Earth's Classroom

10/13/2026

Paddle MO-Ozarks, baby!! About 45 adults for 3 days on the Black River!

It was a fabulous educational time, supporting Stream Teams United, this past weekend as Earth's Classroom's team and many amazing volunteers and hard workers, shared about and travelled down the Black River in southern Missouri.

It is always an honor for Earth's Classroom to be a part of the Paddle MO events!

It capped on the third day with so many fabulous visits, great celebrations, multiple birthdays, and crystal clear waters!

Enjoy the photos and video! (Some photos stolen from one of our amazing safety paddlers, Cheri. :))

10/09/2026

Busy week! From taking Troop #314 from St. Louis on a multi-day Ecology Canoe Trip, to working with Beaufort Elementary, Londell Schools, Holy Family School-Freeburg, and our FSCE high school students...it was full-on outdoor learning!!

Enjoy the photos!

We are booking quickly for the Spring and Summer of 2027! Just a heads up!

10/01/2026

As Earth's Classroom turns 27 years old, check out some of the fun photos from programs in the last few weeks.

We have worked with Missouri Botanical Gardens Eco Act Program leading them on Ecology Wild Caving. The St. Louis Homeschool Network has ventured with us for Aquatic programs. And Phenology has been introduced to Gerald Elementary, Owensville Elementary, and Owensville Middle School...just to name a few programs.

Happy 27th Birthday to Earth's Classroom! ENJOY THE PHOTOS!

09/30/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to the following juniors and seniors for being voted into the FSCE (Field Science Career Experience) certification program for the 2026-2027 school year!

This is our Group B (the Buteos). The Buteos held their first monthly course on Sunday, September 27th, in a state permit cave to learn biology and chemistry in the GEOLOGY course. Lots of learning. Lots of adventure. Please let us introduce you to them:

Stella Anderson--Home Schooled
Olivia Bobe--Home Schooled
Olivia Brown--Home Schooled
Ava Fischer--Washington High School
Nora Florido--Webster Groves High School
Jacob Goehman--Perryville High School
December Gregg--Webster Groves High School
Brate Hart--Cuba High School
Gerard Heitzler--Sullivan High School
Haley Ingram--Webster Groves High School
Logan Kiesling--Owensville High School
Elijah Mathes--Washington High School
Piper Meyer--Owensville High School
Abby Pleimann--Fox High School
Aloisio Rodrigues--St. Francis Borgia High School
Luka Shayakhmetova--McKinley Classical Leadership Academy
Max Torres--Brentwood High School
Landon Welch--Home Schooled

A sincere THANK YOU to the following sponsors allowing the FSCE certification to be FREE for our regional juniors and seniors! ONONDAGA FRIENDS ASSOCIATION, RIVER CITY OUTDOORS, L.A.D. FOUNDATION, KANSAS ASSOCIATION for CONSERVATION and ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AMEREN TRANSMISSION, MICHELLE O'CONNER, ZION CHURCH OF CHRIST--GREEN TEAM, and the following are contributions in honor of the beautiful life of Isabel Williams: MIRAMAGUOA STREAM TEAM WATERSHED, Stream Teams United, MONITEAU COUNTY NEIGHBORS ALLIANCE, WES & SUSAN WILLIAMS, LISA GUILLORY & TIMOTHY O'CONNOR

09/25/2026

From 2016 to 2026 Earth's Classroom has been blessed to work with Stream Teams United on the Paddle MO events! Stream Teams United brings in EC staff to be the lead On-Water Educators and Safety Directors for this amazing event.

We JUST finished (September 19th-23rd) leading about 80 participants from 11 states for 113 miles (Booneville, MO to New Haven, MO) paddling, camping, and educating down the amazing Missouri River...the "big muddy".

The reason for the Paddle MO events is to support Stream Teams United's mission to broaden and enhance the reach of Missouri Stream Teams and Stream Team Associations to advance stream stewardship, education, and advocacy in Missouri.

Here at Earth's Classroom, we are honored to be a part of this mission!

Enjoy the photos!!

09/14/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to the following juniors and seniors for being voted into the FSCE (Field Science Career Experience) certification program for the 2026-2027 school year!

This is only Group A (the Accipiters). Group B (the Buteos--a larger class) will have their first course, Geology, on September 27th! We will introduce you to them then.

