WIN: Women in Nature

at Crowder State Park

10/2/2026 to 10/4/2026 | Crowder State Park | Trenton, Mo.

Hey, ladies! Have you ever wanted to explore the great outdoors, but did not know where to begin? Come join us at Crowder State Park for Women in Nature’s weekend experience to learn some new skills, taught by all female instructors. 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 relaxed, fun and supportive atmosphere.

Event Times:

  • Check in starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
  • Pack out by 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4

Event Location and Accommodations:

  • The event will take place at Camp Grand River at Crowder State Park.
    • Camp Grand River coordinates: 40.098003, -93.666384
    • Park address: 76 NW Highway 128, Trenton, Mo.

Accommodations:

  • Barracks-style cabins at Camp Grand River will be available on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. Each cabin can accommodate up to 19 people.
  • You are also welcome to bring a tent to use. There will be room to set up your tent up at Camp Grand River. Please contact the park office in advance if you plan to stay in a tent: 660-359-6473.
  • You do not need to make a campsite reservation unless you want to. 

Age Requirements:

  • Participants must be at least 10 years of age.
  • Any participants under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Activities (may be subject to change):

Standard Activities:

Kayaking (Moderate-High*)

Learn the basics of flatwater kayaking, including equipment, entry and exit, strokes, safety, water, and wind. By the end of the class, you should feel more comfortable on the water and better understand the risks around. You will have time to practice and explore on Crowder Lake.

Hike (Moderate*)

Go on a guided hike, and learn how to stay safe while hiking. We will discuss trail first-aid techniques and what to do if you encounter an animal during your hike.

Wildflower Arrangements/Leaf Bouquets (Low*)

Learn how to make leaf bouquets and wildflower arrangements.

How-to (Low-Moderate*)

Have you ever wanted to know how to identify edible plants and turn them into something tasty, or clean a fish and prepare it to be cooked? This is your opportunity!

Optional Activities:

Friday Evening:
Dutch Oven/Camp Cooking (Low*)

Participants will learn the basics of cooking with a Dutch oven. There will be instruction and hands-on experience as you prepare and cook your own dinner in the great outdoors.

Searching the Night Skies (Low*)

Representatives from Truman State University will lead an astronomy program and provide a guided viewing of the night sky.

Saturday Evening:
Wild Game and Edibles (Low*)

Have you ever wanted to learn more about how to prepare and cook wild game and wild edibles? This will be the perfect opportunity to join park staff to learn more about how to prepare and cook these types of ingredients.

Nature Trivia (Low*)

Enjoy a fun game of nature trivia as you compete for fun prizes against your new nature-loving friends.

*Physical Activity Guide:

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

To help participants anticipate each course and know what physical levels to expect, 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 (example: lecture-based and hands-on activities while standing or taking short walks)
  • High: requires high levels of skill/endurance (example: lecture-based and hands-on activities while standing, hiking, lifting or engaging in full-body movement)

Registration, Refunds and Cancellations:

Registration is $40, and there is a maximum of 60 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 weekend 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 kintauna.myles@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 first day of the event, please contact Kintauna Myles, outdoor recreation coordinator, at kintauna.myles@dnr.mo.gov, or Anna Persell, Crowder State Park superintendent, at anna.persell@dnr.mo.gov.

Event Weekend Contact Information:

To get more information during the weekend of the event, please contact the Crowder State Park office at 660-359-6473.

Additional Women in Nature Opportunities:

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