2014 Season Schedule of Events a publication of the Wapello County Conservation Board the future in our hands Observe

Habitat Sustain

Imagine

This brochure contains a list of events planned for the year 2014. Programs may be added, cancelled or changed throughout the year. Keep current by visiting the events section of our websites on a regular basis or subscribing to our online newsletters. You can also check our Facebook pages or call our offices with any questions you might have.

www.wapellocounty.org/conservation Wednesday, January 22. A costs, swarm removal, JANUARY minimum number of pre- honey flow, harvesting MARCH registrants must be met and much more. A chili Thursday, January 16 for this presentation to lunch is included in this Saturday, March 22 Winter Full Moon take place. workshop. There will also The Soil Food Web at Hike at Pioneer Ridge Ages: All FREE be a field day on May 10. Place TBD at Time TBD Nature Area at 8:30 PM Space is limited, and pre- Molly Haviland is the The full moon will rise registration is required. Director and Soil Food on January 16, and you FEBRUARY You can register by calling Web Advisor at the Living are invited to PRNA for Charles at 641-682-8333 Soil Lab at Maharishi a hike by the light of the Saturday, February 1 or 641-799-9266. University of Management. moon. We will explore the Basket Weaving at Ages: Adult She will introduce us to nocturnal life winter offers, PRNC from 10 - 2 Cost: $35; Alumni Free the cast of characters that and enjoy a hike around Therese Cummisky will make up the Soil Food the area. return to PRNC for another Saturday, February 8 Web (SFW). Molly will help Ages: All basket weaving workshop. Grant Wood’s Birthday us better understand the Therese will lead us Soup Smorgasbord at symbiotic relationship between plants and soil Saturday, January 25 through the process of the Eldon KD Center Lessons Learned making a melon basket. microorganisms, how from 11 AM - 1PM to establish a growing About Prairie at Lunch will be served for Join the American Pioneer Ridge Nature all attendees. Register environment that Gothic House Center as increases and maintains Center at 10:00 AM early to ensure your spot we celebrate the 123rd the SFW population and Bill Johnson will be at PRNC in this entertaining event. anniversary of Grant more. Pre-registration will to discuss reconstructing a All registrations must be Wood’s birth (officially be required one week prior prairie, producing prairie made by Friday, January24. on February 13). Enjoy to the presentation. Watch seed with the help of Space is limited. delicious home-cooked for more information after inmate labor, and will end Ages: All Cost: $15 soup straight from the the beginning of the year. the presentation with a kitchens of American Ages: Adult Cost: TBD slideshow of blooming Saturday, February 8 Gothic House Center prairie plants from spring Basic Beekeeping at volunteers! Complete the to fall. Through his 25 year PRNC from 9 AM - 4 PM meal and the celebration Saturday, March 29 career with the IA DNR, Bill Come out to PRNC for with a slice of birthday Birdhouse Building has planted hundreds of the Basic Beekeeping cake or a brownie and a Workshop at PRNA at acres of prairie, produced Workshop. Learn the mug of hot coffee. 9:00 AM seed for thousands of acres basics of how to get Free will donations Dress for the weather and of prairie, and has learned started in the beekeeping accepted. join us to build a robin much along the way. Pre- business. The workshop nesting platform. We will registration is required by will cover C.C.D., start up learn about this common backyard bird, and we will build a place for it to build a nest in your back yard. Why rely on those online nest cameras when you can have your very own to watch at home? Ages: Families Cost: $7 per kit

