Whether your interest is conservation, policy, trail maintenance, activism or enjoying our outings, everyone with a love for the outdoors is welcome here. We appreciate you being a part of the Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) of the Missouri Sierra Club.
YOU'RE INVITED - SIERRA CLUB EVENT - MARCH 11 Join St. Louis Audubon and the Sierra Club Eastern Missouri Group for a special presentation on how to take meaningful action in reducing plastic waste and its harmful effects.
The Plastic Pollution Crisis: A Threat to Ecosystems and Beyond When: March 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM Where: Browning Hall at Webster University 8274 Big Bend Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63119
In this presentation by Cameron Gromek, Plastic Pollution Education Coordinator for the Missouri River Bird Observatory, we'll take a closer look at how plastic waste is affecting the environment, wildlife, and even our health. You'll learn how plastic pollution impacts both local communities and the world at large, with a special focus on the Missouri River Watershed. Registration is required.
New EPA head urges Trump to reconsider scientific finding that underpins climate action From Associated Press In a report to the White House, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called for a rewrite of the agency’s finding that determined planet-warming greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. FULL STORY
National parks already feel the effects of layoffs, even before the busy season starts From NPR A bit of welcome news came later that week when the Trump administration gave the NPS permission to fill temporary seasonal positions that had been paused due to the federal hiring freeze. The agency is allowed to fill a total of 7,700 positions — higher than the three-year average of 6,350. READ MORE
Rising electricity prices pose a problem for Trump From Politico President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to cut energy prices in half just got even more unrealistic. Electricity costs are careening toward a 30-year high. Ballooning demand from power-hungry data centers is driving the trend, according to a new report from the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute. READ MORE
BP cuts renewable investment and boosts oil and gas in strategy shift From Reuters It is the latest big energy company to change its position in response to the need to lower carbon emissions and curb climate change, returning the focus to oil and gas. FULL STORY
More Solar and Battery Storage Were Added to Texas’ Grid Than Any Other Power Source Last Year From Inside Climate News Texas has become one of the nation’s frontrunners in developing renewable energy. In recent years, the state’s reign came from wind power coupled with utility-scale solar. KEEP READING
OUTINGS LEADER TRAINING WAS A SUCCESS: It was great to see a lot of new faces interested in leading Outings. Below are a few pics from the event. If you are interested in becoming an Outings Leader, contact Dave Campbell, Outings Committee Co-Chair, at davecampbell9009@gmail.com or 217-553-9009. Photos by Matt Self.
Grand Bluffs Conservation Area & KATY Trail Hike/Walk/Eat - March 8 Grand Bluffs Conservation Area is located in southern Montgomery County near the towns of Rhineland and Bluffton. This 236-acre area features a stretch of dolomite bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. There is a spectacular and scenic two-mile stretch of 300-foot bluffs along the river. RSVP HERE
Bell Mountain Backwoods Hike - March 9 This is another beautiful, remote, backwoods trail where deer, turkey, and bald eagles abound, with multiple beautiful glens and rock outcroppings. From our start at the Bell Mountain Trailhead off Hwy A we will take both a connector trail and the Ozark Trail up to the Bell Mountain Loop. From there we will continue counter-clockwise up Bell Mountain until we reach the summit. Once there we will soak in the views of the Bell Mountain Wilderness while we eat our lunch and congratulate ourselves on our accomplishment. After lunch we descend Bell Mountain by retracing our steps to the trailhead. RSVP TODAY
Two Hikes for the Price of One - March 11 This will be a 2-portion event: Pomme Creek offers 3.5 miles walking on pavement and Strawberry Creek is 2.3 miles on a dirt trail. ALL are easy. The paved doesn’t need a trekking pole, but you might want a pole for the Strawberry Creek dirt trial. There are quite a few small creek crossings. SIGN UP HERE
Outings Leaders Meeting - March 13 This is a very active and exciting group within the Sierra Club and a great way to meet new people! When you become an Outings Leader, you will receive free leader training, first aid and CPR courses. We can use YOUR help! Contact Dave Campbell, Outings Committee Co-Chair, at davecampbell9009@gmail.com or 217-553-9009. RSVP HERE
Millstream Gardens to Silver Mines Trail - March 15
This is a 6-mile total out-and-back starting at the Millstreams Gardens picnic shelter and hiking along the St. Francis River about three miles to the NFS Silver Mines RA campground near route D, then back. It is a scenic hike due to the shut-ins character of the river corridor. We will pass the old Silver Mine dam along the way. With the Missouri Whitewater Championships on this stretch on March 22-23, we are likely to see volunteers hanging slalom gates along the river. DETAILS HERE
Monthly MOSS Gathering - March 26 Join the Missouri Chapter for our monthly meetings through Zoom for all Missouri Sierra Club groups & community members. The purposes are to build community with Sierra Club members across Missouri, share updates on our priorities, and discuss action steps to explore, enjoy and protect Missouri. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:00 PM.
