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News & Blog: Environmental Education

Keep up-to-date with the latest news and blog entries from Pottawattamie Conservation! For even more news and updates, sign up for our e-Newsletter!

Outdoor Winter Activity Ideas for the Family

Are the kids starting to get cabin fever? The Pottawattamie Conservation Environmental Education team has you covered!

12/29/2023
Environmental Education Team
Environmental Education, Family Fun, Holidays, Winter

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Pottawattamie Conservation Now Hiring Summer Interns

We're looking to add some budding conservationists to our team this summer.

12/26/2023
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Conservation, Environmental Education, Land Management, News

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Valley of the Hawk

I learned a valuable lesson about humanity, hope, and stewardship from a Red-tailed Hawk, and think you can, too. Join me this holiday season in pushing the pause button and take a moment to reflect on how you interact with and appreciate the natural world around you.

11/29/2023
Dustin Clayton, Naturalist
Conservation, Environmental Education, Hitchcock Nature Center, Holidays

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Things to Look for with Your Little Tike: August

Learn how to help your little one engage with the outdoors with our monthly Little Tike Hike tips.

8/2/2023
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Environmental Education, Family Fun, Hiking, Summer

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Things to Look for with Your Little Tike: July

Learn how to help your little one engage with the outdoors with our monthly Little Tike Hike tips.

7/11/2023
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Environmental Education, Family Fun, Hiking, Summer

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What Is It Wednesday: Sunfish

Learn a little more about the fun and feisty sunfish from our summer Environmental Education Intern, Joseph.

7/5/2023
Environmental Education Intern, Joseph Goltl
Conservation, Environmental Education, Native Animals

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Things to Look for with Your Little Tike: June

Learn how to help your little one engage with the outdoors with our monthly Little Tike Hike tips.

6/12/2023
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Environmental Education, Family Fun, Hiking, Native Animals, Native Plants, Summer

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Randi Shares Her Experience As a Teacher Extern

We were so happy to host local Treynor educator Randi last summer for a teacher externship sponsored by STEM Iowa. Learn more about her experience:

5/24/2023
Randi Endriss, Talented and Gifted Instructor with Treynor Community School District
Conservation, Environmental Education, Land Management, Summer

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Volunteer Spotlight: Stephanie & Meika Make a Dynamic Duo

Join us as we shine a light on Pottawattamie Conservation volunteers to thank them for their time and talents and recognize the difference they make in our community. Our volunteers ROCK!

5/11/2023
Dana Kruse, Volunteer & Facilities Coordinator
Botna Bend Park, Environmental Education, Hitchcock Nature Center, Volunteering

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Do you doo(doo) your environmental doody?

Deer and other wildlife poop at your county parks and habitat areas, but your dog shouldn't. Here's why!

5/7/2023
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Conservation, Environmental Education, Health

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Shining Some Light on the Vanishing Night

It’s International Dark Sky Week! Let's reflect on our relationship with the dark and light pollution. Is it really that big of a deal?

4/19/2023
Amy Campagna, Environmental Education Coordinator
Environmental Education, Health

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Oh Dam, it's International Beaver Day!

Celebrate International Beaver Day by learning fun facts about this magnificent mammal with Pottawattamie Conservation's Environmental Education Coordinator, Amy.

4/7/2023
Amy Campagna, Environmental Education Coordinator
Conservation, Environmental Education, Spring

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Pottawattamie Conservation Now Hiring Summer Interns & Park Aides

We're looking to add some budding conservationists to our team this summer!

1/31/2023
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park, Conservation, Environmental Education, Habitat Areas, Hitchcock Nature Center, Land Management, Narrows River Park, News, Our Staff, Summer

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What Is It Wednesday: Sioux Quartzite

Learn about this ancient rock's origin and what kind of tools can be made out it with our Naturalist Dustin Clayton.

1/23/2023
Dustin Clayton, Naturalist
Environmental Education, Hitchcock Nature Center

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Winter Nights Woods Walking

If you haven't taken part in a winter nighttime hike before, 2023 is your year! Learn more about all of the beauty, wonder, and contemplation to be had underneath the starry winter sky from our newest Naturalist, Dustin:

1/5/2023
Dustin Clayton, Naturalist
Environmental Education, Healing Home, Hiking, Winter

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Burning Bridges

Sometimes burning bridges is just what the land doctor ordered! Learn about the benefits that growing season prescribed fire can provide and how it helps manage invasive species like sweet clover.

7/5/2022
Aric Ping, Natural Resource Technician
Conservation, Environmental Education, Land Management, Loess Hills

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Here are Iowa's Junior Duck Stamp winners

Conservation through the arts.

7/5/2022
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Conservation, Environmental Education

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Don't Miss Free, Family-Friendly Loess Hills Prairie Seminar Coming Up June 3rd-5th!

Families are invited to explore, learn, and relax in the heart of the Loess Hills.

5/24/2022
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Loess Hills, News

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Tri-Center High School Students Celebrate End of School Year By Planting Trees

Pottawattamie Conservation joined 30 students from Tri-Center High School in planting 14 trees on school grounds.

5/20/2022
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Conservation, Environmental Education, News

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Support Our Pollinator Friends at Butterflies & Beer on 5/17

Supporting native pollinators is more important than ever, which is why the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation is encouraging you to plant native plants like butterfly milkweed in your yards!