Page 2 APRIL will leave with a whole new Tuesday, April 22 will host the class and perspective when you look Earth Day Celebration guide the students in their through your camera as creations. Pre-registration Friday, April 4 Exhibit at PRNA at Time TBD well as a cheat-sheet card It is Earth Day! Join us at is required, and class is Opening: Fruits by to stick in your camera bag. Pioneer Ridge Nature Area limited to 15 participants. Grant Wood at AGHC Pre-registration is required for a celebration of the Ages: K-6 Cost: $9 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM by March 31. world that provides us life. In his last few years of work, Ages: Young Adult to Learn how we use various Saturday, May 10 Grant Wood turned his Adult natural resources and help Youth Field Day at focus to the print medium. Cost: $15 per person us beautify our natural Ottumwa IKES Fruits is an important piece areas. Activities will be from 8 AM - 4 PM of this work. The AGHC Sunday, April 6 determined at a later date. The annual Youth Field is pleased to display this Lecture Series: Ages: All Day is back! Join us as we work as part of the Center’s “Regionalist Art participate in this annual permanent collection. During the Great spring event. Participants View the work and learn MAY will enjoy many outdoor about the history behind Depression” at Eldon activities throughout the this series of lithographs Library Hall at 2:00 PM Thursday, May 1 day lead by qualified and and its relationship to the Join us as Mark McWhorter, Wildflower Walk at knowledgeable individuals Great Depression. director of the Indian Hills Garrison Rock at 5 PM Art Gallery, discusses the from many environmental Acquisition of the work Spring is here, and implications the Great organizations. Come out was made possible with the spring ephemeral Depression had on the to see what we have to funding from Ottumwa wildflowers are in bloom. Regionalist art community. offer this year. Watch your Regional Legacy Join us for an evening hike Several works from the child’s backpack this spring Foundation, City of Eldon, at Garrison Rock Wildlife IHCC collection will be on for a registration form and and John Deere Ottumwa Area. Learn how to identify display, including works more information. Works. some of the common by Grant Wood. Ages: 8 - 17 Cost: $10 Ages: All spring, woodland flowers, Cost: Free and tour one of the Saturday, May 17 Saturday, April 5 most unique areas in our P h o t o g r a p h y Saturday, April 19 county. Wild Edibles Workshop Workshop at PRNA at Easter Egg Roll at Ages: All at PRNA from 10 AM - TBD our “White House” at 2 PM Matt Wetrich, professional AGHC from 1 - 3 PM Saturday, May 3 Mike Krebill is very skilled photographer, will be with Join us for our annual Egg Wildflower Pastel Class in the identification and us at PRNC to show us Roll! A popular tradition at AGHC from 1 - 2 PM preparation of wild edibles. Mike will lead this full day how to produce photos at the White House, this Celebrate May Day with a workshop with indoor more like those you see event will be sure to please! stroll through the Center’s and outdoor activities. Be in magazines. The type of Spring themed crafts and wildflower gardens! involved in the collection camera is not all there is activities to accompany Students will learn about and cooking of some to it. This is your chance the event. Sponsored the flowers and create their common spring edible to become the nature by the American Gothic own with pastel chalk. plants. A minimum of 10 photographer you have House Center and GATE. Local artist Chris Abigt always wanted to be and Ages: Children Cost: Free pre-registrants must be produce a picture worthy met for this event to take of winning the annual place, and space is limited. photo contest. We will Pre-registration is required take a look at what makes by Friday, May 9. attractive compositions, Ages: All lighting, subject matter, Cost: $10 per person or equipment and more! You $20 per family Page 3 Thursday, May 22 have access to necessary Entry forms can be printed Thursday, June 26 Garden Bites I at PRNA materials. on the AGHC website or Fishing Camp at from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Ages: 3 and 4 with adult picked up at the AGHC. Sycamore Pond from This is the first of our Cost: $5 per child Sponsored by GATE. 10 AM to 1 PM Garden Bites Series with Ages: Kindergarten - Adult Join us for our first fishing Iowa State University Fri.-Sun., June 6 - 8 camp. We will spend the Extension. During each American Gothic Days! Sunday, June 8 day learning about fishing session, we will spend time American Gothic techniques, gear, and more. in the garden to see what Saturday, June 7 Bike Ride at AGHC at We will learn to clean and is in season and harvesting American Gothic 5K 7:30 AM (registration prepare a fish for cooking, what we need for our Walk / Run at AGHC at begins at 6:30 AM) and we will eat our catch meal. Then we will prepare 7:30 AM (registration Bicyclists, get ready to for lunch. Pre-registration and eat a meal made with begins at 6:30 AM) celebrate American Gothic is required. those fresh ingredients. Challenge yourself on the Days with a scenic ride Ages: 10 - 15 years Next we will participate annul American Gothic 5K through the land of Grant Cost: $5 in a post-meal outdoor, walk/run! The route goes Wood! The event ends with family-friendly activity. through Eldon, along the pizza and