Earth Day activities planned at Roaring River Nature Center
The public is invited to participate in Earth Day activities at the Ozark Chinquapin Center at Roaring River State Park, Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Community partners will be on hand to provide games and crafts, and the Missouri Department of Conservation will give away free trees while supplies last.
“Join us and learn how to preserve Missouri’s natural resources,” Interpretive Resource Specialist, Kelly Koch, says.
“Join us and learn how to preserve Missouri’s natural resources,” Interpretive Resource Specialist, Kelly Koch, says.
Above, Kelly Koch, an Interpretive Resource Specialist at Roaring River State Park, explains the history of the nature center building. Originally a bath house built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s, it now houses the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center, which took up residence in the late 1980s, according to Koch.
At left, Koch gives an animated presentation on the nature of owls to a group of First Grade students from Diamond Elementary.
At left, Koch gives an animated presentation on the nature of owls to a group of First Grade students from Diamond Elementary.
April 21, 2021
Sheila Harris
Kelly Koch (pronounced “Cook”), of Cassville, has, arguably, one of the best jobs at Roaring River State Park. From the ambiguously titled position of “Interpretive Resource Specialist II,” Koch gets to teach children (and adults) fun facts about the park, including its history and details about the wildlife and plants that inhabit the area.
As an interpreter, Koch heads up programming for the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center in the park. She is also billed as the “Story-Keeper” for Roaring River State Park and is able to produce a wealth of information about its history and natural resources when prompted.
“I’m in this position,” said Koch, a native of St. Louis, “because, growing up, I was the poster child for Kid’s Free Fishing Day at Roaring River.
“When I was a kid in St. Louis, we had relatives who lived on Table Rock Lake, and we came down here to visit every chance we got,” Koch said. “I loved all of the activities, and I learned to love fishing.”
Koch says her summers spent in Barry County put her on a trajectory for her current career with Roaring River State Park.
“I pursued a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism - with an emphasis on Natural Resource Management - from the University of Missouri in Columbia,” she said. “During those years, I worked part-time for four different state parks and historical sites, including Roaring River.”
She’s worked full time for Roaring River State Park since graduating from MU five years ago. Part of her job description involves teaching bird-calls to children, a task she’s not averse to.
“I learned a love for birds from my grandparents, and from watching the bird-feeders at their house when I was a little girl,” she said.
As an adult, with classes in ornithology to her credit, she has many calls in her repertoire. A group of first grade students from Diamond Elementary were treated to Koch’s lesson in owl-speak during a field trip to Roaring River last week.
“Think, ‘Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” She instructed the kids, while advising them to use a deep tone for the hooting call. “Sometimes,” she told the kids, “if you do it just right, an owl will answer you back.”
In addition to giving nature lessons to children, Koch also arranges for guided hikes, hatchery tours and other public activities. She also teaches fly-tying classes to adults, another skill she learned when she was young.
Koch says although activities at the park shut down last year due to COVID, she hopes to return to a full summer schedule of activities again this year.
“A typical summer,” she said, “involves three or four programs every day. I’m optimistic this year, because they just let me hire two part-time helpers for the nature center.”
The Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center, which contains many interpretive nature displays (including live snakes) is open Friday - Sunday, from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
More information about nature center activities, including the scheduling of school field trips, may be found at https://mostateparks.com/page/54251/interpretive-programs.
Koch also encourages people to visit the official Roaring River State Park Facebook page - the one with the red “Making Missouri Memories” profile image and the blue check mark.
Koch says fliers containing scheduled nature center activities will also be available at locations throughout the park.
Sheila Harris
Kelly Koch (pronounced “Cook”), of Cassville, has, arguably, one of the best jobs at Roaring River State Park. From the ambiguously titled position of “Interpretive Resource Specialist II,” Koch gets to teach children (and adults) fun facts about the park, including its history and details about the wildlife and plants that inhabit the area.
As an interpreter, Koch heads up programming for the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center in the park. She is also billed as the “Story-Keeper” for Roaring River State Park and is able to produce a wealth of information about its history and natural resources when prompted.
“I’m in this position,” said Koch, a native of St. Louis, “because, growing up, I was the poster child for Kid’s Free Fishing Day at Roaring River.
“When I was a kid in St. Louis, we had relatives who lived on Table Rock Lake, and we came down here to visit every chance we got,” Koch said. “I loved all of the activities, and I learned to love fishing.”
Koch says her summers spent in Barry County put her on a trajectory for her current career with Roaring River State Park.
“I pursued a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism - with an emphasis on Natural Resource Management - from the University of Missouri in Columbia,” she said. “During those years, I worked part-time for four different state parks and historical sites, including Roaring River.”
She’s worked full time for Roaring River State Park since graduating from MU five years ago. Part of her job description involves teaching bird-calls to children, a task she’s not averse to.
“I learned a love for birds from my grandparents, and from watching the bird-feeders at their house when I was a little girl,” she said.
As an adult, with classes in ornithology to her credit, she has many calls in her repertoire. A group of first grade students from Diamond Elementary were treated to Koch’s lesson in owl-speak during a field trip to Roaring River last week.
“Think, ‘Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” She instructed the kids, while advising them to use a deep tone for the hooting call. “Sometimes,” she told the kids, “if you do it just right, an owl will answer you back.”
In addition to giving nature lessons to children, Koch also arranges for guided hikes, hatchery tours and other public activities. She also teaches fly-tying classes to adults, another skill she learned when she was young.
Koch says although activities at the park shut down last year due to COVID, she hopes to return to a full summer schedule of activities again this year.
“A typical summer,” she said, “involves three or four programs every day. I’m optimistic this year, because they just let me hire two part-time helpers for the nature center.”
The Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center, which contains many interpretive nature displays (including live snakes) is open Friday - Sunday, from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
More information about nature center activities, including the scheduling of school field trips, may be found at https://mostateparks.com/page/54251/interpretive-programs.
Koch also encourages people to visit the official Roaring River State Park Facebook page - the one with the red “Making Missouri Memories” profile image and the blue check mark.
Koch says fliers containing scheduled nature center activities will also be available at locations throughout the park.
