From left: Alex Bell, a junior from Columbia, Illinois, studying zoology with a specialization in wildlife biology; Hannah Judge, a junior from Burbank majoring in university studies; and John O'Connell, a Ph.D. candidate in zoology from Miami, research wetland availability Feb. 12 off Illinois Route 3 near Gale, Illinois. O'Connell said the research is done in an effort to see how much of what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service define as wetlands is actually available to different migratory bird species such as waterfowl, shore birds, wading birds and water birds.

Justin Allen hikes while his son Theodore Allen, 11 months, sleeps on Trillium Trail during a session of “Backpacking Baby,” a group that meets every month to hike with their babies, April 3 in Giant City State Park in southern Illinois. Nicole Allen, Justin’s wife and Theodore’s mother, said she hikes with Theodore on a regular basis. She started the group of hikers in January. “I wasn’t really seeing a lot of baby hikers so I wanted create an environment where people felt encouraged to bring their kids to play outside,” Nicole said. She said the group has seen a big increase in numbers since the first hike. “The main goal of the program is to encourage families to explore and enjoy nature together,” Nicole said. “Nature is the perfect learning and therapeutic environment for children especially.”

Ellen Vonderheide of Jasper, looked through harvested hops to clear excess debris Aug. 15 at the Hoffman family farm along the White River near Haysville, Indiana. Ellen, whose mother used to live in the house on the Hoffman farm, said she is the fourth generation of her family to use the land.

Front three classmates from left: Robin Harbison of Cape Girardeau, Colette Banda of Jackson and Cristina Welker of Jackson take part in a riverfront yoga class while the American Queen is docked Aug. 3 along the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Tanner Mendoza, 17, of Cape Girardeau goes fishing May 27 at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. Mendoza said he tries to go fishing every day. "It's one of my favorite hobbies, that and football," Mendoza said. He said fishing is a stress reliever for him and something he's been doing more during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Connor Bullock, 17, son of River Ridge Winery co-owners Denise Bullock and Rob Bullock, puts a load of Norton grapes in a container during picking Oct. 1 in a vineyard of River Ridge Winery in Commerce, Missouri. “Basically you put your heart and soul into the whole thing and then you hope your heart and soul tastes like good wine,” Rob said.

Yellowjackets seen on a Norton grape during picking Oct. 1 in a vineyard of River Ridge Winery in Commerce, Missouri.

Sunset on the Missouri River near Columbia, Missouri.

As beads of sweat formed on his face, Sam Johnson of Portersville picked tame blackberries with the assistance of his wife of nearly 25 years, Stacey Johnson, on July 6 outside their Portersville home in Indiana. Sam said tame blackberries, as opposed to wild blackberries, don’t have thorns and get significantly larger. Stacey said they grow things like corn, squash, onions, tomatoes, peppers and oregano in their garden. “We’ve got a little bit of everything,” Sam said. “I just can this stuff and we just eat on it all year.”

Dalton Marshall of Jonesboro starts making his way around a trail while riding with a group of cyclists Wednesday, Dec. 19 at Bono Lake in northeast Arkansas.

Kennedy Baker, 7, of Goreville, rides Dauber with the assistance of Dallas Broeker, a senior from Chadron, Nebraska, studying nursing, during a session of Specialized Equine Services and Therapeutic Riding on May 1 at Giant City Stables in Makanda, Illinois. The session marked the second time Baker was able to ride a horse without the assistance of another rider to support her. “It’s like when you first see your kid making the first two steps by herself,” said Santiago Tomas, barn manager at the stables who typically rides with Baker. “It kind of gives you pride.”

James Parris of Dexter, Missouri, floats in the water after the final scuba dive he needed to become a certified open water diver July 21 at Mermet Springs in Massac County, Illinois.

Preston Turney, 8, of Manila, runs his hand through Ranger's mane during an equine assisted therapy session at Diego Ranch on Oct. 3 off Arkansas Highway 91 West near Jonesboro.

Machu Picchu scene in the Andes Mountains of Peru.

David Dugan of Charleston, Missouri, speaks on the phone with Ashley Freese of St. Louis, Missouri, who was about the join the hammocking group of Southeast Missouri State University students including Harley Allen of Dexter, Missouri, (middle) and Ashton Hopper of Cape Girardeau (in background) on March 3 at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. "It's beautiful out here," Dugan said. "It's really peaceful to come out here and just enjoy nature, enjoy God's creation."

Fall leaves Oct. 15 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.