refreshments Thursday, June 26 Enjoy some time with your Des Moines River, taking in front of the American Garden Bites II at family while preparing a the trail through the park Gothic House. Entry forms PRNA from 5 - 8 PM meal together and learning and traveling up one final can be printed on the Session two is here, and some gardening tips and hill to the famous American AGHC website or picked we hope to have beans, outdoor activities. Gothic House. Awards for up at the AGHC. Call cabbage and some greens Ages: All Cost: $5/person top finishers! Entry forms 641-652-3352 for more avaialble for our meal or $20/family can be printed at www. information. tonight. Bring the family AmericanGothicHouse.net Ages: All (ages 16 and under out, and we will try to JUNE or picked up at the AGHC. must be accompanied by an catch some fish to add to Call 641-652-3352 for more adult) our meal. Ages: All Cost: $5/person Tuesday, June 3 information. Ages: All (ages 16 and under or $20/family Toddler Camp: Saturday, June 21 must be accompanied by Camouflage at PRNA Des Moines River an adult) at 10 AM Canoe Float at 9 AM JULY Let’s explore how Summer is a beautiful Sat.-Sun., June 7 - 8 time on the Des Moines animals blend in with the Tuesday, July 1 American Gothic River. We would like to environment, and how Toddler Camp: Ants at this helps them survive. House Art Contest at invite you, your family AGHC: entries due and your friends on a PRNA at 10 AM We will use books, hands We will make our way out June 3 by 5 PM relaxing canoe float. This on activities, and outdoor to some very large ant Join regional artists in float is weather and water activities to dig deeper into hills at Pioneer Ridge, and celebrating the beauty of level dependant. We will this topic. Come dressed we will learn how these the house that inspired float from Ottumwa to for outdoor and off trail animals live. Participants Grant Wood to paint Cliffland Access. Register activities. Pre-register to will also experiment with American Gothic! Enter by June 13 to ensure ensure all participants what ants like to eat. your artwork in one of our canoes are available for Ages: 3 and 4 with adult five divisions to win a cash all participants. Please Cost: $5 per child prize for first or second register even if you are place in your division. bringing your own canoe There are no entry fees, and or kayak. artists using any media, Ages: All (Ages 16 and under excluding photography, must be accompanied by are invited to participate. an adult) Cost: $5 per person Page 4 Thursday, July 17 Youth Evening Camp at PRNA from 7 - 10 PM Spend a summer evening exploring Pioneer Ridge Nature Area. We will explore on and off the trails to see what nature has to offer. We will also use the telescope and binoculars to view and learn about the night sky. Ages: 5 - 12years Cost: $5 AUGUST SEPTEMBER dinner. If you would like to Wednesday, July 22 attend in support of these Youth Canoe Camp at volunteers and all they Tuesday, August 5 Monday, Sept. 15 do for the community, PRNA from 9 AM - 12 Toddler Camp: Water Photo Contest Entry please RSVP to the AGHC PM and 1 - 4 PM Wonders at PRNA at 10 Deadline by 4 PM by e-mail or phone. Bring Spend some time learning AM The “Beauty of Nature” a dish to share. proper canoe technique Water is a very important photo contest is back again. Ages: All and safety. We will learn part of our world. We will We hope you attended the how to properly prepare use hands on activities to photography workshop in September TBD for time on the water, how find out what makes water April and have even more Monarch Tagging at to maneuver the canoe, so special. Come dressed excellent photos to share PRNA at Time TBD and how to rescue others this year. Enter your photos to get a little wet and The fall migration has when they are in trouble. free in one of the following dirty. dwindled in the past few At the end of the day, you categories: Landscape, Ages: 3 & 4 with adult years, but we hope it will will be prepared to head People and Nature, Wildlife, Cost: $5 per child take place again this year. out on the river with your Plants. You can enter up to We will keep an eye on the family for our fall canoe 2 in each category. Photos Saturday, August 16 migration of the monarch float. Pre-register by July must be 8x10’ and matted. Fall Canoe Float butterflies, and we will 20. Space is limited. All photos will be on at 9 AM choose a date and time we Ages: 10 - 15 display at PRNC. The first The Wapello and Mahaska believe will have the most Cost: $5 week they will be available CCB’s will be joining up potential for catching and for viewing and for public again this fall for a fall tagging many monarchs. Thursday, July 24 voting. Judging will take canoe float on the Des Ages: All Garden Bites III at Moines River. Look for place the following week. PRNA from 6-9 PM location as August nears. This is the last in the Garden Ages: All (ages 16 Sat., September 27 Bites series. Tomatoes, and under must be AGHC Volunteer peppers, corn, beans and accompanied by an Appreciation Potluck much more should be at AGHC at 5 - 6:30 PM ready to add to our family adult) Cost: $5 per person The AGHC would like to meal. Stick around for thank all of its volunteers some fun and educational for donating thousands outdoor activities. of hours of their time Ages: All Cost: $5/person each year! The Center or $20/family shows its appreciation with an annual potluck

