Sierra Club Outings Leaders, Rick Armstrong and Lisa Hosey, volunteering as judges at the whitewater championship races on the St. Francis River. Photos by Louise Bullock
Missouri Water Under Threat Click here to voice your opinion to legislators as they attempt to weaken protections for Missouri water by changing the definition of "Waters of the State". MORE INFO
Pythons Could Provide The Most Sustainable Meat Yet From Forbes Farmed pythons could provide people with a highly sustainable meat that could help prop up global food security. Are snakes a better protein for the planet? READ MORE
How climate change is contributing to global unrest From The Week Some experts argue that global warming can be tied to rising levels of violence around the world. MORE INFO
Taking the Train for Sustainable Travel From Earth 911 Despite historical images of sweaty laborers shoveling coal to power trains belching smoke as they cross the landscape, train travel is one of the most sustainable ways to move around. MORE INFO
Don Robinson Burn Recap
By Outings Leader, Matt Self Earlier this year, AmeriCorps St. Louis had thinned Eastern red-cedars in an area where they had overtaken oaks and under-story trees. On March 22, we helped park staff condense and burn the cut cedar to speed up the restoration process. Thinning cedars is a common practice on land that was previously farmed and that was subsequently dominated by cedars in the absence of fire. While red-cedars are native to Missouri, they don’t provide as much support for wildlife as the black oaks which will likely repopulate the thinned area. Rich, beautiful under-story trees like Flowering Dogwood and Serviceberry will also flourish with the opened canopy. Sierra Club volunteers performed similar work last year in another area of park. On April’s volunteer day, we’ll help survey and remove invasive species such as honeysuckle, privet, and yucca.
Photo by Matt Self. Volunteers at Don Robinson State Park.
Mission: Clean Stream - April 6
Volunteers across St Charles County work together to pick up trash along our rivers and streams on one day. MORE INFO
SLU's MSW Trivia Night benefiting Sierra Club - April 6 Bring a group or just bring your self to SLU's MSW Alumni and Student Association Trivia Night. Cash prizes for top 3 winning tables. Cost is $25 per person with max 8 people per table. Cost includes beer, soda, and popcorn. To sign up email Debi Pratt at underdogdeb2@gmail.com or call 314-477-7381. MORE INFO
Lobby Day - April 10 Sign up here to join the Sierra Club Lobby Day in Jefferson City on Wednesday, April 10. You will speak with your State Senator, State Representative and other legislators to advocate on behalf of the environment. Speaking directly with those who make our laws is effective and necessary. It's an all day affair. Write to Michael Berg at Michael.Berg@sierraclub.org if you have questions. SIGN UP
EMG Outings Leaders Meeting - April 11 Monthly Outing Committee Meeting for the Eastern Missouri Group. RSVP HERE
Makers Workshop #1 - April 11 Join Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, the People's Joy Parade, and partner organizations for an evening of making wearable, movable art in preparation for our People's Parade and People's Hearing. MORE INFO
Ecovillage Experience in Missouri - April 12 This is an extended tour (Friday evening through Saturday afternoon) of a working Ecovillage in northeast Missouri. The tour has been designed specifically for Sierra Club members. There will be several educational modules such as regenerative livestock management, increasing local eco-system diversity, and an overview of how this intentional eco-sustainable community was established and is run. MORE INFO
Confluence Trash Bash - April 13 During the annual event, volunteers come together to help clean up the rivers and creeks within the Lower Missouri River watershed. Volunteers choose from multiple clean-up locations or storm drain marking sites each year. Learn more HERE
Saint Louis University 2024 Summit for Water - April 18-19
Join leaders and experts from academia, industry, nonprofit and government at the SLU Summit for Water to share ideas, learn about the latest research, and tackle some of the most critical and persistent challenges facing our most fundamental resource: water. The fifth annual SLU Summit for Water will focus on water security in the Mississippi River Basin, engaging stakeholders across sectors and disciplines to join in the WATER Institute’s mission of advancing water innovation to serve humanity. MORE INFO.
Makers Workshop #2 - April 25 Join Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, the People's Joy Parade, and partner organizations for an evening of making wearable, movable art in preparation for our People's Parade and People's Hearing. MORE INFO
Spring Backpacking at Meramec State Park - April 27 We’ll hike the Wilderness Trail, which is a rugged 8 mile loop with 900 feet of elevation gain. We’ll hike at an easy pace. In the morning, the group will depart the campsites together by 10 AM and hike 4 miles back to the trailhead. SIGN UP
People's Parade & People's Hearing - April 27 Join the People’s Joy Parade and Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign for a Parade and People’s Hearing on April 27th, from 11-3pm. We are coming together for a celebration of the clean energy future we want and a condemnation of Ameren’s continued commitment to fossil fuels. We will use community, art, and our voices to fight for the clean energy future we deserve. RSVP TODAY.
Check out what's coming up with EMG Outings Sierra Club Outings are open to the public. A dollar per person donation is requested. Firearms are not allowed on outings. Participants must sign a liability release. Outings Leaders are volunteers. Outings officially start at the trailhead or river access. Carpooling is encouraged but not the responsibility of the Leader. For more information, Click Here.
Lemonade at Earth Day Festival with the Sierra Club! We need volunteers to help with the lemonade sales on both Saturday April 20th and Sunday April 21st.
There are two shifts: 10 am to 2 pm and 2 to 6 pm. For more information and to volunteer, please CLICK HERE.
Volunteering at Don Robinson State Park - April 12 We will have a large team effort that day. People should be prepared for cutting down and bucking up cedar trees, dragging them to piles, and burning them (weather permitting). All should bring work gloves. We will be hiking to the work area and will need to carry any gear need. RSVP HERE
Roger Pryor Backcountry Trail Maintenance - April 12 We will be doing trail maintenance on the Blair Creek section of the Ozark Trail as well as Laxton Hollow connector trail and Brushy Creek Trail. Tools will be provided. MORE INFO
Join the EMG Conservation Committee! If you are ready to engage in outreach, education, research and action on the variety of conservation topics in our region contact Caroline Puffalt, Conservation Committee Chair, at cpufalt@sbcglobal.net.
Have your photography featured in this e-newsletter!
Email it to emg.missouri.sierraclub@gmail.com and we might feature you in our next newsletter. We're always looking for photos from our members! By submitting a photo, you agree to allow EMG Sierra Club to use your photo for promotional purposes only.
Join the Sierra Club, Outings Committee! This is a very active and exciting group within the Sierra Club and a great way to meet new people! When you become an Outings Leader, you will receive free leader training, first aid and CPR courses. We can use YOUR help! Contact Dave Campbell, Outings Committee Co-Chair, at davecampbell9009@gmail.com or 217-553-9009.
Volunteer Hours Available! Are you looking for an easy way to support our group and the Missouri Chapter? We are always accepting volunteers to come into our office to have some coffee, water, or tea and support us with writing thank you notes, data entry, and welcoming new members. Reach out to Chapter Coordinator Ashton Kuehnel (ashton.kuehnel@sierraclub.org) to get involved.
Trail Maintenance Volunteers at Castlewood. Photo by Matt Self.
