- MMN, MDC, and MRBO help judge the 75th GKC Science Fair
By Courtney Green (2025)
The 75th Greater KC Science Fair had over 500 project submissions. This is one of the largest years since covid. They had around 300 hundred judges support the event. This year 7 MDC Staff (including Lily Davis and Courtney Green) and 3 affiliates (Tessa Poolman (MRBO) and MMN Lisa Gann and Megan Russel) supported the event by being a judge.
They are asked to judge science fair projects based on a rubric and work together to pick the best in their category. This group was given the extra task of looking for the projects that best supported conservation science.
“I am not sure how I ended up signing up to be a judge. And while science is not my biggest forte, that was so fun! We only had one scientist show up to talk about his project. He was actually very amazing. But wandering around and talking to the different age groups, was the best!”
Lisa Gann“This is one of my favorite events of the year!
Showing up to support students participating in scientific research is so important for our future. We need more scientifically minded individuals!”
Courtney Green
The winners:
Senior: Testing Environmentally Safe Sprays to Reduce Fungal Growth: A Bat Health Model Using Penicillium chrysogenum – Van Horn High School
White-Nose Syndrome severely impacts bat populations by disrupting hibernation. This study used the non-pathogenic BSL-1 fungus Penicillium chrysogenum as a model to test environmentally safe sprays for antifungal activity.
Junior: Effects of Mixlights on Animal Behavior – Guadalupe Centers Middle School
This study investigated how mixed artificial lighting affects fish behavior compared to natural light conditions. The students made recommendations about light use at night and the effects it could have on wildlife and migrating birds.
Intermediate: Huh! Where did my shells go?
This study tested how CO2 affects shells. They wanted to learn how gas from cars affects the environment by making shells disappear which harms animals.
Thank you to those who supported this! It is great to show up for this event and be a part of the science community in KC.
- Showing the Blue River some love
On April 4, volunteers from many groups came together for Project Blue River Rescue, a wide-ranging cleanup along the Blue River. I pitched in with around 20 volunteers for the Lakeside Stream Team as we cleaned up east of Lakeside along a small stream that feeds into Fox Hollow Creek.
Some of the trash that we hauled from the creek, with MMNs, Lisa Provence, Max Eiberger, and Alex Gareis. 
Mary Smead gives instruction to the Lakside group. 
Cheryl Bolton carries her heavy bag of trash out of the creek. - MMN and Stream Team table at Wings Over Water event
Powell Gardens hosted a showing of the documentary, Wings Over Water on Tuesday the 24th. They invited other conservation organizations to set up displays in the lobby of the theater in Union Station. The Master Naturalist table was hosted by Kristin List (2023) and Kathy Smith (2024)
The Missouri Stream Team table had the help of Nicole Martin (2025), John Church (2025), Janee Church (2025) and Sheryl Vasquez, MDC/Stream Team. This was the first activity of the Stream Team Outreach Group formed this year as John Church’s capstone project.
- MMN Members participate at MDC’s Partner Luncheon
By Jim Hinds (2017)
On March 3, MDC brought together over 100 representatives of area conservation organizations and individuals. After an opening keynote, there were six morning and afternoon breakout sessions.
In between morning sessions and lunch, six local organizations were given a chance to present information on their activities.
Meredith Donaldson (2004) talked to participants about the Master Natualist program, Jim HInds (2017) spoke about Stream Team activities, and Mary Smead (2012) helped explain Lakeside programs.
- Troop 220 learns about Missouri Master Naturalists
By Dawn Bené & Skip Mathews (2024)
We began our presentation to Boy Scout Troop 220 in Lee’s Summit, MO, with a “Journey into Nature” which included a slide show that was enthusiastically accompanied by the Scouts playing a various array of percussion instruments to enhance the Journey.
The presentation continued with an overview of Missouri Conservation and the MMN program, how we got involved, and our participation and requirements to becoming a Master Naturalist.
We talked about our classes and our amazing field trips, which included touring a remnant prairie, a Missouri River Boat Cruise and conducting a water quality test at the Little Blue. Our presentation also highlighted Douglas Talamy’s book “Nature’s Best Hope”. We encouraged the Scouts to create their own “Homegrown National Park” by sharing Talamy’s ideas of planting native plants, changing out white bulbs to yellow bulbs, providing food and water for animals and birds, and shrinking the lawn. We also talked about the importance of insect population.
We concluded our presentation with a lively Q&A, a drawing for prizes and refreshments!
The presentation and the engagement and enthusiasm from the Scouts exceeded our expectations. We also received great feedback from the Scout leaders! Thanks for having us Troop 220!!!
