Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center — Attraction in Joplin

Quite elaborate for a small town interpretive center. The center itself has decent displays for mammals, reptiles, fish, birds, trees, and the glade and river ecosystem, including a nice aquarium with many native fish and several small terrariums for the reptiles. In addition to the typical help desk and free brochures, it has a well stocked gift shop. Several bird feeders lie just outside a viewing area where you can sit and watch the songbirds feeds.

The surrounding grounds include a pollinator garden, a well maintained glade habitat, two creeks (Silver and Shoal), rock formations, and a spring that feeds into Shoal Creek. Several trails lead from the interpretive center to the all of these sites. The trails are extensive enough to where you can get log a decent walk, plus they connect to a longer...

The interpretation center is open--yay!! Masks are required. The center itself has a few live specimen of creatures local to the area and an active bird feeder out back bustling with little bird life.

Loads of printed literature on Missouri geography and a four mile loop along the Shoals Creek was worth the visit. The creek was flooding but the trails...

A very beautiful area to walk and explore. It has a conservation center to buy souvenirs you can buy and snakes, turtles, fish and spiders to look at plus information for the kiddos. It also has swimming, a bridge, and a small boat dock I think for canoes etc please double check. Also before I forget they've also added a new area for kids...