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News & Blog: Our Staff

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!

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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Prairie High Tide

Iowa is speckled with tide pools of prairie. Pool to pool, reconnecting these stubborn droplets of prairie is one of the most important things the Pottawattamie Conservation Natural Areas Management department does. Learn why:

11/30/2022
Aric Ping, Natural Resource Technician
Conservation, Healing Home, Hitchcock Nature Center, Our Staff

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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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Board of Supervisors Appoints Mathiasen to Pottawattamie County Conservation Board

Join us in welcoming the newest member of the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board.

1/13/2021
Conservation, News, Our Staff

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Get to Know: Earl Johnson, Hawk Counter

Autumn at Hitchcock Nature Center brings the return of our Hitchcock HawkWatch team. This year we are welcoming back Earl Johnson as our lead HawkWatch Counter.

10/13/2020
Bird Watching, Conservation, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills, Native Animals, News, Our Staff

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Get to Know: Amy Campagna, Environmental Education Coordinator

We are delighted to announce that our Environmental Education team is growing! We would like to welcome our new teammate, Amy Campagna, & introduce you to this terrific educator. Amy will be taking on the daunting task of assisting our Naturalists in presenting educational programming as well as assisting in program development, overseeing the department schedules, and so much more. We are so excited to have her on board and look forward to all the experience she brings with her.

10/30/2019
Our Staff, Conservation

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Get to Know: Erin Scott, Hawk Counter

It is autumn again at Hitchcock Nature Center & while that may mean slowing down for other parks in our area it means a whole new flurry of activity for our staff & guests with the return of the Hitchcock HawkWatch. Each year from September 1st through the end of December our observation tower is staffed daily by a team of volunteer raptor enthusiasts, the HawkWatchers, headed by their fearless leader, the seasonal Hawk Counter.  This team spends the fall scanning the skies of the Missouri River Valley spotting and cataloging migrating raptors such as hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls. 

10/10/2019
HawkWatch, Bird Watching, Hitchcock Nature Center, Our Staff, Native Animals, Conservation, Autumn

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Welcome Environmental Education Interns!

Joining our Environmental Education team this summer are two terrific interns. We are so happy to have them here assisting with summer camps, public programming, & the day to day operations of our department. Make sure & look for them the next time you are at the parks!

6/20/2019
Our Staff

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Loess Hills Cooperative Burn Week 2019

This spring 81 participants from 34 agencies and organizations took part in the Loess Hills Cooperative Burn Week April 29th - May 3rd.

6/19/2019
Our Staff, Land Management, Conservation, Loess Hills

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Environmental Education Day-Hire Opportunities

Do you have a background in education? Are you looking for a way to share that your love of science & nature? Want to get outdoors? Then the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board (PCCB) is looking for you! Our Environmental Education Department is looking for current or former teachers interested in staying active in childhood education by assisting our naturalists with field trip programming this spring as a day-hire employee!

4/16/2019
Our Staff, Training, Hitchcock Nature Center

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Fire Refresher Training: March 19th

Prior to Euro-American settlement, fire was a regular occurrence throughout the Great Plains and helped to maintain the health of our natural systems.  In the modern age, land managers utilizing fire must be proficient and thus must train regularly. 

3/5/2019
Our Staff, Training, Land Management, Hitchcock Nature Center, Events

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Get to Know: Michelle Biodrowski, Naturalist

Pottawattamie County Conservation is excited to introduce you to the newest member of our Environmental Education Department, Michelle Biodrowski. Michelle is taking on the title of Naturalist for our county and will not only be assisting with all types of different programs she will also be designing & creating new adult education opportunities for area residents. Get to know the newest member of the team and make sure to say hello the next time you see her at one of your county parks.

10/31/2018
Our Staff, Native Animals, Conservation

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Get to Know: Bethany Thornton, Hawk Counter

Every autumn the observation tower at Hitchcock Nature Center becomes a hub of activity with the return of our annual HawkWatch. This seasonal project begins September 1st & continues through the week of the Christmas Holiday and is an amazing research project that we are proud to be a part of.  During the HawkWatch a team comprised of volunteers and a seasonal full time supervisor scan the skies of the Missouri River Valley spotting and cataloging migrating raptors such as hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls.

9/28/2018
HawkWatch, Bird Watching, Hitchcock Nature Center, Our Staff, Native Animals, Conservation

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Rocky Visits Hitchcock Nature Center

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System, four special dogs, the Lewis and Clark Pups, will travel in the paws of their ancestor Seaman, dog of Meriwether Lewis. The pups will travel more than 3,700 miles to complete their mission to commemorate and protect the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. As they make their stops they will be reporting back in on their adventures.

4/23/2018
Hitchcock Nature Center, Our Staff

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