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“Don't wait until the fourth Thursday in November,
to sit with family and friends to give thanks.
Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!”
— Charmaine J. Forde
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Don't Miss Bison Fest this Saturday
Join us at Botna Bend Park for family-friendly fun, activities, and food.
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In honor of National Bison Day, come visit our bison herd out at Botna Bend Park and learn more about this magnificent species and the conservation efforts that help protect them.
- November 5th
- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Botna Bend Park
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Try your hand at atlatl throwing and flint knapping, learn how to spin bison wool, hop on a hay rack ride, inspect bison artifacts, enjoy live music from Ron Cisar and bison chili from Feed Trough, make fun bison crafts, get tips for finding fossils, and learn about bison's symbiotic relationship with the prairie!
FREE with a $3 per vehicle entry or annual park membership.
This event will be held rain 🌧️ or shine 🌞.
Thank you to Feed Trough for providing bison chili, soup, fries and funnel cakes - all for a recommended free will donation. Please make sure you bring a few extra dollars (cash) to thank them for their generosity and support local business!
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Join us for Mt. Crescent's Job Fair this Weekend
Join the coolest team in town by applying for an open position today.
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Mt. Crescent Ski Area Lodge | Saturday, November 5th | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 60 open positions to fill | |
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Applicants will have the opportunity to pursue roles in several areas including food and beverage support, guest services, maintenance, and the rental shop. Age requirements for positions vary from ages 14 to 18+. Background checks and drug screens will be included as part of the hiring process.
You can view open positions online today at www.pottcounty-ia.gov/jobs.
- Kitchen Staff Team Lead (Age 18+)
- Kitchen Staff Team Member (Ages 14+)
- Cleaning & Support Team Member (Ages 14+)
- Front Office Manager (Age 18+)
- Hospitality & Guest Services (Ages 14+)
- Ticket Agent(Ages 14+)
- Snowmaking Team Lead (Age 18+)
- Snowmaking Team Member (Ages 18+)
- Chair Lift Operator (Ages 18+)
- Rental Shop Manager (Age 18+)
- Rental Shop Team Lead (Age 18+)
- Rental Shop Team Member (Ages 14+)
Applicants will need to bring a photo ID and social security card. Those under 18 will need to come with a parent/guardian.
Job perks include free ski/snowboarding, free rentals, and discounts on food.
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Winter is Coming (Even though it doesn't quite feel like it!)
See below for the latest park & campground updates.
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Arrowhead Park: Campgrounds are currently open and ready for your fall camping adventures. The shower house is also open and will remain open until freezing temperatures are consistent throughout the day and overnight. Please check the park website or Facebook page for updates.
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Botna Bend Park: The North and Middle campgrounds are currently open and ready for your fall camping adventures. Restrooms, the dump station, and the shower house are also open. Please check the park website or Facebook page for updates.
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Hitchcock Nature Center: Please call the campground office at 712-328-5833 to see if water is still available. Campground water will be turned off and the shower house will be officially closed on November 14th, if not earlier due to cold weather. Winter RV camping rates will decrease to $20/night starting the second week of November. Please check the park website or Facebook page for updates.
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Mt. Crescent Ski Area: The start of the season will depend on mother nature and our ability to make snow. The planned opening date for 2022 is Saturday, December 17th or even as early as December 10th depending on weather conditions. Check our winter hours schedule here.
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Did you know we recently expanded our snowmaking pond? Learn more about why this is exciting!
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Narrows River Park: The park is officially closed for the winter season as of November 1st. We'll see you for riverside fun in April 2023!
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Old Town Park: Eight new campsites have been added to Old Town Park and are officially open for your fall camping adventures. Sites are $20 per night and have electric hookups. There are three water hydrants in the campground area and another hydrant behind the restrooms. There is no dump station. Please abide by registration, regulation, and fee signs, and most of all—have fun!
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Save the date for Giving Tuesday 2022
How will you pay it forward on Giving Tuesday this year?
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#GivingTuesday712 is coming up on November 29th! This community-wide giving day is all about supporting your favorite nonprofits like the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation (PCF). | |
Donations to the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation ensure every school in the county receives a free field trip to a county park every year and supports education programs, park improvements, and land acquisitions for public use. | |
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Make your gift go even further starting November 21st thanks to a 20% match from the Community Foundation for Western Iowa! See below for ways you can take advantage of this generous match:
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Donate directly through the Community Foundation's platform
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Donate through the SHARE Iowa platform.
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To receive the match donors must give by clicking the "Donate to Endowment" button.
