April showers bring May flowers, indeed. Come visit us soon to see what's popping up at a Pottawattamie Conservation park near you. Also, campground water is on and shower houses are officially open—so claim a site and camp with us, too!
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Pictured above (left to right): Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum), Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), Common Blue and Canadian White Violet (Viola Sororia and Viola canadensis), Prairie Dandelion (Nothocalais cuspidata), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). |
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Butterflies & Beer is May 17th
A Do Good Days fundraiser for the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation
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May 17th | 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | Full Fledged Brewing Company |
Do you like beer? How about butterflies? Then join us at Full Fledged Brewing Company and enjoy delicious local brews while supporting native pollinators and conservation efforts in Pottawattamie County!
- 5% of beer sales will be donated to the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation.
- Milkweed plants (as supplies last) are FREE to anyone willing to give them water, sunshine & love.
- Raspberry Raptor Stout will be made available for this event!
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Say Hello to these Bovine Beauties |
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We recently welcomed a herd of South Poll cattle from Little Mountain Ranch and Garden in Fort Calhoun, NE that will be helping to restore prairie and combat invasive species like smooth brome at Hitchcock Nature Center.
Learn more about why these important workers are here from one of our Natural Resource Technicians (and Conservation Comedian), Aric Ping, below:
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Cattle: A Double-edged Sward...
Hay, this may be udderly presumptuous, but I imagine you're wondering why cattle are at Hitchcock. Well, they're here to work, but don't tell them that! They think they've been brought to a prairie buffet to do whatever be-hooves them. And that's ...
Read more
www.pottconservation.com
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Volunteer Spotlight: Jake AKA "Zoolander" |
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Similar to how a ski resort has patrollers who assist skiers, Jake is part of a team that patrols the trails of Hitchcock Nature Center and helps injured or lost hikers, provides speedy medical support when needed, conducts prescribed burns, does trail maintenance, and more. Once, he even rescued a poor pup from exhaustion!
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Hitch Hikes Are Back
Explore McIntosh Pioneer Cemetery at Hitchcock Nature Center
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Join us for the first hike of our 2022 Hitch Hike series on May 17th at 7:00 pm.! This is a special guided hike through a section of the Loess Hills that is only accessible with a Pottawattamie Conservation staff member.
Your journey will begin with a walk along a Loess Hills ridge top through the scenic prairie to reach the McIntosh Pioneer Cemetery, founded in 1874. Along the way, you'll learn more about the plants, animals, and history of the prairie and enjoy the spring wildflowers including blue-eyed grass, puccoons, and locoweed.
Free with park entry fee or a park membership.
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Interested in Birding? 🐦
Join us for upcoming educational programs with Nic Salick.
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Learn how to identify nocturnal Common Nighthawks (pictured) and Eastern Whip-poor-wills, known as nightjars, and learn about their unique habits during Night Out with Nightjars on Saturday, May 14th! $10 per person. Ages 12+.
Or join us for Beginning Birding on Sunday, May 15th and develop your bird identification skills through using field marks, build a basic knowledge of helpful terminology, and learn binocular tips and tricks. Great for individuals with no or limited experience with birding. $15 per person. Ages 12+.
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Little Tike Hike
Free with park entry | All ages; Best for ages 3 to 5
Enjoy sights & sounds along the trail as you spot activities along your route that are designed to help learners ages 3 to 5 experience nature in a new way. While it is designed for young learners, any age can learn something new and have fun, too!
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The Merry Month of May: Part 1 | With Dustin Clayton
Hitchcock Nature Center | Saturday, May 7th | 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$12 per person | Ages 16+
So much happens during the month of May when we nearly go from spring to the summer season in the course of one month! Because of all these amazing changes taking place, Dustin Clayton will be leading two programs this month where you'll look deeply at the plethora of folklore and myth associated with this busy month as the forest fills up with life, color, and sound.
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Gardening for Diversity: Garden Prep & Groundwork
Hitchcock Nature Center | Wednesday, May 11th | 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
$15 per person | Ages 14+
Help us enhance an area at HNC with a native pollinator garden! We will turn a lawn grass ditch into a beautiful and beneficial native plant community. During this last workshop, we will discuss how to space and layout plants, and give you plenty of chances to learn how to plant plugs and get a close-up look at each species.
