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!



At the Park
Opportunities for all children AND their
parent(s) or guardian(s):

All to be held in the Environmental Education Classroom at the Oakland Mills Nature Center unless otherwise noted.

 

                            2010 Animal Series

April 22nd, 2010– 6:30 p.m. PAVING THE WAY: The National Park-to-Park Highway details the story of twelve motorists who took a 5,000-mile epic road trip before there were gas stations and fully paved roads. In 1920, the inaugural tour of the Park-to-Park Highway connected all twelve National Parks in the American West. They promoted tourism to the Parks and better roads for motorists. During the early days of the automobile, when cars got stuck in the mud, they were still being towed out by horses, and gravity-fed fuel lines caused problems up steep grades. Only the rich could afford travel by train or by horse to the National Parks, but the 1920 inaugural tour (76 days) opened the door for the “everyman,” with his newly affordable automobile, to visit them as well. Producer Brandon Wade will be present for a question and answer session after the showing. Pre-registration is encouraged. FREE.


October, 2010 Date TBA 6-7:30 p.m. Night Hike theme Animal House. Short hike, or walk, begins at the Oakland Mills Nature Center.
Properly supervised groups welcome! A free program open to the public! Educational and fun– not scary. Kids must be accompanied by an adult but adults not need to be accompanied by a child. Groups will depart every ten minutes, with the last one leaving at 7:20 p.m. Reservations not necessary. Easy walk on solid surface. Kids can register for a prize. Must be present to win. Drawings will start at 6:15 p.m. and go every 15 minutes until prizes are gone. Contact the Conservation office for more information or e-mail Cari at
cburnstedt@henrycountyconservation.com. In the event of inclement weather, a rain date will be set. Listen to 105.5 F.M. KILJ for updates.


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, bats, Rockhounds, spiders, apples, deer, turkeys

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, 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, pioneer activities and crafts, canoeing- pond, wild edibles, outdoor survival, Ioway movie

Middle School: tree ID, leaf margins, fish, owls, biomes, 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

 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