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The atmosphere inside the Nature Center at the Martha Lafite
Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty, Missouri, can be so peaceful
you may find, on a cold or rainy day, that you have grabbed a
conservation magazine from the proffered stack and settled
comfortably into the armchair between the fireplace and large
picture window instead of heading out the door for that brisk hike
you had planned. The immediate view from where you sit is of the
deck with its birdfeeders, while the view stretching beyond that is
of the sanctuary itself. Both views are liable to increase your
chair time. If after awhile, however, a short stretch is in order, a
walk through the Center's gift shop and exhibits will do the trick.
There are t-shirts and books to buy, stuffed specimens to imagine
alive, and the contents of an owl pellet to examine. A poster
identifying North American birds is a handy reference for later
armchair birdwatching.
Eventually, though, the sanctuary will entice you outdoors. And
it is the opportunity to enjoy nature that has, of course, brought
you to the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in the first
place. There are several trails to choose from, and the manner in
which they cross, join and loop back on each other gives you plenty
of opportunity to meander through the estate Martha left upon her
death in 1975 to become both a private sanctuary for wildlife and a
place to learn about and appreciate the natural world. The trails
take you through young and mature forest, through tallgrass prairie,
and along Rush Creek. For the disabled, there is a trail leading
from accessible parking to the Scenic Overlook Platform. Take a copy
of the sanctuary's Bird Checklist with you and be observant. Listen
to the wind and inhale the scents. You will discover that it is even
more peaceful outdoors than it was inside the Nature Center.
Perhaps by now you have become enamored of the Matha Lafite
Thompson Nature Sanctuary and wish to donate your time and expertise
to this non-profit organization. The sanctuary has several annual
special events whose success depends on volunteers. These include
the Fairy Tale Forest fundraiser in October, the Elves' Workshop in
December and the Antioch Garage Sale in January. Volunteers also
provide support during program offerings, help maintain the
property, care for and feed animals housed inside the Nature Center,
and help fold The Sanctuary newsletter. If becoming a volunteer is
not your cup of tea or you live too far away, you can still help by
becoming a member of Friends of the Sanctuary (for which you will
receive their newsletter).
To support its mission of providing environmental education to
the public and a positive outdoor experience for children, the
sanctuary (which has formed an educational partnership with the
Liberty School District) offers programs for preschoolers to adults.
For children, there are the sanctuary's award-winning field trips
with names such as Sensory Safari and Nature's Harvest, scouting
programs that include earning badges, and EGADS (Earth Guardians
Adventure Days) summer camp. The sanctuary also hosts nature theme
birthday parties for children. For adults, programs include
birdwatching field trips, craft workshops, and family EGADS.
The Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is located at 407
North Lafrenz Road in Liberty, Missouri. The Nature Center is open
Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1
p.m. to 5 p.m. Sanctuary hours are from 8:30 a.m. to sunset. For
more information, visit the sanctuary's web site at http://www.mltns.com
or call 816-781-8598.
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