How Chipmunks Survive Winter

Chipmunks are abundant creatures in the summer but where do they go once fall and winter finally come around? During the fall, they prepare for hibernation. Well, kind of. They gather food to store for the winter. Some species keep the food in their burrows, but others don’t. Chipmunks eat a variety of food but Read More »

Read More

Spider with Web Craft

Spider with Web Craft finished

As Halloween is coming up, I was looking for a fun craft that could also be a decoration. On Pinterest, I found a Spider with a Web craft and it just so happens to go with meeting Pinki our Tarantula on social media this week. You will need: Scissors Hole Punch Tape Paper Plate Yarn Read More »

Read More

How Do Chickadees Survive Winter?

house finch

The Black-capped Chickadee is one of the most common birds in the northern half of North American meaning you have probably seen one or many in your backyard. Since these birds are so common, you might have noticed they’re still around eating from birdfeeders. But shouldn’t they be migrating by now? Most birds have migrated Read More »

Read More

CFDC receives $9,000 grant for Pollinator Paradise

child playing at Nature Center

The Dickinson County Endowment Fund awarded the Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County a grant for $9,000 in September 2019. The grant was utilized to purchase the Build a Pollinator exhibit in the new Pollinator Paradise addition to the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji. “We’re so thankful for the grants the endowment fund gave to Read More »

Read More

Friday night is family night!

families outside looking at a telescope

Spend Friday evenings as a family at the Dickinson County Nature Center’s monthly Family Nature Night. Environmental educators have plenty of fun planned for the next two Family Nature Nights 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 and March 27. The February program’s theme is Leap Into Nature — in honor of Leap Day the following day Read More »

Read More

No School Day camp registration opens Feb. 1

a child petting a bunny at a DCNC program

Learning doesn’t have to stop just because there is no school. No School Day Camp will be held two days in March at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji — 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, for Okoboji Elementary School and Monday, March 16, for Spirit Lake Elementary. Elementary-aged students from outside of these Read More »

Read More

Nature Tots continues in 2020

child putting item on felt board

Nature stories, live animals, outdoor play — Nature Tots is a hit program at the Dickinson County Nature Center that will return Jan. 8 for the 2020 season. “I think this program has been so well attended because it offers activities families can do together,” said Bryanna Kuhlman, environmental education coordinator. “It also gives families Read More »

Read More

Join us for storytime!

naturalists reading a story

A new monthly program begins Jan. 4 at the Dickinson County Nature Center. Storytime with a Naturalist premieres at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at the nature center in Okoboji, part of the 2020 program lineup. “Since we’re open on Saturdays now, I thought it would be fun for families with children in school to Read More »

Read More

Family Nature Night goes to the Caribbean

woman reading a story

It may feel like the weather outside is frightful, but Caribbean Night will be so delightful at the Dickinson County Nature Center. The final Family Nature Night for 2019 has a tropical theme. “We thought it would be fun to take it outside the parameters of Iowa and think a little warmer,” said Bryanna Kuhlman, Read More »

Read More

StarLab comes to Family Nature Night

“Do you want to know the difference between comets, meteors, asteroids and meteorites?” asked naturalist Ashley Hansen. She will explain these differences during the next Family Nature Night Friday, July 26, at the Dickinson County Nature Center. A portable StarLab inflatable planetarium will be set up in Pollinator Paradise for programs at 7 p.m. and Read More »

Read More