5/10/2022
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Conservation, Environmental Education, News

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In the News: Council Bluffs named Bee City USA for conservation efforts

Council Bluffs has joined more than 150 cities and towns across the country in being named a Bee City USA affiliate by the Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit organization.

5/5/2022
David Golbitz, The Daily Nonpareil
Conservation, Environmental Education, Native Plants, News

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What is a Land Ethic?

Join us for this year's "A Land Ethic Workshop" program series where you'll follow in the footsteps of praised conservationist and author Aldo Leopold and his "Land Ethic."

3/10/2022
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Conservation, Environmental Education, News

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Help Iowa DNR Track Frog and Toad Populations!

By joining the Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Program you can be a citizen scientist and help the DNR monitor amphibian species across the state.

3/8/2022
Stephanie Shepherd, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Conservation, Environmental Education, Training

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In the News: Walking the walk with nature lovers in the Loess Hills

Hitchcock Nature Center workshop evokes famed conservationists.

2/27/2022
Brent Weber, WOWT
Environmental Education, Hitchcock Nature Center, News

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Try These Eco-Friendly Habits In 2022

Here are some suggested sustainability actions for the New Year and beyond!

1/4/2022
Environmental Education Team
Conservation, Environmental Education, Zero Waste

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Getting to Know Kathy Fiscus Our July Speaker

Get to know our July speaker, Kathy Fiscus & get ready for "Loess Hills & Scenic Byway Art" on July 8th!

6/28/2021
with Kathy Fiscus
Conservation, Environmental Education, Loess Hills, Speaker Series

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Join us for a Hitch Hike this Summer

Want to learn more about the trails at Hitchcock Nature Center? Join us for a Hitch Hike this summer & get the guided experience.

4/29/2021
Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Family Fun, Hiking, Hitchcock Nature Center, Land Management, Loess Hills, Native Animals, Native Plants, Summer

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Getting to Know Benjamin Vogt

Pottawattamie Conservation is excited to announce the next Speaker Series program this May 13th. This online program is held in partnership with the Council Bluffs Public Library & supported by a grant from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

4/27/2021
with Benjamin Vogt
Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Native Plants, Speaker Series

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Thank You Volunteers!

It's Volunteer Appreciation Week! A huge thanks to all our volunteers for everything you do.

4/23/2021
Kate Simmons, Community Relations Coordinator
Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park, Conservation, Environmental Education, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Narrows River Park, Volunteering

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Litter Busters!

Learn the intrepid tale of the Dump Busters and continue the legacy by busting some litter at Hitchcock Nature Center for Earth Day!

4/16/2021
Rene Stroud, Naturalist
Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Family Fun, Green Thumbs, Hiking, Hitchcock Nature Center, Holidays, Land Management, Loess Hills, Native Animals, Native Plants, Our Staff, Spring, Volunteering, Zero Waste

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Fauna Feature: Eastern Cottontail

Get to know the Eastern Cottontail, Iowa's native rabbit!

4/2/2021
Conservation, Environmental Education, Native Animals

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Get Outdoors on a Little Tike Hike this April

Spring has sprung so get outdoors & enjoy some time in nature at Hitchcock Nature Center & Botna Bend Park during this special, self-guided event designed for our youngest nature lovers.

3/25/2021
Rene Stroud, Naturalist and Kate Simmons, Community Relations Coordinator
Botna Bend Park, Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Family Fun, Hiking, Hitchcock Nature Center, Homeschool, Spring, Summer

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Building Better Birders Workshops Coming March 25th!

Interested in improving your birding skills, learning more about common bird species, or joining in on community science projects in your area? Check out Building Better Birders!

3/4/2021
Bird Watching, Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Family Fun, HawkWatch, Hiking, Native Animals

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Monarchs, Apples & the Law

Thistles have an important part to play in the life of a monarch butterfly.

2/19/2021
Jeff Franco, Deputy Director
Conservation, Environmental Education, Habitat Areas, Land Management, Loess Hills, Native Animals, Native Plants

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Nature Documentaries for Wintertime Viewing

Want to bring the beauty of nature indoors this winter? We can help!

2/19/2021
Conservation, Environmental Education, Family Fun, Homeschool

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Explore the Rhythm of Nature with A Land Ethic Workshop in 2021

Anyone with a passion for the great outdoors is in for a treat with A Land Ethic Workshop.

2/16/2021
Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Land Management, Loess Hills, Native Animals, Native Plants

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Hardwater Fishing

Fishing can be fun all year long!

2/9/2021
Bob Hladik, Part Time Environmental Education Staff & Lifelong Fisherman
Arrowhead Park, Environmental Education, Habitat Areas, Native Animals, Winter

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Fun Facts for Groundhog Day

Get to know our favorite weather predicting mammal!

1/29/2021
Environmental Education, Holidays, Native Animals

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Get Ready for a Summer of Fun in 2021

Registration for our 2021 Summer Nature Camps will open on March 1st!

1/22/2021
Environmental Education, Events, Summer, Summer Camp

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Winter Fun at Your County Parks

Winter is a great time to explore your county parks. Here are some ideas to help you stay active all season long.

1/1/2021
Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park, Environmental Education, Family Fun, Hiking, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills, Winter

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