Page 5 October November 7. A minimum number of Friday, December 19 pre-registratnts must be Christmas Bird Count Fri-Sat., October 10-11 Sunday, November 9 met for this workshop to in Wapello County Halloween Hikes at Lecture Series: “Iowa take place and space is Now in it’s 115th year, the limited. Register early to PRNA at 6-8 PM History in a Cloth Bag” Christmas Bird Count is the ensure your place in this The Halloween Hikes are at Eldon Library Hall at longest running wildlife workshop. survey conducted. We will back, and better than 1:00 PM Ages: All Cost: $15 be counting birds all day in ever! At the time of this This presentation explains an attempt to find as many publication, the theme has how cloth bags and the species as we can within not yet been set. Watch revolutionary idea of December our count circle. Everyone our website and news marketing to women is welcome to join in the outlets as October nears helped Iowans survive the Saturday, December 6 count by counting at home to see what great theme Great Depression and the Gothic Gingerbread or joining us on the drive we will have to offer this shortages of World War House Building at through the count circle. year. We will begin taking II. Flour sacks, feed sacks AGHC from 1-4 PM Give us a call if you would reservations on Monday, and seed sacks will tell the Join in a great holiday like more information or September 30. Register story from relief work by tradition for the family! would like to participate. early to ensure a specific Herbert Hoover to clothes Arrive early to create your No need to be a bird expert hike time. and quilts in the 1950’s. own gingerbread house to help out. Ages: All Ages: All Cost: Free made out of graham Ages: All Cost: $3 per person; ages 3 crackers, frosting and and under free Saturday, Nov. 15 candy while supplies last. Soap Making Ages: Children Cost: Free Year Round Saturday, October 25 Workshop at PRNC Children’s Gothic from 10:00 AM - 2:00 Thurs., December 11 Fourth Monday of Each Halloween Party PM My Travels to Spain at Month Fly-Tiers Club at AGHC at 2-4 PM It is time again for our fall PRNC from 5 - 8 PM at PRNC at 6:30 PM Celebrate Halloween in crafting workshop. This In 2013, Annette Wittrock If you enjoy fly-fishing front of the American year we will be trying our travelled to Spain to and tying your own flies, Gothic House! Arrive hand at making soap. participate in the bull this may be just the group dressed in your costume, Chelsea Ewen will lead run and explore the for you. These tiers get make your own spooky us through the steps of countryside. Come hear together once a month to American Gothic parody, making our very own soap about this fun adventure share stories and tie flies. make fun crafts, play to take home. This is a great with the help of a slide Come see what it is all games and enjoy delicious way to spend time with show and some videos. about. All are welcome! treats. family and/or friends, try Maybe you will be inspired Free! Ages: PreK - 5th (small something new, and have to travel to Spain yourself. children should be accompanied something to take home Ages: All by an adult) with you. Pre-registration is required by November Page 6 JANUARY January July JULY S M T W T F S 16 - Winter Hike 1 - Toddler Camp S M T W T F S 1 2 2 4 25 - Prairie 17 - Youth Evening 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Presentation Camp 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 February 22 - Youth Canoe 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 - Basket Weaving Camp 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 26 27 28 29 30 31 8 - Basic Beekeeping 24 - Garden Bites 27 28 29 30 31 FEBRUARY 8 - Wood’s Birthday August AUGUST S M T W T F S