Things to Do
The best thing about Earth science is that it's happening all around us!
See below for some suggestions for GSA families looking for places or events to explore how the topics we're discussing in class affect our local region.
Citizen Science
The Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network invites the public to help them track precipitation data. Pick up a rain gauge of at least 4" and record precipitation totals at a designated time each day.
NASA's GLOBE Observer project invites students, families, and citizens to submit weather and climate data via a Smartphone App.
Places to Visit
These are just a small selection of the options within a day's drive from St. Louis. If you have any suggestions for additional sites to visit, let me know and I'll add them here! Please be aware that some of these sites are currently closed due to COVID-19 concerns, so check the website before planning a visit.Earth and Space Science
St. Louis Science Center
Our Science Center is an amazing place to explore all kinds of questions about our world and the world beyond. The McDonnell Planetarium, the Mission:Mars gallery, and the flight simulators are always great ways to expand your understanding of Earth and Space, and a current installation explores the launch of the Perseverance Rover besides!
History of Planet Earth
St. Louis Science Center
SLSC is also a great place to go to talk about Earth's history. The Ecology and the Enviroment gallery includes a walk through different epochs with interactive displays around the organisms prevalent in each.Mastadon State Historic Site
Located in Kimmswick, this is a great place to explore our area's natural history. The Kimmswick Bone Bed is an impressive paleontological and archaeological dig site with hiking trails and an onsite museum that explains the fossils found there.Onondaga Cave State Park
Any of our show caves are great places to visit to learn more about Missouri's deep natural history. (Onondaga just happens to be my favorite.) The limestone that underlies much of our state is not only the reason for our many caves and other karst features; it's also composed of the calcium-rich remains of sea creatures from the Paleozoic era.Elephant Rocks State Park
We don't often think of Missouri as having much of a volcanic past, but in fact the St. Francois mountains that comprise the southeast portion of our state were active volcanoes during the Precambrian era. They are believed to be the oldest mountains in the United States, and the resulting igneous intrusions cooled to form the red granite that underlies most of that region. Elephant Rocks is the site of a former quarry and features scenic hiking trails and interpretive signage. (It's also close to Johnson's Shut-Ins, described below.)
Earth's Materials, Systems, and Natural Hazards
National Great Rivers Research and Education Center
Nothing shapes defines our region as much as our rivers do. This research site between Alton and Godfrey in Illinois is open to the public, and includes a mini-museum dedicated to the river, plus walkable interpretative paths explaining the importance of the rivers.Johnson's Shut-ins State Park
Similar to Elephant Rocks, Johnson's Shut-Ins are a product of Precambrian volcanic activity. The igneous granite that underlies the Black River weathers differently than the surrounding limestone, creating pockets and chutes in the riverbed. The result is a natural water park in the summer months, which is a great place to swim and splash, but you can observe the results of these processes on the many observation trails at any time of year.
Water, Weather and Climate
Natural Resources and Human Impacts
Missouri Botanical Garden - St. Louis is home to the second most prestigious botanical garden in the world! It's also home to the EarthWays Center, one of the area's leading Sustainability organizations.