Mississippi River overlook at Bee Tree County Park, a hidden gem in far southeast St. Louis County. Photo by Louise Bullock.
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.
OPINION: AI, Data Centers, the War in Iran, and the need for Renewable Energy By Jim Rhodes By now it is clear that Trump’s stupid war in Iran is causing not only the price of oil to soar but is causing global havoc in energy markets. If there is a silver lining, it is also true that the case for investing in renewable energy is clearer than ever. As I was thinking about how to write this article, I decided to ask the AI app ChatGPT for help and I framed my request as follows: “I need to write an article on how the current US war in Iran is raiding oil prices and how this situation, along either worsening climate change, reinforces the need for the world to switch to renewable energy. This article will be published in the local Missouri Sierra Scape newsletter, and it should be less than 1,000 words. It should also remind people, who are all members of the Sierra Club, how the club has long promoted the need to fight climate change to protect both the planet and future generations. Can you help with a rough draft?"
Float and Hike in MO State Parks By Senior Field Organizer, Conservation & Public Lands, Marisa Frazier There’s something powerful about standing in a place that was almost sold off to private interests, and knowing that land is now protected and accessible to the public because people chose to act. Bryant Creek State Park is one of those places. After years of dedicated advocacy, organizing, and community pressure, nearly 3,000 acres of wild Ozark landscape are now permanently protected and open for all of us to experience. This win is part of a much larger vision through our public lands work and the 30x30 campaign to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030. At Bryant Creek State Park, that vision is tangible: clean water is flowing, old growth forests are standing, and people can come here to reconnect with nature.
We invite you to step into the forest with us on May 17 for a float down Bryant Creek or May 18 for a restoration workday and hiking tour. We'll be assisting Missouri State Parks in restoration work to help this park complete its progress towards opening Phases 2 & 3. Sign up below under Events.
To learn more about how you can get involved in our Conservation Committee work, email marisa.frazier@sierraclub.org.
Great turnout at Earth Day Festival! Volunteers at the lemonade stand included Annie Marie Mosher, Dave Campbell, Diane Lindsay, John Feldmann, George Behrens, Larry Minth, Joseph the Juicer, Gary Baugham, Barbara Kuhns, Jim Young, Annie Russell, Bu Meh, Julie Rusciolelli-Campbell, Jack Hambene, Dave Campbell, Rick Armstrong and Caroline Pufalt. Tabling Photos included Ed Bayham, Paul Stupperich, Rita Wagner and Ashton Rowling. Photos by Dave Campbell and Tim Elwell.
Climate Denial Comes to Washington From The New York Times A conference of climate change deniers, a warning about the world’s largest penguin species, record low snowpack in the West, plus more climate news. READ HERE
Kelp farming catches on in Maine From World Wildlife Foundation You probably interact with seaweed in more ways than you know. “Seaweed is an unsung hero in so many different products. Biologically, it is designed to do some pretty extreme stuff. It lives in wind, ice, and hot sun, so it lends a lot of helpful qualities to foods,” says Jaclyn Robidoux, a seaweed specialist at SeaGrant Maine. READ MORE
Sierra Club Statement on Supreme Court Ruling to Gut the Voting Rights Act Read the response from SC about the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais that will further erode the landmark Voting Rights Act and dilute the voting power of minorities. READ HERE
Ameren Missouri gets approval to launch third community solar facility From Daily Energy Insider Ameren Missouri is building a new solar facility alongside the existing Montgomery Community Solar Center in New Florence, an hour west of St. Louis. Construction of the New Florence Community Solar Center, approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission, is anticipated to begin as early as spring of next year, with the goal of opening in 2026. READ MORE
EMG Trash Bash Report By Stephanie Todd EMG teamed up with Open Space STL to pick-up trash along the Centennial Greenway on Saturday morning, April 11. We had our biggest turnout with 16 volunteers and collected a tremendous amount of trash, which had a huge impact on the area. It was great coordinating with Open Space STL. They held a picnic afterward that several of our volunteers attended including some Meramec Community College students and their professor. The food was great and there were several educational booths. Prizes were awarded for the best finds along with other categories and two of the students won prizes!
Join us for our next trash pick-up on July 11 from 9am – 11am. Meet at the northwest corner of Delmar and McKnight in University City. Sign-up for the Centennial Greenway Trash Pick Up by CLICKING HERE.
