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PRIVATE/LOCAL

Blank Park Zoo
Environmetal Education Resource Program of SW Iowa (EERP)
Freelance naturalists
Indian Creek Nature Center
Iowa Arboretum
Kiwanis Riverview Nature Island
Living History Farms
Project ECO
Soaring Eagles Nature Center


BLANK PARK ZOO

Staff:
Monica Post, Education Curator
Laura Griffith, Educational Specialist
Jacqueline Stroo, Educational Specialist

Address:
7401 SW 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315

Phone: 515/256-2592

Fax: 515/256-2593

Intern: Yes

Program: Self-guided tours for schools (spring tours begin at 9:30 a.m., fall at 10:00¾must be preregistered); special programs offered on weekdays and weekends for school and youth groups (i.e. Campfire, Scouts) to assist in achieving badges or awards; outreach programs to schools, outreach programs on ICN; summer classes and camps

Program List Available: No

Newsletter: 3 times/year, "Zootracks" sent to zoo members

Facilities: 21-acre zoo with indoor exploratorium; 20 major exhibits, more than 400 animals; train and camel rides

Hours: May to mid-Oct.: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESOURCE PROGRAM of Southwest Iowa (EERP)

Staff: Kevin Mc Call, DC (Director)

Address:
1003 S. 8th St.
Clarinda, IA 51632-2800

Phone: 712/542-5484

Fax: 712/542-3672

Email: kevin.mccall@ia.usda.gov

Program: The product of a cooperative effort by Page and Fremont Counties' SWCDs and CCBs to provide assistance with E.E.-related projects and activities. Provide programs for all ages; general public, private, or civic; instructor available for field trips and classroom visits, handouts provided

Program List Available: No

Facilities: Public meeting room, printed materials display and supply

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FREELANCE NATURALISTS

Name: Amy Schwartz Letsche

Address:
208 South 10th Street
Cherokee, IA 51012

Phone: 712/225-2902

Fax:

Email: tlbike@ncn.net

Program: Offers classroom and field trips to natural areas.

Program List Available: No

Facilities:

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INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER 

Staff:
Rich Patterson, Director
Jan Aiels, Senior Naturalist

Address:
6665 Otis Road SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403-7134

Phone: 319/362-0664

Fax: 319/362-2876

Email: nature.center.aol.com

Intern: Yes

Program: Science curriculum-related programming with Cedar Rapids second and fifth grade students, others by appointment; cross-country ski instruction, maple syruping, flower, bird and butterfly walks, natural landscaping workshops, extensive summer school programs; customized programs arranged to meet needs of youth and adult groups (generally do not go to schools); elaborate adult/family EE programming, including 80+ programs per year to the general public (some conducted through news media); programs for active adults (senior citizens); extensive curriculum for preschoolers; ecological restoration of prairie and oak savanna; energy efficient building and exhibits

Program List Available: No

Newsletter: Quarterly

Facilities: Privately funded nature center in 210-acre area includes: natural history exhibits, meeting rooms, gift shop, butterfly garden, hard surfaced trail for physically challenged, sugar house; Cedar Greenbelt National Recreational Trail; constructed wetland and energy efficient exhibits.

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Sat.: 11:00-4:00 p.m., Sun.: 1:00-4:00 p.m.

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IOWA ARBORETUM

Staff:
Raedell Von Holdt, Executive Director
Brian Sparks, Horticulturist

Address:
1875 Peach Avenue
Madrid, IA 50156

Phone: 515/795-3216

Fax: 515/795-2619

Email: arbiowa@pionet.net

Website: www.iowaarboretum.com

Intern: Yes

Program: Interpretive walks (spring wildflowers, edible wild plants, autumn leaves, etc.) and guided tours of horticultural collections (windbreak, shade trees, herb garden, perennials, etc.) for school classes and groups of youth and adults; guided tours by appointment only; public educational workshops offered throughout the year

Program List Available: No

Newsletter: Bi-monthly to members

Facilities: Meeting area/office building; 340-acre area includes 3 self-guided woodland trails with free printed guides available at the trailhead and 40-acre "Library of Living Plants" with hundreds of cultivated species

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; other times by appointment

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KIWANIS RIVERVIEW NATURE ISLAND

Staff:
Gretta Reischauer, Director/Naturalist

Address:
1012 Oak Park Ave. (Program Center)
Des Moines, IA 50313

Phone: 515/237-8309

Fax:

Email: krni@aol.com or krni@prodigy.com

Intern: In planning stages

Program: Both on and off site hands-on programming for all interested grades and schools; specific curriculum-based programs available for K-5; successful in special efforts made to design and implement long-term, on-going programming with high school students and clubs; teacher/educator training and workshops; limited general public programming

Program List Available: No

Newsletter: The Riverview "Succession", quarterly to members

Facilities: 28 acre former oxbow of Des Moines River including marsh, lagoon, pond and 12 acre peninsula; located along the Des Moines River bike trail; program center is a converted house, providing room for small indoor classes, comfort facilities, storage, and future intern housing

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Program Center upon request

E.E. Center: Yes

Aids: Interpretive personnel available (by appointment)

Theme: No

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LIVING HISTORY FARMS

Staff:
Sandi Yoder, CEO

Address:
2600 111th Street
Urbandale, IA 50322

Phone: 515/278-5286

Fax: 515/278-9808

Website: www.lhf.org

Intern: Yes (25 per summer)

Program: Recreates the daily routines of Iowa farm life of four eras: 1700 Ioway Indian village; 1850 pioneer farm; 1875 frontier town; 1900 farm includes a Crop Center on 20th century agriculture; interpreters in period clothing demonstrate and explain the historical crafts and equipment of rural Iowa; scheduled tours for schools, as well as general self-paced tours; sites are connected by a transportation system of tractor-drawn carts (fees: $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, $4 for children; special group and school rates)

Program List Available: No

Facilities: 600 acres with 4 historical eras of Iowa agriculture

Hours: May-Oct.: Mon.-Sat. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sun. 12:00-6:00 p.m.

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PROJECT ECO

Staff:
Nancy Kurrle, E.E. Teacher

Address:
Willson-Beardshear School
920 Carroll Ave
Ames, IA 50010-5716

Phone: 515/239-3795  

Intern: Yes

Program: Provides E.E. for students and teachers in the Ames school system; community involvement is encouraged

Facilities: Mobile lab

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SOARING EAGLES NATURE CENTER

Staff:
Cyndi Meyermann, Director
Teresa Pascarella, Instructor

Address:
P.O. Box 95
Clinton, IA 52733-0095

Phone: 319/242-9088

Fax: 319/242-0967  

Program: Curriculum developed for K-12; contracts available for schools wishing to visit facility on a regular basis; programs usually conducted on site

Program List Available: Yes

Facilities: Nature center (converted barn) with "Animals of Iowa" interpretive area and teaching area; 2 self-guided trails; one-room school; animal display area with petting farm; prairie and prairie cemetery

Hours:
Nature Barn:
Open all year
Flannery School: Upon request
Petting Zoo: Memorial Day-Labor Day
E.E. Center: Yes

Aids: Interpretive personnel always available

Theme: No

 

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Last Update: December 1, 2000