Scarlette Bridges--Sullivan High School
Maggie Crawford--Washington High School
Alyonna DeClue--Cuba High School
Emma Fischer--St. Francis Borgia HS
Ellianna Gevers--New Haven HS
Aster Landolt--Sullivan HS
Mackenzi Mabe--Cuba HS
Henry Maune--St. Francis Borgia HS
Harley Pilkenton--Cuba HS
Gauge Scheel--Owensville HS
Cassius Shaw--St. Francis Borgia HS
Sophia Strebeck--Owensville HS
Evelyn Timmerman--Sullivan HS
Baylee Tumbrink--Owensville HS
Tessie Wellman--Sullivan HS
Billy Simon--St. Francis Borgia HS

The FSCE students held their first monthly course yesterday, September 13th, in a state permit cave to learn biology and chemistry in the GEOLOGY course. Lots of learning. Lots of adventure.

A sincere THANK YOU to the following sponsors allowing the FSCE certification to be FREE for our regional juniors and seniors! ONONDAGA FRIENDS ASSOCIATION, RIVER CITY OUTDOORS, L.A.D. FOUNDATION, KANSAS ASSOCIATION for CONSERVATION and ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AMEREN TRANSMISSION, MICHELLE O'CONNER, ZION CHURCH OF CHRIST--GREEN TEAM, and the following are contributions in honor of the beautiful life of Isabel Williams: MIRAMAGUOA STREAM TEAM WATERSHED, Stream Teams United, MONITEAU COUNTY NEIGHBORS ALLIANCE, WES & SUSAN WILLIAMS, LISA GUILLORY & TIMOTHY O'CONNOR

09/09/2026

This is important information. If you are able, you should attend one of these powerful meetings.

Check out these September opportunities to get involved in plastic reduction advocacy with the Show-Me Less Plastic team!

Plastic Brand Audit with Missouri River Bird Observatory
📆 THIS Saturday, September 12th
⏰ 1:00PM
📍Stump Island Recreation Park, Glasgow
🔗 Register: https://forms.gle/QXgtqsXXvDvUGktr8

Regional Advocate Network Luncheon
📆 Friday, September 25th
⏰ 12:00PM
📍Prison Brews, Jefferson City
🔗 Register: bit.ly/PlasticActionJC

Community Advocacy Workshop
📆 Saturday, September 26th
⏰ 11:00AM to 2:30PM
📍Lake of the Ozarks Board of Realtors, Sunrise Beach
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/PlasticWorkshopLoZ

Advocate Network Meeting
📆 Monday, September 28th
⏰ 6:30PM to 7:30PM
📍Virtual via Zoom
🔗 Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2ihrvryMQuiE96VYlI8lsA #/

09/06/2026

We have been BUUUSSSSYYY, but today, please help us celebrate the wonderful TAELOR VANOUS!! Today is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Taelor! In addition, this past week, she started her third year as an AmeriCorps member hosted at Earth's Classroom's site! (Fourth year as an AmeriCorps member total.)

She has been incredibly helpful in increasing our capacity, bringing in more Title 1 schools, expanding our FSCE high school certification program, and improving our educational equipment and site. Thank you for all your hard work, Taelor.

CHEERS to another trip around the sun!

09/02/2026

High School JUNIORS & SENIORS:
FSCE applications are due this Friday, September 4, at 6 PM!

If you’re planning to apply, make sure you get your application submitted before the deadline!

08/27/2026

ONE WEEK and ONE DAY till the FSCE (Field Science Career Experience) applications are due for juniors and seniors in high school! Friday, September 4th by 6pm!

CALLING ALL JUNIORS AND SENIORS! Unique, experiential, adventurous learning, designed to increase your observation skills in science and provide you with a huge boost to your scholarship applications and resume is completely FREE to take advantage of.

You can see the informational video and on-line application HERE:
https://www.earthsclassroom.org/fsce

Please consider the application as a competition. Earth's Classroom's board of directors score the applications based on how well you express yourselves.

Earth's Classroom's staff is currently visiting high schools and presenting about FSCE to juniors and seniors. If you know of a high school or science class within about 1 hour driving radius from Earth's Classroom, please reach out at 573-437-7628 and schedule a presentation! WE WILL BE THERE!