Missouri State Park Ranger earns national Park Ranger of the Year Award

Corporal Brandon Bartz of the Missouri State Park Rangers has been named 2015 Park Ranger of the Year by ServiceWear Apparel. The national award is presented each year to honor a park ranger who goes above and beyond in service. The company selects the nominees based on submissions and the public votes online for the winner.

“The lifesaving actions of Cpl. Bartz are nothing short of heroic,” said Sara Parker Pauley, director of the Department of Natural Resources. “His exemplary conduct is a reflection of the rich tradition of the Missouri State Park Rangers.”

Cpl. Bartz was nominated for his actions at Castlewood State Park after a guest jumped from a cliff and became stuck 140 feet from the ground. Cpl. Bartz climbed the rock face to reach the victim. Supported only by a small tree, he spent more than two hours with the victim, administering aid and offering encouragement and comfort, before being extricated to safety.    

“Cpl. Bartz is very deserving of this honor,” said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks. “His selfless actions represent the best of Missouri State Park Rangers, who work hard every day protecting parks and ensuring visitors’ safety.”

For additional information on Cpl. Bartz and the other finalists, visit servicewearapparel.com/ranger/finalists.php. For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Informational meeting at Castlewood State Park Oct. 26

Castlewood State Park (Photo credit: fotobydave)

The public is invited to bring their ideas to an open house on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Castlewood State Park near Ballwin. The informational meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the park office and refreshments will be provided.

Recent accomplishments and future plans at the park will be highlighted. Visitors are invited to share comments on Castlewood State Park’s services and operations. Park staff will discuss ongoing efforts to remove invasive plant species from the park, repair trails and restore a portion of riparian forest bordering Kiefer Creek.

The informational meeting is part of an ongoing effort by Missouri State Parks to ensure the public has an opportunity to provide input on services provided in state parks and historic sites.

A visit to Castlewood State Park is also a great opportunity to log miles as a part of the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles challenge. To celebrate Missouri’s distinction as the “Best Trails State” by American Trails and to encourage Missourians to enjoy the outdoors, Gov. Jay Nixon and First Lady Georganne Nixon are inviting Missourians to join them in completing 100 Missouri Miles of outdoor physical activity by the end of the year.

Castlewood State Park is located off of Highway 141, then west on Big Bend Road to Ries Road, then turn left on Ries Road. The park entrance is at the intersection of Kiefer Creek and Ries Roads. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the open house can make arrangements by calling the park directly at 636-227-4433. For information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Open house planned Oct. 29 at Castlewood State Park

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., OCT. 17, 2011 -- The public is invited to bring their ideas to an open house on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Castlewood State Park near Ballwin. The open house will be held from noon to 3 p.m. just east of the park office.

Recent accomplishments at the park and future plans will be highlighted during the open house. Visitors are invited to share comments on the park’s services and operations. Recent accomplishments includepainting two picnic shelters and the interior of shelter restrooms. Staff also continued the ongoing project of removal of an exotic species (bush honeysuckle) from the park. 

The open house is part of an ongoing effort by Missouri State Parks to ensure citizens have input on facilities and services offered in state parks and historic sites.

Castlewood State Park is located off of Highway 141, west on Big Bend Road to Ries Road and then left on Ries Road. The park entrance is at the intersection of Kiefer Creek and Ries roads. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements by calling Castlewood State Park directly at 636-227-4433or by calling the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For information about state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com.

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Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day June 11 in Missouri state parks

rom the 1920s and 1930s. Crafts, face painting, storytelling, music and food make it a perfect day.

            

At Crowder State Park near Trenton, celebrate with the Summer Fun Expo at the beach parking lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The expo will feature nature displays, outdoor recreation demonstrations, face painting, nature crafts and guided nature walks. The event is being held during the Free Fishing Weekend so bring a fishing pole to add to the summer fun.

           

 If you want to explore the past with a twist of history, you can hunt for fossils at Fossil Day at Mastodon State Historic Site near Imperial. From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the entire family can hunt through fossil-bearing gravel piles to discover a piece of the past. Members of the Eastern Missouri Society for Paleontology will display a variety of fossils spanning the geologic history of Missouri. Guided tours of the former excavation site will be offered.

At Missouri Mines State Historic Site in Park Hills, you can buy, sell, swap or just admire rocks, minerals and fossils at the annual Rock Swap from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  You can also take free tours of the historic site museum. 

In Ste. Genevieve, participate in an old-style French social gathering at Felix Valle House State Historic Site. You can take candlelight tours of the home, watch French folk dancers on the lawn and listen to French folktales in the garden while enjoying refreshments from 7 to 9 p.m.

 Many of the state parks offer interpretive programs every weekend. Be sure to check with individual state parks and sites to see what they might offer. For example, you can learn about reptiles and amphibians at a Hug a Herp program from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Prairie State Park near Mindenmines.

            

With so many choices, there is no reason you can’t enjoy time outdoors with your family to celebrate the 2011 National Get Outdoors Day on June 11. All the events are free and open to the public. For more information on state parks and historic sites, call toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or visitmostateparks.com.