Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation

06/18/2026

Calling all archery families! Join us at Mark Twain Lake Archery Park on Saturday, Aug. 1 for our Open Outdoor 3D Archery Tournament. No matter who you are, there's a way for you to participate in the tournament and make some memories with the fam. Preregister here to save on your ticket price:

Our only archery event open to the public! Join us at the 4th Annual Open Outdoor 3D Archery Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026 at Mark Twain Lake Archery Park.

06/17/2026

We made it on the radio! Thanks to KBIA 91.3 FM for chatting with Dr. Rick Relyea, director of Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems (JMI). He's planning internships and opportunities that give conservation students boots-on-the-ground experience starting their freshman year. "We can get them inspired, excited, and ultimately employable – that's the goal," Dr. Relyea said. "We're working on a number of different ways to help them from day one when they come on campus." Listen to the 15-minute segment at the link below!

KBIA's Rachael Norden speaks with Dr. Rick Relyea, inaugural director of the Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands, and Aquatic Systems at CAFNR-MU on his vision in workforce development and regional collaboration as he sets the stage for this new institute at Mizzou.

06/09/2026

05/26/2026

Tag your fishing buddy! Bonus points if you include a pic from your last trip 🎣

05/15/2026

May is ! Okay, wetlands, we see you 👀 Aside from being beautiful hubs for ducks, otters, beavers and bugs, did you know:
🦆 Over half of North America’s bird species nest or feed in wetlands.
🌿 One acre of wetlands can filter up to 7.3 million gallons of water annually.
💧 One acre of wetlands can store as much as 1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
🚩 Nearly 90% of Missouri wetlands have been destroyed. Cue record scratch.

We depend on wetlands just like wildlife does, and these ecosystems need our support now. That’s why we’re building the Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems (JMI) – made possible through donations from Missourians like you. In partnership with Mizzou and Dept. of Conservation, JMI will support wetlands through cutting-edge research and training the next generation of conservationists. Your donation to JMI will have a direct impact on Missouri wetlands and all who rely on them for years to come. Show your support by designating a donation for JMI here: https://mochf.org/donate-online/

05/13/2026

Tag your paddling buddy in the comments – don’t miss this awesome way to explore the Missouri River! 🛶🌊 https://www.paddlemo.org/

Join us for Paddle MO 2026! This educational river adventure will explore up to 114 miles of the Missouri River between Boonville and New Haven, MO. With lead on-water educators from Earth's Classroom and Stream Teams United staff and volunteers as your on-water and off-water ground crew, it will be a unique and educational paddling adventure of the Missouri River, our nation's longest riverway. There are 5-day, 3-day, and weekend-only options. Don't have a boat? Paddle MO can help you find one. The paddle begins Sept. 19, with optional arrival on Sept. 18 for the weekend and 5-day paddles. See the route and registration information at PaddleMO.org.

Tent camping and meals are included with trip price. Trips include 14 meals for 5-day, 8 meals for 3-day, and 5 meals for the weekend option. Support the work of Stream Teams United, learn about river stewardship and advocacy, and explore the Missouri River in a supported group atmosphere, while meeting river friends along the way.

Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation is proud to sponsor Paddle MO and Stream Teams United. We’ll see you on the water!

05/12/2026

05/04/2026

"How could you possibly go experience nature and not care about it, not be left with some sort of impression and good feeling? And with that, of course you'd want to save it."
– Ben Clark, "Preserved" director and filmmaker, Preserved Q&A 4/25/26

Conservation made it to the big screen last weekend! A very big thank you to our partners Cinema St. Louis and Ted Turner Reserves for helping us bring "Preserved" to St. Louis. It was an honor to host a lively post-film Q&A with "Preserved" filmmaker Ben Clark, Ted Turner Reserves Vice President of Sales & Marketing Doug Lindauer, former Missouri Dept. of Conservation director Sara Parker Pauley and MCHF executive director Tricia Burkhardt.

04/28/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this year's raffle! We truly appreciate all your support of youth archery and conservation in Missouri. Congratulations to the 2026 MoNASP Raffle winners!

All winners have been notified by phone and/or email. Visit our MoNASP raffle page for more information: https://mochf.org/2026-monasp-raffle

The 2026 MoNASP Raffle Winners:
#1 Reloading: Dustin Brehm, Spencer, Ohio
#2 Four-Pack of Adventure - Branson Experience: Faith Chaney-Grant, Springfield, Missouri
#3 White River Flyfishing Adventure: Bill Schulteis, Lawrence, Kansas
#4 Bigfoot 3D Archery Target: Karen Allgood, Holden, Missouri
#5 Awesome Bow: Nicole Davidge, Lees Summit, Missouri
#6 Meat! Chamber Vacuum Sealer: Dennis Sumners, Lincoln, Missouri
#7 Missouri Lifetime Hunting/Fishing Package: Kristine Mulloy, Kingsville, Missouri
#8 Hunting Package: Ashley Pippin, Bourbon, Missouri
#9 Landscaping Tools: Robert Matteoni, O'Fallon, Missouri
#10 Camping Package: Ryan Kramer, Sappington, Missouri
#11 Pellet Grill Package: Elizabeth Whetzell, Milo, Missouri
#12 Birding Package: Cathern Lowe, Owensville, Missouri
#13 Bow Hunting Package: Steve Garner, Springfield, Missouri
#14 Commercial Meat Grinder: Ryan Kramer, Sappington, Missouri
#15 Silver Dollar City Weekend Getaway: Thomas Parker, Jefferson City, Missouri
#16 Complete Backyard Archery Range Starter Pack: Jared Huseby, Independence, Missouri
#17 Handmade Fishing Pole and Gear: Barry Keyte, Clinton, MO

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day from the MCHF staff! Here are a few moments we’ve enjoyed outside recently.

Andrea Smith explored a creek with her little ones.
Mark Runyan took a walk at the Runge Nature Center.
Charlotte Renner visited Pickle Springs Natural Area in Farmington, Missouri, with her family.
Alice Walker checked out the Noren River Access.
Tricia Burkhardt went duck hunting in Fountain Grove, Missouri.
Russ Wekamp traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Kim Becker took a trip to Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming.
Donna Wankum spotted a lizard.
Bonus pic: Andrea’s lilacs finally bloomed (four years after planting) and are bringing in the butterflies!

What have you been loving about the outdoors lately? Comment below!