This statewide program is sponsored by several Iowa organizations & county conservation boards and aims to inspire a love of nature in children age 6 to 18 by encouraging them to explore the great outdoors.
Participants are required to not only attend organized outdoor programming in their area they also need to embark on independent outdoor activities. Participants who complete the program and submit their record sheets will receive an Iowa Junior Naturalist Patch & a Certificate of Achievement recognizing their accomplishments.
Organized outdoor programming at your county parks occur monthly and include popular events like our Maple Tree Tap at Botna Bend Park coming up in March, or our series of monthly Hitch Hikes beginning in May at Hitchcock Nature Center. For a full calendar of events please visit our website.
Participants age 6 to 12 are asked to complete 2 independent outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, or birdwatching & have the activity documented by an adult. For participants age 13 to 18 one of these activities must be a formal volunteer commitment of 1 or more hours. Volunteer opportunities are available at your county park, please email rene.stroud@pottcounty-ia.gov for more information.
Participants can pick up a brochure with an activity log at locations across the state & at all of our Pottawattamie County Parks or you can download the brochure below.
Download the Iowa Junior Naturalist Brochure For More Information
The Iowa Junior Naturalist Program is sponsored by the following organizations:
Stay connected with Pottawattamie Conservation.
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