The Henry County Conservation Department will offer summer youth programs - learn all about them here!


  Youth Programs/Camps

Youth Programs 2009-2010



Live Raptor program Live raptor programs

NEW! Red-tailed hawks!


Summer Youth Programs 2010

The Henry County Conservation Department will offer summer youth programs. Camps will be available on a first come-first serve basis. All children going into 1st grade and under must be accompanied by an adult. Some programs may be a bit advanced for younger children– see camp descriptions for details. Programs will be geared toward school aged children. Pre-registration is required and all fees are due at least two weeks prior to the start of the program. All programs will begin and end at the Oakland Mills Nature Center. Camps will be held outdoors rain or shine. Dress accordingly. Avoid sandals.

Download a registration form here!

July 23rd- 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Introduction to Canoeing. Learn the basics of pond/lake canoeing, safety, basic strokes, and hop the Nature Center bus to go canoeing at Lake Geode. Return by 2:30 p.m. BRING YOUR LUNCH, bug spray, swimsuit, and life jacket if you have one you prefer. Canoes/equipment will be provided. Participants must have completed 4th grade and parents will be required to sign a waiver. $12 Limit 12.  CLICK HERE FOR PARENTAL CONSTENT FORM FULL

July 27th 10:00-11:30 a.m. LIVE Raptors! Come for a morning of live raptors! Learn characteristics of Iowa birds of prey and see HCCD’s gray phase screech owls. Plan is to introduce the red-tailed hawks to the program as well. Properly supervised groups welcome. All ages. Pre-registration is required one week in advance. FREE. Limit 50.

July 29th- 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Advanced Canoeing. Only for those who have already taken Intro to Canoeing with the HCCD staff on Lake Geode. Plan to return by 2:30 p.m. BRING YOUR LUNCH, bug spray, swimsuit, and life jacket if you have one you prefer. Canoes/equipment will be provided. This will be a river trip– location to be determined. Participants must have completed 5th grade and parents will be required to sign a waiver. $12 Limit 12.CLICK HERE FOR PARENTAL CONSTENT FORM


CONSERVATION CAMP 2011

DATES TO BE DETERMINED

Join the Friends of Conservation in Henry County as they team up with Whitetails Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Henry County Conservation Department to provide a three day camp for youth interested in hunting. For more details contact Linn Hunsaker at 319-931-1184.



BE AN IOWA JUNIOR NATURALIST!
Participation in this program is new to the Henry County Conservation Department. The Iowa Junior Naturalist program is a wonderful opportunity for children ages 6-12 to experience environmental education programs, outdoor recreation, and our natural resources. This program encourages children to attend programs offered by local county conservation departments, Iowa Department of Natural Resources state park units, local libraries, nature centers, YMCA camps, 4-H, or any other program with a nature theme. In addition, participants will be encouraged to work on independent activities. When all requirements are completed, participants will receive an official Iowa Junior Naturalist patch and certificate of achievement. Patches will be different each year. Contact Naturalist Cari Burnstedt for more information at cburnstedt@henrycountyconseration.com.



Environmental Education

The Henry County Conservation Department has a Naturalist available for your organization, group, or classroom free of charge. Call for an appointment. Programs given at Oakland Mills Nature Center, in school classrooms, or at other facilities. We now have a constellation board in the Oakland Mills Nature Center Environmental Education Classroom ceiling, a bird viewing area on-site, and live owls for presentations!

Cari Burnstedt, Naturalist

Office: 319-986-5067 Cell: 319-931-2942

E-mail: cburnstedt@henrycountyconservation.com

Program ideas for all ages include, but are not limited to:

live owls, raptors, a specific animal, ecosystems, food chains, geology, Native Americans, pioneer activities and crafts, dutch oven cooking, coral reef, Alaska/Denali Park, area history, weather, plant parts, tracks, predators, birds, campfires, planets/stars, compass, trees, leaves, weeds, poisonous plants, wild edibles, energy conservation, renewable resources, pond study, pollution prevention, wildlife, habitats, adaptations, prairies, fishing, wetlands, night creatures, outdoor photography, nesting boxes, endangered species, insect study, survival skills, groundwater protection, hazardous waste, recycling, Leave No Trace, and wildflowers.

 Programs already prepared for school groups are:

(* These programs are more effective at Oakland Mills Nature Center.)

 Kindergarten: eggs, Iowa mammals, animal locomotion

1st grade: teeth/skulls, recycling, birds, bears, hibernation, *seeds, shells, solar system, frogs & toads, gardens/nutrition, bats, Rockhounds, spiders, apples, deer, turkeys, plants- The Grand Old Tree, The Mitten, Iowa habitats

2nd grade: clouds, *insects, bees, moths and butterflies, sound, Diary of a Worm and related activities

3rd grade: water cycle, geology, food chains, *habitats, prairie, adaptations, The Lorax and related activities

4th grade: solar system, body systems, rainforest, leaves, *constellations, animal tracks, snails, The Great Kapok Tree and related activities

5th grade: vertebrates/invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, endangered species, *pond study (good for invertebrates), watersheds, bison and the Native Americans, basic compass, GPS, pioneer activities and crafts, canoeing- pond, wild edibles, outdoor survival, Ioway movie

Middle School: tree ID, leaf margins, fish, owls, biomes, plate tectonics and the Earth's Interior, water pollution and watersheds, wetlands, wildlife management, *bobcat/native cats, orienteering and GPS, beaver trade, recycling- Agatha’s Feather Bed, Windows on the Wild- illegal wildlife trade, Five Kingdoms of Life, Global Warming is Global, Arctic Adaptations and Global Impacts, What’s that Smell?- air pollution, Caught in the Act, Mystery of the Living Rock (Note: The latter programs include language arts and social studies curricula. There are others available which also center around illegal animal trade.)

High School or College: prairies, career choices, observation/creative writing, canoeing, hiking, wildlife management, watersheds and water monitoring

 Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout programs are also available. Rank specific and badges.

 
 
             

Water Works Park

Shelterhouse

Ross Observation Tower

White Tailed Buck