Hamilton County Conservation Activities

Hamilton Co. Conservation Board Webpage

There is no cost for these events. To register or to obtain more information, please contact the Hamilton County Conservation Board office at 515-832-9570 or email hccblaird@wmtel.net
Listen to KQWC 95.7 FM for changes and cancellations.

Click on the above link to see more details of the events listed below.
 

Tick Tip:  EASY TICK REMOVAL
This is great, because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.

Thanks to Gail A. Kantak - Iowa DNR Fire Supervisor - Forestry Bureau for this helpful tip!

 Poneer Cemetery Program
Date:              Wednesday, June 19, 2012
Location:       Boe Cemetery, Section 36 Ellsworth Township
Time:              6:30 pm

Directions: Travel west on Long Street/County Road D65

                    Turn left onto 1^st Street / Straight onto Tollman Ave.

                    Straight onto Christytown Road / County Road R61  

Area residents are invited to rub noses (and stones) with residents of South Hamilton’s past. In an effort to establish a pioneer cemetery commission, Hamilton County Supervisor Doug Bailey, Hamilton County S.E.E.D. Director Catherine Bergman, and Hamilton County Conservation Environmental Education Coordinator John Laird have put a program together to introduce local residents to the incredible history our area has to offer.  Local students will introduce guests to several “residents” of the cemetery. John Laird will lead the group in a stone rubbing activity to help decipher stones that are difficult to read, and Catherine Bergman will introduce one way to clean stones. For more information contact Catherine Bergman at 515-832-9575 or hamcseed@wmtel.

Campfire and Dutch Oven Cooking
Date:              Saturday, June 9, 2012
Location:       Little Wall Lake Boathouse shelter area
Time:              4:00 to 5:00 pm
Have you ever wanted to cook over a campfire or with a Dutch oven? Enjoy this hands on program as you learn the basics of campfire cooking with foil wraps, pie cookers, Dutch ovens, cast iron pans and grilling over an open fire. Lyle Jennings a Dutch oven hobbyist and camper along with John Laird of Hamilton County Conservation will share the basics of cooking over a campfire. Share recipes and enjoy food samples. Bring your own Dutch oven and cookware along if you choose. Register at 515-832-9570 or email hccblaird@wmtel.net if you have any questions.

Summer Stars and Constellations
Date: Saturday, July 7, 2012
Location: Beach Amphitheater, Briggs Woods Park
Time: 9:00 pm-11:00 pm

Explore the universe as we use Astronomy basics to observe star constellations, planets, and orbiting satellites. Bring your binoculars and curiosity to enjoy the sky observation event. Free Star Finders will be provided to those who attend. This program is for all ages. Meet at beach amphitheater for a presentation and star observation following. Dress appropriately for outdoor observation. For more information call 515-832-9570 or email at hccblaird@wmtel.net

Boone River Cleanup
Date:              Saturday, August 11, 2012
Location:       Bell’s Mill Park, Open Picnic Shelter
Time:              7:00 am to 1:00 pm
What to Bring:  Sunscreen, water, bug spray, shovel, gloves, and canoes.

This year we will be targeting the 5.2 miles of the river from Bell's Mill Park to Boone Forks. This is being coordinated by Hamilton County Conservation, Hamilton County ISU Extension and the City of Webster City. Shuttle will be provided back to Bell’s Mill.  Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt. Canoes will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Children under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Parents must sign a waiver and medical information for all youth under 18. All volunteers must abide by IA DNR boating laws. No alcohol consumption is allowed. There are a limited number of canoes available for this event so people are encouraged to bring a canoe if they own one. Any questions should be directed to John Laird, county naturalist at 515-832-9570 or email hccblaird@wmtel.net.

Settler’s Day Celebration/Fundraiser Meal

Date:               Saturday, September 22, 2012
Location:        Bell’s Mill Park
Time: 2-5pm  Pioneer Celebration Events

            2-5pm Self guided and naturalist tour of historic buildings.

                        Visit with buck skinners.

             2-3pm Pioneer Games & Activities

            (potato sack races, apple bob, sling shot shoot, pastor plunge, others)

             2pm & 4pm Guided tour of log cabin, schoolhouse, and gristmill site.
Meal: 5-7 pm   Bell’s Mill Park Project Fundraiser Meal at the picnic shelter.

           5-7 pm   Music by (Blue Grass Band)

Come and celebrate the settling of Hamilton County by visiting with a buck skinner, touring a pioneer log cabin, school house, and the Bell’s Mill gristmill site.  The Boone River is popular today for recreation but area settlers used its power for grinding grain. Any questions should be directed to John Laird, Hamilton County Naturalist at 515-832-9570 or email hccblaird@wmtel.net.

Bats of Iowa: Myth vs. Reality

Date:              Saturday, September 22, 2012
Location:       Bell’s Mill Park, Open Picnic Shelter
Time:             9:00-10:30pm

Join us as we explore the amazing world of bats as we sort out myth from reality. We will observe bats in the park after the presentation. Free bat house plans will be available for those attending. This public program for people of all ages who enjoy bats. Donations are welcome to support the Naturalist program.

Autumn Night Hike

Survival at Brigg’s Woods Park

Date:         Saturday, October 20, 2012
Location:   Briggs Woods Park
Meal:         6:00 to 7:00 pm - sponsored by Foster’s Funeral Home & Cremation.

Hike:      7:00 to 8:30 pm

Register:   515-832-9570 or hccblaird@wmtel.net

►    Come and explore the survival techniques used animals in the park.  There will be stations on camouflage, winter survival, moles, and coyotes.

►    Park at the Briggs Woods Park beach parking lot and walk the bike trail to Shelter 2 for the meal. The hike will start every 10 minutes starting at 7:00 pm, with a maximum of 25 people per group, and will last approximately 1 hour.

►    The program will be presented by Hamilton County Conservation and volunteers. The program is for all who enjoy a hike at night and all ages are welcome.

        Donations taken in will support the Naturalist Program.

►    So that we can plan food, we ask that you register by calling the Hamilton County Conservation office at 515-832-9570 or emailing us at hccblaird@wmtel.net. This is a nonalcoholic family event.

Owls of Iowa & Owl Prowl Hike
Date: Saturday, November 3, 2012
Location:       Conservation Office, Briggs Woods Park
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Join us for a presentation on the owls of Iowa and a night hike following. Learn about Iowa's different owl species and their importance to our environment. We will discuss their night time adaptations and listen to their calls. Follow us on a hike in the dark and try our best to call in some owls.  Contact us at 515-832-9570 or email hccblaird@wmtel.net to register or for any questions.

Ice Age Animals of Iowa
Date:       Saturday, December 8, 2012
Location: Briggs Woods Park - south of Webster City 
Time:     2:00 to 3:30 pm

►    Wonder what animals were in Hamilton County during the Ice Age?

►    What would it be like to hunt a wooly mammoth with an atlatl?

►    Come discover the Ice Age past of Hamilton County.

►    All ages welcome.