Bray Conservation Area (CA)

The Bray Conservation Area (CA) is a 132 acre site owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation and located 3 miles west of Rolla. It is dedicated to educational activities and requires a special use permit for programs. The site has a lake (with fish), hiking trails, classroom space, a pavilion with picnic tables and a pre-school Discover Nature area. Master Naturalists have helped improve the facilities with various projects including trail building, planting & weeding native flower beds, designing and building the Wildlife Track Trail with 17 stations, designing and installing signage for the Tree ID Trail, designing and building the Trees- Inside and Out display with 16 species of wood, designing and building benches for the Outdoor classroom, and designing & building the Pre-School Discover Nature Area. Master Naturalists have also participated in educational and Interpretive Programs including: Nature Journaling, Macro invertebrates, Fish Classification, Mammals, Forest Ecology and bluebird house building.

Volunteer opportunities include:

        - Assisting with or leading educational programs for school groups and the public
        - Capstone Project (Spring 2010) involving designing and planting a native flower bed
        - Adding a permanent eagle nest display to the outdoor area
        - Trail maintenance
        - Helping develop new programs or projects for the site.

Contacts: Connie Schmiedeskamp is the naturalist on site and Pat Perry is the Volunteer Committee liaison.