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Night Out with Nightjars | With Nic Salick
Hitchcock Nature Center | Saturday, May 14th | 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
$10 per person | Ages 12+
Join us at Hitchcock Nature Center for a presentation and trail walk with local birder Nic Salick that focuses on the nocturnal birds known as nightjars.
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Beginning Birding | With Nic Salick
Hitchcock Nature Center | Sunday, May 15th | 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
$15 per person | Ages 12+
New to birding? Here's the program for you! Join us on Migratory Bird Day and learn the ins and outs of bird identification, terminology, and more.
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May Hitch Hike | McIntosh Pioneer Cemetery
Hitchcock Nature Center | Tuesday, May 17th | 7:00 p.m.
Free with park entry or membership | All Ages
Join us for the first hike of our 2022 Hitch Hike series! This is a special guided hike through a section of the Loess Hills that is not open to the public and only accessible with a Pottawattamie Conservation staff member. Your journey will begin with a walk along a Loess Hills ridge top through the scenic prairie to reach the McIntosh Pioneer Cemetery, founded in 1874.
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A Land Ethic Workshop: Morels, Fungi & Lichen
Hitchcock Nature Center | Saturday, May 21st | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
$15 per person | Ages 14+
Program participants will enjoy a full morning of instruction & learning led by celebrated educator Ron Cisar, including:
- Common mushroom, fungi, & lichen identification study
- A discussion of fungal structure & adaptations
- A look at tern & plover conservation efforts
- A reading & discussion of Aldo Leopold's essay "Back from the Argentine"
- May Nature Calendar (phenology)
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Insect Club: Hearing & Sound Production
Hitchcock Nature Center | Thursday, May 26th | 6:30 p.m.
Free with park entry or membership | Ages 14+
Hitchcock Insect Club is a grassroots club made up of local individuals who are passionate about bugs, and they want YOU to join in the fun! Join them May 26th for Insect Hearing and Sound Production with Dr. Ted Burk, Professor of Entomology at Creighton University, and learn about how insects communicate.
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The Merry Month of May: Part 2 | With Dustin Clayton
Hitchcock Nature Center | Saturday, May 28th | 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$12 per person | Ages 16+
So much happens during the month of May when we nearly go from spring to the summer season in the course of one month! Because of all these amazing changes taking place, Dustin Clayton will be leading two programs this month where you'll look deeply at the plethora of folklore and myth associated with this busy month as the forest fills up with life, color, and sound.
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Loess Hills Prairie Seminar: Breaking Dormancy
Loess Hills Prairie Seminar Campground | Castana, IA
Friday, June 3rd through Sunday, June 5th | Various times
Free | All Ages
Join Monona County Conservation for a free, family-friendly weekend of hands-on learning, activities, and sessions with conservation partners to explore and experience the Loess Hills!
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Summer Camps for Students Grades 5th through 9th
We love helping students connect with the natural world around them. One of the best ways to do it? Good, old-fashioned summer camp! We still have a few summer camp openings for middle and high school students, so don't miss out on the fun. Details below.
Wild Wanderers (for students entering 5th and 6th grade)
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day | $75 per student
Includes archery lessons, advanced shelter building, and iconic games. Campers at Hitchcock Nature Center will also learn to build their own fire, and campers at Arrowhead will practice their canoe skills on the lake.
Arrowhead Park & Botna Bend Park (locations subject to change)
Tuesday, June 28th to Thursday, June 30th | $100 per student
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on June 28th | Overnight on the 29th
Campers will get a chance to put all their outdoor skills to use during this paddling adventure where they will build canoeing skills, learn about water safety, and embark on an adventure down the West Nishnabotna River Water Trail and camp overnight.
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Subscribe to the UNleashCB Bulletin to keep up-to-date with upcoming events in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County. Every Thursday, you'll receive a list of events happening that week, from concerts to family-friendly activities to community events and more! |
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Stay in the loop. Click on an individual park below to learn more or follow its Facebook page.
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