Free printable Valentine’s Day cards
The kids need Valentine's Day cards for their class parties, and you don't want to spend any more money on the holiday so what do you do?
Download our free Valentine's Day cards at home!
You can find the 2018 design here or click on the photo below to download the 2019 designs. Just remember to print front/back on cardstock, cut out, attach candy and you're done!
What we love about our animal ambassadors
We love the animal ambassadors at the Dickinson County Nature Center! Here are some reasons why: 1. Pinki’s irridescent hair Pink is the perfect color for Valentine’s Day, so Pinki the tarantula fits right in. She has irridescent pink hairs that were the reason her species was named Chilean rose-haired tarantula. Those hairs are more Read More »
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Thumbprint bees
One of our volunteers made coffee filter butterflies with her granddaughter, and in exchange, her granddaughter showed her how to make thumbprint bees. We thought they were so cute, we would try them ourselves. And just to make it more exciting, we did a variety of thumbprint invertebrates! All you’ll need is: White paper Washable Read More »
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Fast frog facts
The Dickinson County Nature Center frog ambassadors are always a hit with kids when they come out during programs. That is often because they make the programs more exciting when they escape from the grasp of the naturalist with their squirmy, slippery bodies. But visitors also love to see their long legs, ability to jump Read More »
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7 cute cottontail facts
The Dickinson County Nature Center’s bunny animal ambassador, named Bindi, is actually a pet rabbit species. However, this mini rex looks quite a lot like the native rabbit in Iowa, the eastern cottontail. They both have a fluffy white tail, long ears, a brown coat with lighter colors in the undercoat and dark eyes. There Read More »
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Download FREE animal valentines to print at home
Why go to the store and buy pre-made Valentines that everyone will have for this year’s February 14 classroom party? Instead, download our free animal ambassador Valentines, print them on cardstock at home, cut them out and you have unique Valentines for the whole class. CLICK HERE FOR PDF DOWNLOADS There’s even a special place Read More »
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Bats in Iowa: Myths, facts and why we should love them
I get odd looks when I tell people that I think bats are cute. This first summer that I worked at the Dickinson County Nature Center, we had a family bring in a little brown bat that they had found on their driveway. (If you find a bat on the ground, give us a call Read More »
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How do monarch butterflies find their way south?
Those wonderful orange-and-black butterflies that we love so much. They fly overhead this time of year, and we know they are headed to their overwintering sites outside of Mexico City. But how do they get there? Plenty of studies have been done throughout the years to try to figure out how a brain the size Read More »
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Wildlife love Little Sioux Savanna and you should too
Walk into Little Sioux Savanna, a beautiful park just west of Milford, and take a seat on the mowed trail. Watch. Listen. Wait. A honeybee buzzes beside you as it gathers pollen in the prairie. A northern leopard frog jumps into the Little Sioux River just below where you’re seated. An eight-point buck and Read More »
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