Calendar

All About Monarchs!

At Big Hollow Recreation Area's Hickory Shelter on Friday, September 6th, Des Moines County Conservation is all about Monarch Butterflies! During this program you will learn all about the beautiful Monarch Butterfly and what you can do to promote healthy habitat for this butterfly and other pollinators in Iowa. You will also have the opportunity to participate in citizen science by tagging Monarch Butterflies!

Every year, thousands of Monarch Butterflies migrate from the Midwest to overwinter in the Oyamel Fir Forests of Mexico. Citizen scientists east of the Rocky Mountains mark captured butterflies with special tags to identify individuals. When they arrive in Mexico the tags are retrieved, giving scientists valuable information to promote the conservation of this fascinating species.

Bring the whole family and come take part in this program at Big Hollow Recreation Area's Hickory Shelter! Call Starr's Cave Nature Center at 319-753-5808 to learn more about this free program!

Posted by: Conservation

Ribbon Cutting for Big Hollow Improvements

Join us as we officially cut the ribbon on the recent park improvements at Big Hollow Recreation Area including 18 new campsites and multiple ADA improvements throughout the park.

Ribbon cutting will take place at noon at the new campsites just west of the main RV campground.

Posted by: Conservation

Hike A Park - Oakland Mills

Des Moines County Conservation invites you to join us for a hike at Oakland Mills Park in Henry County on September 12th at 5:30 PM. We'll meet at the Oakland Mills Nature Center, located at 2593 Nature Center Drive, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641. The hike will be led by the Henry County Naturalist, who will be available to answer questions along the way.

This event is open to everyone, regardless of experience level—from beginners to seasoned hikers—and you’re welcome to leave the hike at any time. No registration or fee is required. Free carpooling is available; reserve your spot by calling 319-753-5808.

Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring layers, sun protection, and a water bottle. For more information, check out the Starr’s Cave Nature Center Facebook page or contact our Naturalist, Jacklyn, at 319-572-1508. We look forward to hitting the trails with you!

Posted by: Conservation

Monarch Catch and Tag

Join us for a hands-on event as we work to tag monarch butterflies during their incredible migration south! By tagging these butterflies, we contribute valuable data to help track their journey and support ongoing research.

We need your help to fill our tags! This event is all about catching and tagging monarchs—no prior experience needed. We'll provide nets and tags; all you need is your enthusiasm and a love for the outdoors.

Event Details:
- Location: Big Hollow Witte Observatory Parking Lot
- Date/Time: September 14th 10:30 AM - Noon
- What to Bring: Comfortable outdoor clothing, water, and a sense of adventure! Nets will be provided.

Come join us and help make a difference as we work together to tag as many monarchs as we can!

Posted by: Conservation

3D Archery Shoot Fundraiser for Flint River Archery Club

Whether you're looking to sharpen your archery skills for hunting season or simply enjoy shooting some foam, join us on September 15th, 2024, to help raise funds for Flint River Archery Club's youth archers! This 3D shoot is open to all ages and will feature 20 targets set along a wooded trail. Archers can choose to shoot one arrow per target (20 arrows) or upgrade for $5 more to shoot two arrows per target (40 arrows). All ages welcome!

3D Shoot Prices:
*Ages 13 & older: $10 for one arrow per target or $15 for two arrows per target.
*Ages 8-12: $5 for one arrow per target or $10 for two arrows per target.
*Ages 7 & under: Free!

Register to shoot anytime between 8 AM - 2 PM. This is a casual start 3D shoot, so archers can begin shooting the course anytime within this window and can shoot with whomever they like.
We'll have light concessions, door prizes, a fundraiser bake sale, and more! Come out and support our young archers while enjoying a fun day of shooting.
Registration table will be located next to the 300 meter shooting range. Follow the signs for the shooting ranges. 

Posted by: Conservation

Wild Game Feed

Join us for the Wild Game Feed, where you can clear out your freezer and make room for the upcoming hunting seasons! Bring your favorite wild game dish—whether it's chili, shish kabobs, sausage, jerky, potpies, or any other delicious creation. If you would like to attend , but do not have wild game meat that is ok! Call us and we can help. We'll have a firepit, Blackstone, and grills available for cooking.

Note: You can either bring your dish cooked or cook it here at the nature center. ( All food must be prepared for consumption)
Feel free to bring containers for leftovers.

This event is free, but please RSVP to ensure we have enough space for everyone.
 Call 319-753-5808 to RSVP.

We look forward to sharing a great meal and making space for new adventures!

Posted by: Conservation

Learn to Furharvest

Participants will learn basic strategies for trapping such as proper equipment, trap placement, trapping regulations and steps for preparing hides for trade.  Sessions will cover history of trapping in North America, wildlife identification, regulations and several demonstration stations. Register HERE.

Posted by: Conservation