WIN: Women in Nature

at Big Sugar Creek State Park

4/25/2026 | Big Sugar Creek State Park | Pineville, Mo.

Hey, ladies! Have you ever wanted to explore the great outdoors and meet women who share your interest? Women in Nature's half-day hike at Big Sugar Creek State Park has everything you want. You will make connections with other women and explore multiple ways to experience nature. Your guides for the day will be female employees and volunteers with Missouri State Parks. They will teach you the basics of identifying birds, flowers and more and encourage you to find your own connection with Big Sugar Creek State Park.

This event is intended to be educational and relaxing. Whether you are new to the outdoors or consider yourself an expert, we will help you gain a few new skills and improve your techniques in a fun, relaxed and supportive atmosphere. 

Space is limited, and paid registration is required. Continue reading for more information.

Event Times:

  • Start: 9 a.m.
  • End: 1 p.m.

Event Location:

Planned meeting location:

  • Ozark Chinquapin Trail parking lot at Big Sugar Creek State Park, 62727 Big Sugar Creek Road, Pineville, Mo.

Inclement weather meeting location:

  • McDonald County Library, 808 Bailey Road, Pineville, Mo.
  • See the For More Information section at the bottom of this page to find the appropriate contact information for questions related to programming changes due to inclement weather.

Age Requirements:

  • Participants must be at least 10 years old.
  • Any participants under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Lunch:

  • Participants must bring their own lunch.

Activities (May be Subject to Change):

Guided Hike (Moderate*)

This event will consist of a guided hike along the park's 3.4-mile Ozark Chinquapin Trail. During the hike, your guides will share tips for bird and wildflower identification, lead nature journaling exercises, and provide information about the Ozark Chinquapin tree.

Be prepared for rugged terrain and possible water crossings. Please dress appropriately for the weather and terrain and bring water, snacks and a lunch. Long pangs and waterproof boots are recommended. If you don't want to carry your lunch during the hike, you can give it to a guide before the hike and then pick it up at the halfway point.

*Physical Activity Guide:

Please be advised that WIN: Women in Nature programs are outdoor activities. Participants will be walking on tread surfaces at times that contain roots or embedded rocks and may have elevation changes.

To help participants anticipate each course and know what physical levels to expect of each class, a physical activity rating system has been created. You will find a physical level rating for each course next to the course name in the Activities section of this page.

  • Low: requires minimal physical skill/endurance (example: lecture-based and hands-on activities in a classroom)
  • Moderate: requires moderate physical skill/endurance (examples: lecture-based and hands-on activities while standing or taking short walks)
  • High: requires high levels of skill/endurance (examples: lecture-based and hands-on activities while standing, hiking, lifting or engaging in full-body movement)

Registration, Refunds and Cancellations:

Registration is $10, and there is a maximum of 15 participants.

Click on the “REGISTER HERE” link below to register. When you get to the registration website, click on the "Show 1 session" box below the half-day listing. Then, click on the green "Sign up!" button to register.

Registration open and close dates are listed on the registration website. All slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register here

Waitlist:

If the activity you are looking to join is full, please join our waitlist by signing up for that program on the registration tab. Once a cancellation has been approved, a staff member will contact the first waitlist individual via email to prompt them to secure their spot within a 48-hour period. No response within that 48-hour time period will result in the customer being removed from the waitlist and the next individual being contacted.

How to Cancel a Reservation:

Seven or more business days in advance of the scheduled event date: Customers are able to cancel their reservations themselves and receive a full refund. To cancel, the customer should log in to their icampmo account, find the reservations/activities that they are signed up for, and hit "Cancel" for the reservation that they wish to cancel.

Six or fewer business days in advance of the scheduled event date: Anyone needing to cancel a reservation six or fewer business days in advance of the scheduled event date should contact carrie.byron@dnr.mo.gov. Per Missouri State Parks' refund policy, customers canceling an event registration six or fewer business days in advance of the scheduled event date agree to forfeit their reservation refund, regardless of the circumstances.

Program Change Policy:

Organizers reserve the right to cancel, reschedule or relocate any proposed offering. In the event that the program is canceled by Missouri State Parks, customers will be refunded in full to the original form of payment within seven business days of the cancellation notice.

For more information:

If you have any questions prior to the day of the event, please contact Kintauna Myles, outdoor recreation coordinator, at kintauna.myles@dnr.mo.gov, or Carrie Byron, park ranger, at carrie.byron@dnr.mo.gov.

Event Day Contact Information:

To get more information on the day of the event, please contact Carrie Byron at 573-418-0097.

Additional Women in Nature Opportunities:

To see more events like this, please visit our Women in Nature landing page.