles@dnr.mo.gov.

Program Change Policy:

Organizers reserve the right to cancel, reschedule or relocate any proposed offering.

For more information:

If you have any questions prior to the day of the event, please contact Missouri State Parks' St. Louis Area Office at 314-340-5792.

Event Day Contact Information:

To get more information on the day of the event, please contact the Prairie State Park office at 417-843-6711.

Additional Women in Nature Opportunities:

To see more events like this, please visit our Women in Nature landing page.