Soup Supper 5 - Toddler Camp S M T W T F S 1 March 16 - Fall Canoe Float 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 22 - Soils Workshop September 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 29 - Birdhouse 15 - Photo Contest 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Building Workshop Submission 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 24 25 26 27 28 April Deadline 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 MARCH 4 - Exhibit Opening 27 - AGHC Volunteer 31 5 - Photography Potluck S M T W T F S SEPTEMBER Workshop TBD - Monarch 1 S M T W T F S 6 - Lecture Series Tagging 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 19 - Easter Egg Roll October 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 - Earth Day 10 - 11 - Halloween 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Celebration Hikes 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 30 31 May 25: Children’s Gothic 28 29 30 1 - Spring Wildflower Halloween Party APRIL OCTOBER Hike November S M T W T F S 3 - Wildflower Pastels 9 - Lecture Series S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 10 - Youth Field Day 15 - Soap Making 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 17 - Wild Edibles Workshop 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 22 - Garden Bites December 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 June 6 - Gingerbread 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31 3 - Toddler Camp Houses MAY 6 - 8 - American 11 - Spain NOVEMBER S M T W T F S Gothic Days - Eldon 19 - Christmas Bird S M T W T F S 1 2 3 7 - American Gothic Count 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5K Walk / Run Year-Round 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 7 - 8 - American Fly-Tying Club 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Gothic House Art 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 HOLIDAYS 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Contest 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 JUNE Wapello County 30 8 - American Gothic Conservation Board S M T W T F S Bike Ride Events DECEMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 21 - Canoe Float American Gothic House S M T W T F S 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 26 - Youth Fishing Center Events 1 2 3 4 5 6 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Camp WCCB Board Meeting 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 26 - Garden Bites AGHC Board Meeting 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 29 30 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Page 7 Wapello County Conservation Board 1339 Highway 63 Bloomfield, IA 52537-8017 641/682-3091 phone 641/683-4621 fax [email protected] www.wapellocounty.org/conservation

Nature Center Hours Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Park Hours Open Daily: 6:30 AM - 10:30 PM

Front Cover Photos Top Row (L-R): Junco, Nature Center Middle Row (L-R): Indian Paintbrush, ButterfliZ of Or Current Resident Iowa, Bloodroot Bottom Row (L-R): Camping Cabin

Inside Photos (front to back) Prairie, Student Pond Study, Young Snapping Turtle Canoe Float Participants, Monarch With Tag, Swans

For more information, contact Pioneer Ridge Nature Center 1339 Highway 63 Bloomfield, Iowa 52537

Phone: (641) 682-3091

Staff WCCB AGHC Kurt Baker – Director Paul Totten – Conservation Technician Board Members Board Members Annette Wittrock – Naturalist Jeff Layton Kurt Baker Frank Boyer - Natural Resource Marsha Parker Donna Jeffrey Manager Sam Rodgers Sam Rodgers Randy Halbur - Maintenance Technician John Utter Steve Siegel Holly Berg – AGHC Administrator Angella Cartwright Jane Powell

www.wapellocounty.org/conservation