By Ed Bayham
On National Public Lands Day, five members of EMG, Lorrie Crossett, Ed Bayham, Dave Campbell. Bill Kacerovskis, and Victoria Zhao, joined with members of the Greenway Network and Scout Troop 809, to gather up trash from Cora Island along the Misouri River and Ellis Island along the Mississippi River. Due to the ever-changing river levels, all sorts of debris were deposited along the shores and in the woods; soda, beer, and liquor bottles, bait and food containers, fishing lines and bobbers, chunks of Styrofoam, tires, and even a refrigerator! Collected debris was hauled away by rangers from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands held across the United States each year on the fourth Saturday in September. This year’s theme is Caring for Our Shared America.
By Dave Campbell
In early August, we had a night outing to look at the stars and hope to see some meteors from the Perseid meteor shower at Babler SP. We had over 30 people show up for this outing! We looked at distant stars and galaxies using telescopes provided by the St. Louis Astronomical Society. Shawn Pehle brought night vision goggles and a thermoscope. This was very cool! Above are the same photo using a camera and a flash and another photo taken using night vision googles. Interesting contrasts. We did not see any meteors because it was too early in the evening and unfortunately, there is too much light pollution near Babler SP yet everyone enjoyed being outside and looking at the stars.
Global warming will exceed 1.5-degree limit, UN says
From PBS
In a strategic retreat in the fight against climate change, the United Nations has acknowledged that Earth has lost its chance to prevent some of the worst of global warming's harms. So now the world must figure out how to get temperatures below the danger zone and back to safety, officials say. READ MORE
20 Years of Wildfire Smoke in the U.S.
From Climate Central
Wildfire smoke is dangerous and can be deadly. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in smoke can reach the lungs and bloodstream and lead to cardiovascular and respiratory illness. See the stats and full report. READ MORE
Data centers drive huge power plant buildout in Ameren Missouri 20-year plan
From STLPR
The new plan significantly increases the company’s reliance on natural gas plants while scaling back the percentage of energy produced by renewable sources like wind and solar. And in a change from previous plans, the company is no longer discussing a goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions. READ MORE
St. Louis drop-off recycling shift cuts contamination
From Resource Recycling
St. Louis is recycling more material at lower cost since it ended free alley recycling in August 2025, city data shows. Mayor Cara Spencer outlined the change as a model for other cities at SWANA’s RCon 2026 conference. READ MORE
Join the Eastern Missouri Group Executive Committee Meeting and hear updates and voice your thoughts on how EMG is impacting the region. MORE INFO
Wolf Fest - October 17
The Endangered Wolf Center is excited to host Wolf Fest, our largest annual event celebrating conservation, wildlife, and community. Centered around our mission to protect and preserve endangered wolves and other wild canids, this family-friendly day offers open-house style animal tours, live music, kid-friendly activities, food trucks, and more! MORE INFO
Grotpeter Trail – Fall Color Hike - October 18
The Grotpeter Trail is a 4.4-mile loop trail of moderate difficulty. This trail sometimes has excellent fall colors, hopefully this date will capture that beauty. The trail has an elevation gain of approximately 400 ft. We will finish the hike with a flat section along Kiefer Creek. SIGN UP HERE
GO Green Justice Team Monthly Meeting - October 21
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
Outing Leaders Meeting - October 21
Join our monthly meeting with Outing Leaders to discuss upcoming hikes! MORE INFO
Pint Night at the Alpine Shop, Sierra Club Happy Hour - October 22
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! RSVP HERE
Discover Rock Climbing at Astral Valley Art Park - October 24
Have you ever wanted to try rock climbing but weren't sure where to start? First Ascent Day is designed for beginners, families, local businesses, community groups, and anyone curious about climbing and the outdoors. Join us for a FREE climbing event at beautiful Astral Valley Art Park. MORE INFO
MO Sierra Space | MOSS - October 28