Trivia Supporting the Missouri Sierra Club - Saturday, April 5 For the past several years, the Saint Louis University Masters of Social Work Alumni & Student Association has hosted a Trivia Night to support local organizations or non-profits serving the state of Missouri through an evening of local charitable giving, trivia, and prizes. The Sierra Club, Missouri Chapter is incredibly honored to be the recipient of 2025’s SLU MSW Alumni & Student Association’s Trivia Night on Saturday, April 5. Whether you have a full team ready to go or want to sign-up individually to be placed with a team later, it will be a wonderful evening to raise money to support the Sierra Club’s mission to explore, enjoy and protect Missouri. RSVP Today!
Stewardship at Don Robinson State Park - March 7 We will be assisting in the general care and upkeep of the park under the direction of park staff. The specifics of our tasks depend on what they determine is the park's greatest need at the time. Some of these tasks are maintaining and repairing trails, closing social trails, and picking up trash. This is a wonderful way to engage with a beautiful and well-loved park, while enacting a commitment to conservation and making the outdoors accessible to all. REGISTER HERE
Castlewood Service Project - March 14 Our work will vary from moderately heavy to light. We may be asked to perform work away from the parking lots which we will access by walking on rocky, rooty, and at times hilly trails which can be slippery and muddy when wet. We will be assisting in the general care and upkeep of the park under the direction of park staff. MORE INFO
Help Pick-up Trash Along the Greenway - March 29 EMG has adopted a section of the Centennial Greenway and we will be picking up trash along from 9 – 11 am. We will meet in the parking lot on the northeast corner of Delmar and McKnight in University City, which is the midpoint. The entire section of trail goes from Olive Blvd to Shaw Park and we will break into two groups. One group will go to Olive Blvd. and the other will go to Shaw Park. The distance for both groups is a total of two miles, out and back. Bring water. Gloves, hand pickers and garbage sacks will be provided. Sign-up under Outings on the EMG website.
Trail work at Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry - Multi-Day - April 10-14 Twice a year Sierra Club does a multi-day trail maintenance stewardship in the amazing backcountry of Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. In addition to making sure that trails are passable and adequately as well as accurately blazed, participants get a chance to hike and work in a back country that is beautiful and unique. SAVE YOUR SPOT
St. Louis Earth Day Festival Tabling & Lemonade - April 26-27 Sign-up today to support the EMG educate the greater St. Louis community on our conservation & clean energy priorities and raise funds for our conservation & outings program! We have shifts throughout the day, but appreciate any time you can donate to the Sierra Club. This is a great time to pitch and help out. We REALLY need YOUR help to raise funds for our Eastern Missouri Group and educate our community on local environmental action. SIGN UP HERE
Calling all IT pros and those that want to learn! As an organization managed by volunteers, so is our website! Are you interested in helping us update and manage our website? After completing a 1 hour online training, you can help build our group's digital prescence! Reach out to Chapter Coordinator Ashton Kuehnel (ashton.kuehnel@sierraclub.org) to get involved.
Volunteer Slalom Race Judges Needed for 2025 Missouri Whitewater Championships - March 22-23 Members of the Eastern Missouri Group of the Sierra Club have always helped as volunteer slalom race judges at the Missouri Whitewater Association’s annual whitewater races, now in its 58th year! This year’s slalom races will be held on Saturday & Sunday, March 22-23, 2025 on the rapids of the St. Francis for paddlers in kayak, canoe and SUP (stand-up paddleboard). It's an outing that is a lot of fun. You’ll meet lots of other outdoor types and watch some great paddlers run the rapids and gates at the Millstream Gardens Conservation Area near Fredericktown—one of the most spectacular outdoor venues in Missouri. Both first timers and experienced folks who have race judged in past are welcome and needed. We teach you everything at our race judge training sessions that Saturday and Sunday morning. To be a race judge, SIGN UP HERE!
Missouri Whitewater Championship photo submitted by Jonathan Lehmann.