- Call Kelly Dix at the Community Foundation to make your gift(s) over the phone, and mention your intent for the 20% match: 712-256-7007 ext. 10
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Plan your next holiday gathering with Pottawattamie Conservation | If you're starting to think about where you should host that holiday party this year and looking for unique and affordable options for your group, then here's your sign! Pottawattamie Conservation parks offer full lodge rentals, room rentals, and cabin stays for you and yours to have a truly special experience this season. | | | |
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Little Tike Hike
Hitchcock Nature Center | November 5th through 13th during park hours
Botna Bend Park | through November 30th during park hours
Free with park entry | All ages; Best for ages 3 to 5
This is the last Little Tike Hike of the year until March 2023!
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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Mt. Crescent Job Fair
Mt. Crescent Ski Area | Saturday, November 5th | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Ages 14+ | Applicants under 18 must come with a parent/guardian
LEARN MORE
Join the Mt. Cresent Ski Area crew this winter! Swing by our job fair and put your hat in the ring for nearly 60 open seasonal positions. Applicants will have the opportunity to pursue roles in several areas including food/beverage support, guest services, maintenance, and the rental shop. Must bring photo ID and social security card.
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Bison Fest at Botna Bend
Botna Bend Park | Saturday, November 5th | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Free with $3/vehicle park entry or annual membership| All ages
LEARN MORE
In honor of National Bison Day, come visit our bison herd out at Botna Bend Park and learn more about this magnificent species and the conservation efforts that help protect them. Join us for family-friendly activities including atlatl throwing, bison wool spinning, fossil finding tips, learn about the bison's relationship with the prairie with Scott Moats of the Nature Conservancy of Iowa, hayrack rides, flint knapping, live music with Ron Cisar, bison crafts, and bison chili from local vendor Food Trough.
This event will be held rain or shine.
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Full Moon Hike
Hitchcock Nature Center | Tuesday, November 8th | 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
$5 per person | Ages 5+ due to dark, uneven terrain
JOIN WAITLIST
Join us for this Full Moon Hike, explore the night with your senses and learn what it takes for the creatures of the night to survive.
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Homeschool in the Hills | Seasonal Survival: Fall
Hitchcock Nature Center | Wednesday, November 9th
Morning| 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon| 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
$4 per child | Free for ages 3 and under | Designed for K—5
REGISTER FOR MORNING SESSION
REGISTER FOR AFTERNOON SESSION
Be a detective and discover some of the tricks and tactics plants and animals use to survive fall. Could you survive living outside throughout the fall? What survival secrets can we learn from the natural world around us?
PLEASE NOTE: Homeschool in the Hills programs are designed for accompanied children. All registrants must come with an accompanying adult. Thank you!
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A Land Ethic Workshop: Nature's Recyclers
Hitchcock Nature Center | Saturday, November 12th | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
$15 per person | Ages 14+
JOIN THE WAITLIST
Program participants will enjoy a full morning of instruction & learning led by celebrated educator Ron Cisar, including:
- The process of nature's annual decomposition
- The organisms responsible for breaking down organic matter in nature
- Continued nature journaling practice
- A reading & discussion of Aldo Leopold's essay "Odyssey" & "A Mighty Fortress"
- Identifying Trees in Winter
- November Nature Calendar (phenology)
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HitchSOCKS
Hitchcock Nature Center | Saturday, October 12th | 9:00 a.m.
Free with $5/vehicle park entry or annual membership| All ages
LEARN MORE
Sponsored by HOKA, HitchSOCKS is a give-back event supporting the Open Door Mission through much-needed sock, underwear, and running shoe donations. Bring new men's socks, new men's underwear, or gently used running shoes to donate to the Open Door Mission and enjoy guided hiking and running park tours, including:
- Demo HOKA trail running and hiking shoes
- Enter to win Pottawattamie Conservation park passes, sponsored by Peak Challenge
- Enter to win awesome HOKA raffle items
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Autumn's End Hike
Hitchcock Nature Center | Sunday, November 12th | 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
$12 per person | Ages 16+
LEARN MORE
As the last of the leaves fall and the summer plants dry to brown and gold, hike the hills and valleys with Dustin Clayton while engaging in contemplative acknowledgment of the shifting of the season. Talk about the bounty of the year past and discuss techniques for keeping attuned to the living world throughout the winter months.
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The Hitchcock Experience Endurance Run
Hitchcock Nature Center | Saturday, December 10th to Sunday, December 11th
Pricing varies per race
LEARN MORE
Hitchcock Nature Center is proud to host another amazing Hitchcock Experience Endurance Run, presented by the Greater Omaha Area Trail-Runnerz. Runners will descend upon the park on December 10th and 11th to take part in either a half marathon, 101K, 50-mile, or 100-mile endurance run through the picturesque Loess Hills.
Trails and facilities at Hitchcock Nature Center will be open to the public for the duration of this event. Visitors are welcome to cheer runners on as they cross the finish line or tackle another hill. We do ask that anyone enjoying our trails please move to the side to give approaching racers the right of way. Thank you for understanding.
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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! | |
Stay in the loop. Click on an individual park below to learn more or follow its Facebook page.
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