Jones Co. | Whitewater Canyon

Whitewater Canyon 29913 9th Avenue Bernard, IA 52032

About the Park Whitewater Canyon park is one of only three true canyons in the State of Iowa, located between Dubuque, Jackson, and Jones county. The rocks of the canyon date back 450 million years, back to when Iowa was under the ocean. The park is home to multiple rare plants and animals located in many different natural communities. This is a 419-acre park with something for everyone. In warm weather there are multiple scenic hiking trails, wildlife watching, floating in canoes or kayaks. In the winter, the park offers an area for snowshoes and cross-county skiing. This is one park you don’t want to miss while exploring Iowa.

Pollinator Coloring Page Pollination is important because it leads to the production of fruits for us to eat and seeds that will create more plants. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds play a large role in the pollinating of the plant. They visit flowers to drink nectar or feed on pollen and then transfer the pollen with them when they move to a new flower. Use the pollinator coloring page to color your own pollinators and learn more about pollinators around you. Ages: 4-11 Recommended Time: 20 minutes Suggested Hike: Overlook Trail, Lost Canyon Trail, and Land Bridge Trail Materials: Printed pollinator coloring page (included in this document), your choice of coloring utensil, and hard writing surface

Instructions:

1. Print off pollinator coloring page

2. Visit Whitewater Canyon and find a quiet place in the prairie to color the pollinators you see.

Pollinators

Pollinators are essential to creating and maintaning ecosystems that many animals rely on for food and shelter.

Pollination is very important part of the life cycle of plants and they cannot produce fruit or seeds unless they are pollinated.

1/3 of all the food we eat relies on pollinators and 90% of global crops are visited by bees

Water Quality Jar Activity Rivers, streams, and creeks are all water ecosystems. For a river ecosystem to be happy and healthy, it’s important to have plants, light, bacteria, good temperature, good water chemistry, and animals such as snails, clams, insects and more. They all work together to make it a healthy ecosystem. Sometimes pollution like chemicals, sewage waste, and garbage get into waterways. This makes the water poisonous for aquatic animals and plants. With this activity you can compare the water quality of Whitewater canyon and a water source near your home. Grades: 1-6 Recommended Time: 15-25 minutes Suggested Hike: Lost Canyon Trail Materials: A clear container (example: jar)

Instructions: 1. Use the clear container to scoop up water from the dam or small creeks running through Lost Canyon trail, examine the water. Pour the water back into the source.

2. Repeat but by your home in a pond, puddle, etc., examine the water. Pour the water back into source.

3. Compare the water examples to each together. Look for differences in the water.

4. What do you see? Do you see bugs swimming around? Do you see soil in the water? What color is it? It is cloudy or clear? Which jar of water do you think is healthier?

Cave Count Grades: All Recommended Time: 90 minutes Suggested Hike: Valley of 13 Caves Materials: Camera (optional)

Instructions: Located on the Valley of 13 Caves trail are multiple caves, concaved rock walls, and large chunks of dolomite. This is a beauty that can only be found in the far corner of Northeast Iowa in Whitewater Canyon. Hike through the canyon and look for all 13 caves. Take pictures of your favorite caves, post them to social media, and tag us @waterrocksisu. We would love to see your adventures at Whitewater Canyon Park!

The Water Rocks! County Park Adventure Series was produced by Iowa State University students participating in the 2020 Water Resources Internship Program. Water Rocks! is an award-winning statewide youth water education campaign based at Iowa State University. Through a combination of STEM and the arts, Water Rocks! challenges and inspires all Iowans towards a greater appreciation of our water resources. Key partners of Water Rocks! include: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (United States Environmental Protection Agency, Section 319 of the Clean Water Act), Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and personal gifts of support.