If the Christmas cookies are about to hit the fan, Missouri’s nature centers could be a great way to prevent a holiday meltdown.

The centers are known for showcasing Missouri’s rich natural resources. The hiking trails could help families take a deep breath of fresh air and appreciate the sunshine. A stretch of water capturing reflections of wildflowers blowing in the wind could provide a chance to reset after a stressful day.

On the inside, there might be live animal exhibits, indoor aquariums, and hands-on activities. A host of classes are offered to teach you about anything from soap making, embroidery, and woodcarving, to owls, foxes, and the slithery world of snakes.

Margie Vandeven, the Missouri Department of Conservation’s new education branch chief, said the nature centers are a great place to unwind.

“What a great thing to do on your way home after having a relatively frantic day at the office, or maybe a busy time with your children, and they might be a little sugared up. Get outside and have them play,” she told Missourinet.

Vandeven said you’ll be amazed at the calming effects that nature can have on us.

“We’ve been hearing more and more about the mental health needs that we’re all experiencing right now for a lot of different reasons,” she said. “Nature is just an amazing place to be and helps students in ways that I don’t know that we’re always thinking about, unless we are very strategic in making sure that we’re providing those kinds of opportunities for our kids.”

Missouri’s nature centers are in Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, Joplin, Springfield, Winona, Lebanon, and the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.

A new Missouri Department of Conservation education center is opening Thursday in Branson. The Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center includes room for two classrooms, a 7,500 gallon indoor aquarium, and new exhibits. It is adjacent to the department’s fish hatchery, where one million trout are raised each year.

The state also has about 100 parks and historic sites to help you reset.

Vandeven, who previously served as the state education commissioner, is now devoting her days to bringing nature into the classroom. Since 2009, more than 1,000 Missouri classrooms have been participating in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s “Discover Nature Schools” program.

The nature schooling curriculum is available to K-12 classrooms and covers a variety of topics, such as wildlife, kayaking, fishing, and the different ecosystems. The teacher and student guides are free and can be ordered through the department’s teacher portal.

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