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
This 3-3.5 mile hike will be conducted via the Upper Rock Hollow Trail beginning near the school and hiking south. We will go east on the Zombie Trail at intersection…..then continue along the Zombie East Trail and back to the parking area along the Rock Hollow Trail. SIGN UP
Dillard Mill State Historic Site Tour and Hike - October 31
Come join us on this fun outing at beautiful Dillard Mill State Historic Site. We’ll experience guided tours and activities led by site rangers, hike the trails, explore the grounds and enjoy a late lunch/early dinner (optional) in nearby Steeleville or Cuba. MORE INFO
Klondike Park, St. Charles Co. – Beyond Coal Educational Outing - November 1
We will hike a little under 3 miles, including a quarter mile on a paved path with the remainder on the Hogsback Trail, a dirt trail. There will be a gradual switchback incline to the ridge, which leads to a view of Amerens Labadie coal-burning power plant. There will be a short presentation about the Labadie power plant at the overlook. MORE INFO
EMG Annual Holiday Party and Potluck - December 5
Celebrate the season at the annual EMG Holiday Party! The holiday party is a potluck. Please bring a favorite dish to share. Microwave and refrigeration available. Crock pots for hot dishes suggested. RSVP HERE
By Dave Campbell
Please join us on Thursday, October 22, from 6-8 pm, at Alpine Shop in Kirkwood for a Happy Hour-Pint Night! Learn about the mission of Sierra Club; America’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organizations. We offer it all: hiking, biking, paddling, trail maintenance, map reading, invasive cleanups, seminars, environmental advocacy and much more! We offer training to become outings leaders so that YOU can lead a group and encourage others to get outside!
This is a BIG fundraiser for the Sierra Club! For $10 you receive a limited-edition Alpine Shop pint glass and two pours from 4 Hands Brewing Company or other non-alcoholic options. You will also receive a 10% discount for merch from the Alpine Shop. There will be raffles, lots of conversations and meeting new people. ALL proceeds from the evening go directly to the Sierra Club. RSVP!
By Ted Weiss and Lisa Dahlgren
Despite a forecast predicting extreme heat, five dedicated Sierra Club members showed up ready to put in some sweat equity alongside Park Naturalist Erik Otto.
To prioritize safety, Erik designed a light work plan focused on well-shaded areas. As luck would have it, the morning stayed surprisingly cool, accompanied by a brisk breeze and dense canopy shade that made for a remarkably pleasant shift.
The crew spruced up the viewing platform and pavilion area by clearing surrounding brush and tackling several routine maintenance tasks. During the outing, Erik shared his deep knowledge of the park’s origins and highlighted the ongoing restoration work being done by park staff on the historic Don Robinson home.
A big thank you to the volunteers who came out to steward and learn about this beautiful local treasure!
Route 66 Restoration with Open Space STL - October 14
Come be part of a dedicated three-year mission to restore the ecology of historic Route 66 State Park! The primary goal is to eliminate "source" invasive species like Bush Honeysuckle, Callery Pear, and Tree of Heaven. SIGN UP HERE
Castlewood Service Project - October 16
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. The specifics of our tasks depend on what they determine is the parks greatest need at the time. MORE INFO
We are teaming up with Open Space STL and volunteers will get a T-shirt. We will meet at 9:00am in the parking lot located at the northeast corner of Delmar and McKnight in University City. We split into two groups and each group takes a one mile section. Everything will be provided but bring water. REGISTER HERE
Swedenborg Nature Habitat - Native Species Planting - October 25
The Swedenborg Nature Habitat is a wooded, two-acre conservation easement. It is gradually being improved for public access with walkable trails and a meditation circle for musical events. You can contribute to its development by helping with honeysuckle removal and native plantings. RSVP HERE
Trail Maintenance at O'Fallon Park - November 6
We will be working with the St. Louis City Forestry Division and the Ozark Trail Association, Open Space and River City Outdoors. We will be cutting and clearing brush, creating new trail and marking trails. All tools will be provided. MORE INFO
