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.
Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Clinic
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2013
Location: Conservation Office, Briggs Woods Park
Time: 2:00 to 4:30 pm Ski and Snowshoe Clinic
4:30 to 5:30 pm Potluck afterwards
This clinic is for all ages of people who just love snow. Come and learn the basics of snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The clinic will break into two groups. John Laird, naturalist, will lead the snowshoe clinic. Volunteers Sonna Neumeister, Barb Law, and Judy Hartnett will lead the cross country ski program. There will be a potluck meal following the clinic, so please bring something to share if you plan to stay for the potluck. Free will donations will be accepted for the purchase of ski equipment and new snowshoes for the Hamilton County Conservation Board. The number of skis and snowshoes is limited, so please call the office at 515-832-9570 to register or email hccb@wmtel.net. Along with your name we will need your height, shoe size and a phone number.
Introduction to Ice Fishing
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2013
Location: Conservation Office, Brigg’s Woods Park
Time: 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Join us for this introduction to ice fishing workshop. All ages are welcome to come and try your luck at ice fishing. A limited number of ice fishing poles are available so reserve a spot by calling the office at 515-832-9570 or email us at hccblaird@wmtel.net. Feel free to bring your own ice fishing equipment. Free will donations will be taken at the program to support the Naturalist program.
Jewels of the Underground
Date:Saturday, March 2, 2013
Location: Conservation Office, Briggs Woods Park
Time:2:00 to 3:00 pm
Come and discover karst and what is unique about these fragile geological areas of Iowa. How do humans impact these areas and why is it important to protect them. Find out where most of Iowa’s caves are located and what type of rock they form in. See how most caves were formed by water and later explored by humans. Explore a tight crawling space and learn what types of caving equipment you would need to go caving. Join our county naturalist in this presentation for all ages.
Bison and Prairie Seed Dispersal: Restoring Ecosystem Functions in Reconstructed Tall grass Prairie
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2013
Location: Conservation Office, Brigg’s Woods Park
Time: 3:00 to 4:00 pm
We’ll explore the natural history of the bison in the eastern tall grass prairie and see how the loss of these mega-herbivores has impacted the ecology of our remaining tall grass prairies. Pete Eyheralde has been involved in bison ranching in southern Iowa for the past 17 years and is currently a PhD student at ISU. He is exploring the role of bison as seed dispersal agents in the tall grass prairies. He’ll share findings from research being done in Iowa and how this information may lead to new techniques for grassland management, increasing biodiversity in our prairie reconstructions.
Night Eyes / Night Hike
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013
Location: Amphitheater at Brigg’s Woods Park
Time: 9:00 to 10:30
What is needed to see in the dark by animals outside at night? Join us in at the amphitheater for a short presentation and night hike following. We will discuss eye biology; look for bats, owls, deer, raccoons, and other nocturnal animals. We will attempt to call some owls and look for animal tracks as we hike the park trails. Come enjoy the sights and sounds of the night and feel free to bring a flashlight. Red covers will be available for your flashlight. This program is for all ages.
Pioneer Cemetery Program
Date: Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
Location: Homer Cemetery, 1314 290th Street, Webster Township
Time: 6:30 pm
Directions:Travel just east of what used to be the town of Homer on D-46 or 290th street. Park along the roadside of the cemetery and join the group.
Area residents are invited to rub noses (and stones) with residents of Hamilton past. Volunteers of the 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. Come and see the incredible history our area settlers have to tell. Local students will introduce you 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 22, 2013
Location: Little Wall Lake Boathouse circle drive area
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 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.netif you have any questions.
Introduction to Geocaching
Date:Saturday, July 13, 2013
Location: Conservation Office, Briggs Woods Park
Time: 1pm to 3pm
Chad Chapman and John Laird will present information on Geocaching basics. We will practice finding temporary and permanent geocache locations in Brigg’s Woods Park. We have a limited number of GPS units available so please register for the program. Feel free to bring your own GPS unit or plan to share with someone.
For more information or to register call 515-832-9570 or email at hccblaird@wmtel.net
Boone River Clean Up
Date: Saturday, August 10, 2013
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
What is New in Local Recycling?
Tour the New Trash Man Recycling Center
Date: Monday, August 26,2012
Location: Recycling Center Building at “The Trash Man”
1812 West Second Street, Webster City, IA
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Come and join Chris Kehoe of “The Trash Man” and John Laird of Hamilton County Conservation as they will present the current recycling opportunities available in Hamilton County and Hamilton County Parks. Chris Kehoe will lead a walking tour of the recycling center and go over the proper recycling procedures available by “The Trash Man”. John Laird, Naturalist for Hamilton County Conservation will discuss the current status of “Carry In and Carry Out” garbage disposal and recycling in Hamilton county parks and campgrounds for 2012. All ages are welcome to reserve a spot by calling the office at 515-832-9570 or email us at hccblaird@wmtel.net. Free will donations will be taken at the program to support the Naturalist program.
Sponsored by “The Trash Man” of Webster City.
Settler’s Day Celebration/Fundraiser Meal
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2013
Location: Bell’s Mill Park
Time: 2-5 pm Pioneer Celebration Events
2-5 pm Self guided and naturalist tour of historic buildings
2-3 pm Pioneer Games & Activities
2-4 pm Hayrides given to Neese Cemetery
(potato sack races, apple bob, sling shot shoot, pastor plunge, others)
4 pm 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)
9-10:30 pm White-Nose Bat Syndrome program at picnic shelter.
Come and celebrate the settling of Hamilton County by visiting various presenters, 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.
White-Nose Syndrome Disease & Iowa Bats
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2013
Location: Bell’s Mill Park, Open Picnic Shelter
Time: 9:00-10:30pm
Join us as we discuss Iowa’s bats and the new disease that threatens them. We will discuss White-Nose Syndrome Disease, how it threatens Iowa bats and what is being done to prevent the spread of the disease. 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
“Legends of Nature”
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013
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 some of the legends of nature in Iowa. Legendary animals of Iowa will be discussed by various presenters. There will be stations on bats, bald eagles, bison, turkey vultures, and albino animals.
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 30 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.
Skillet Creek Night Hike
Date:Saturday, November 9, 2013
Location: Skillet Creek Indian Mounds, Parking Lot West of Stratford
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Join us for a night hike to the Skillet Creek Indian Mounds. The public will have the opportunity to listen to sounds of the night and look for animal tracks on the way up to the mounds. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the night as we hike this moderately to difficult hiking path up the hillside. We will discuss the area history and look at the Indian Mounds. You may bring a flashlight but we will place red covers on all lights before we hike up the hillside. This program is for all ages who are up to the challenge. Skillet Creek is managed by the Webster County Conservation Board.
To reach the area, follow Highway 175 west of Stratford about 4 miles. Just after crossing the bridge over the Des Moines River, turn to the north onto River Road. Then turn onto Skillet Creek Road (left at the Y intersection). Just beyond the first curve will be a parking lot on the right.
Contact us at 515-832-9570 or email hccblaird@wmtel.netto register or for any questions.
Astronomy Basics and Observation
Date: Friday, December 6, 2013
Time: 7:00 to 8:00 Presentation
8:00 to 9:00 Observation
Location: Conservation Office, Brigg’s Woods Park
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 the Hamilton County Conservation Board Office 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