Photo by Stephanie Todd
Hike Through the Woods at Hawn State Park - May 9 If you’ve never ventured beyond Pickle Creek at Hawn State Park, now’s your chance! We will hike 4 miles of the Whispering Pines North Loop Trail to Connector Trail 3. Come spend some time hiking through the forest that features Missouri’s only native pine tree species, the shortleaf pine! MORE INFO
Mother's Day Hiking Event - May 10
Hickory Canyons Natural Area and Pickle Springs Natural Area are two little known gems for hiking in southeast Missouri. Hickory Canyons Natural Area hiking trail meanders along the spine of a rocky ridge, wanders past steep cliff edges, skirts towering bluffs and descends into deep hollows along intermittent streams with enchanting seasonal waterfalls. Pickle Springs Natural Area is one of the most spectacular hikes in Missouri with amazing rock displays through geologic time. MORE INFO
EMG ExCom Meeting - May 12
Join the Eastern Missouri Group Executive Committee Meeting and hear updates and voice your thoughts on how EMG is impacting the region. MORE INFO
Bryant Creek Float Trip - May 17 Come enjoy connection with fellow river lovers and learn how the Sierra Club worked to protect this fabulous new state park on this float trip. Stay overnight and explore and participate in restoration work at Bryant Creek State Park! MORE INFO
Restoration and Hiking Tour at Bryant Creek State Park - May 18 Take a hiking tour and participate in restoration work at one of Missouri's newest state parks! This park has the highest concentration of biodiversity of any Missouri State Park. Come learn how this park came to be, and all of the spectacular landscapes, plants and wildlife it is home to! MORE INFO
MO Sierra Club Campfire Training - May 19 VJoin Sierra Club leaders from across the state for a friendly, no-stress intro to creating events on Campfire. If Campfire has ever felt a little intimidating, you're not alone. We will walk through it step by step to make the process simple, approachable, and even enjoyable. MORE INFO
GO Green Justice Team Monthly Meeting - May 20
Join us on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7:00pm as we fight for clean, affordable, renewable energy for our communities. MORE INFO
Sierra Club Happy Hour - May 21
FIRST Sierra Club HAPPY HOUR!! It’s at the Golden Hoosier Bar and Restaurant. They have a very COOL beer garden which has a National Park style theme. They have also named all their picnic tables after local rivers. Come join us. This will be FUN!! We’ll have some drinks and you have the option of staying for dinner. MORE INFO
MO Sierra Space | MOSS - May 27 Join the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter new & returning members, supporters, volunteers, allies, and staff to intentionally connect from across the state to: 1) build community amongst ourselves as teammates in Sierra Club’s mission, vision, values, and norms; 2) share updates on campaigns, victories, or other goings on in the state; 3) provide actionable steps to support grassroots organizing efforts for MO communities and environment. RSVP HERE
Sierra Club EMG Pint Night - October 22
Please join us on October 22nd at Alpine Shop in Kirkwood for happy hour! Learn about the mission of Sierra Club; America’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organizations. We offer it all: bird walks, tree ID hikes, trail maintenance, map reading, invasive cleanups, even water events. We offer training to become outings leaders so that YOU can lead a group and encourage others to get outside and smell the fresh air! There will be raffles, lots of conversations and meeting new people. Save to your calendar!
Park Spotlight By Louise Bullock Formerly the weekend retreat of Eugene and Lotawana Nims, this 199 acre property is located in southeast St. Louis County overlooking the Mississippi River. It was purchased from the Nims estate in 1968 and is now Bee Tree County Park. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo by Louise Bullock
Castlewood Service Project - May 8 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. We will be assisting in the general care and upkeep of the park under the direction of park staff. SIGN UP
Open Space STL Honeysuckle Hack and Removal - May 14 Open Space invites you to this opportunity to help beautify the woods near Mustang Shelter in Greensfelder Park by clearing invasive honeysuckle. This effort will not only enhance the scenic views from this popular spot but also help native species thrive. MORE INFO
Sierra Club Volunteer Organizing Training - May 16 The SC Field Department is offering an experiential training program focused on organizing skills & leadership development: Volunteers connected to ongoing Chapter or National work who are ready to level-up their leadership skills and can commit to an intensive training program to support that work are invited. You can get more information HERE or sign up for the training by clicking HERE.
2026 Native Plant Garden Tour - May 17 The St. Louis Audubon Society and Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter are once again partnering to present the annual St. Louis Native Plant Garden Tour featuring nine gardens selected for their variety of styles and maturity. Volunteer to help out here -> MORE INFO
Castlewood Service Project - June 5 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 parks greatest need at the time. Some of these tasks are maintaining and repairing trails, closing social trails, and picking up trash. MORE INFO
EMG remembers Kevin Hunter who died of the effects of dementia in December 2025. He was 72 years old.
He was an active long term Sierra Club member. He was involved in paddling trips, Operation Clean Stream and judging the white water races. Kevin always brought or made a sweet dessert on any trip he was on. Ice cream or cake were not unusual. He was always willing to share a canoe or a laugh. His good humor and helpfulness will be missed.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, May 23rd. For details, contact Travis Hunter at 314-368-2211 or huntert78@hotmail.com.
