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.
