Conservator
July, 2021
Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation's
Go Wild For Conservation Event Dates Set!
Mark your calendars! The dates for the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation's (PCF) annual Go Wild For Conservation fundraising event is set for September 1st through September 9th. This year, we'll be providing the best of both worlds to our supporters by conducting a hybrid event featuring both online and in-person opportunities to give!

The online portion of the event will begin on Wednesday, September 1st and will conclude with an outdoor in-person event on Thursday, September 9th at the Plaza Courtyard in the MAC Entertainment District. The in-person event will feature several beer tastings paired with food from some of your favorite local restaurants.

Remember: Every dollar you give goes back to making Pottawattamie Conservation's parks and programs THE outdoor destinations for the people of Pottawattamie County and its surrounding communities.

Tickets will be going on sale soon so keep your eyes peeled for your opportunity to secure your spot at the event. Make sure to follow us on Facebook so you don't miss out.

If you've enjoyed any of Pottawattamie Conservation's parks, habitat areas, or educational programs this year, this is your opportunity to show your support. Mark your calendars today and we'll see you on the Wild Side!
Construction Coming to Hitchcock Nature Center Later this Month
During the past several years, and especially during 2020, traffic to Pottawattamie Conservation's Hitchcock Nature Center has increased significantly. Because of this, we've realized the need to improve upon and expand several aspects of the park's infrastructure to better accommodate increasing visitation. The project will be completed in several phases with the first phase beginning this summer. Some of the improvements will include front entrance and road widening, added parking, pedestrian footpaths near roadways, and an additional outdoor gathering space. All aspects of the project aim to improve safety, accessibility, and the overall park experience for our guests.

Starting the week of July 12th, construction crews will be onsite working to expand and reconfigure the front entrance, add parking along the main road, and modify and expand existing parking areas. We will also be modifying the front walkway to the Loess Hills Lodge.

Construction is expected to last several weeks and access to the park and the Loess Hills Lodge through the main entrance will be restricted at times. We will keep the public informed of potential park or road closures but keep in mind that it may be necessary to use the park's north entrance to access the park. Parking is limited near our north entrance, so please consider calling ahead before making the trip out to the park. Please check our Facebook page or website before heading over to Hitchcock between July 12th and the end of the month.

We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we work to make Hitchcock Nature Center a safer and more enjoyable place to visit!
Gardening for Diversity - A Hands-On Workshop is July 12th
During our first Gardening for Diversity class, we successfully installed a native wetland garden at Pottawattamie Conservation's Narrows River Park. Thanks to all of the amazing students in our first class, our wetland planting is now three months old! Join us for another installment of our Gardening for Diversity class where we'll focus on native garden management and seedling identification using our newly installed planting.

Class will be held at Narrows River Park on Monday July 12th at 6pm.

Anyone can learn more about designing & maintaining diverse native plantings in this hands-on program. So don't miss out, register today!
Wildlings Summer Camp Afternoon Sessions Now Available!
Due to tremendous popular demand, our Environmental Education Program has opened a second series of our Wildlings Summer Camps for kids ages 3 - 5!

The second set of Wildlings camps will be held August 2nd to the 6th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Each day's camp will feature a new and exciting topic chosen specifically to engage pre-Kindergarten minds and energy levels. Sign up for one or all of these incredible camps!
Welcome Kylie Gumpert to the
Pottawattamie Conservation Team!
We'd like to extend a special welcome to the newest member of the Pottawattamie Conservation team! Kylie Gumpert recently joined Pottawattamie Conservation as the Promotions & Outreach Coordinator and will manage communications and promotional support for parks, facilities, amenities and operations. Kylie has a background in journalism, marketing and service and is excited to learn more about conservation efforts and inspire our community to get involved. Welcome aboard, Kylie!
Upcoming Programs
Little Tike Hike at Hitchcock Nature Center
6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Daily
July 3rd - 12th
Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek
Young learners will experience nature first-hand during this self-guided hike full of fun at Hitchcock Nature Center. Read More ...
Little Tike Hike at Botna Bend Park
6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Daily
July 3rd - 31st
Botna Bend Park, Hancock
Young learners will experience nature first-hand during this self-guided hike full of fun at Botna Bend Park. Read More ...
Into the Wild
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
July 6th - 8th
Arrowhead Park, Neola
Older learners head out on the water for a canoe & camping excursion during this overnight adventure. Read More ...
Speaker Series: Loess Hills & Scenic Byway Art
7:00 p.m.
July 8th
Council Bluffs Public Library
Kathy will guide our exploration of Iowa's Loess Hills through art and storytelling using the lenses of archaeological, geological and fossil records! Read More ...
Butterfly Basics - Online Format
9:00 a.m. to Noon
July 1oth
Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek
Explore nature & philosophy during this immersive program perfect for anyone who loves the great outdoors. Read More ...
Gardening for Diversity - A Hands-On Workshop
6 p.m.
July 12th
Narrows River Park, Council Bluffs
Learn more about designing & maintaining diverse native plantings in this hands-on program. Read More ...
Wild Ones at Arrowhead Park
July 13th - 15th
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Arrowhead Park, Neola
Campers entering 1st & 2nd-grade head to Arrowhead Park for a close up look at aquatic habitats. Read More ...
Wild Seekers at Arrowhead Park
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
July 20th - 22nd
Arrowhead Park, Neola
Campers entering 3rd and 4th grade will continue to grow in their outdoor confidence as we tackle some new skills during this 3-day camp. Read More ...
July Hitch Hike
7:00 p.m.
July 20th
Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek
Wind your way through the woodlands on a guided hike at Hitchcock Nature Center. Read More ...
Wild Wanderers at Arrowhead Park
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
July 27th - 29th
Arrowhead Park, Neola
Campers entering 5th & 6th grade will continue to grow in their outdoor confidence as we work on advancing our skills during this 3-day camp. Read More ...