programs

2023 program schedule

Special events Nature Tots Family Nature Night Nature Explorers Birding on the Green Kenue Coffee Hour Homeschool Ed-Ventures Summer Camps

Special events

2023 Schedule of Special Events

Bee and Butterfly Festival: September 8th from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Dickinson County Conservation's largest event of the year celebrates pollinators with butterfly tagging activities, entertainment, and more! And the best thing is, it's FREE!

2023 FREE Entertainment

Borenson Bees will give us the inside buzz on honey extraction. This demonstration captures the interest of all ages! Expect audience participation.

Available for Purchase

Back Alley BBQ food truck

Cotton candy

Nature Tots

2nd Wednesday of the month at 10:30 and 1:30. This program is for children ages 2-5. Younger siblings welcome, but the programs are geared towards ages 2-5. A chaperone must be present. Simply click the "Event Registration" button above to register!

2023 Schedule:

January 11th: Nature Symmetry
February 8th: Movin' Groovin' Animals
March 8th: Magnificent Mammals
April 12th: Little Clouds
May 10th: Be Nice to Nature
June 14th: Creepy Crawlies
July 12th: Amazing Amphibians
August 9th: Prairie Power
September 13th: Wild Cats
October 11th: Fabulous Fall
November 8th: Animal Sign Language
December 13th: Monkeying Around

Family Nature Night

We welcome all families to sign up for Family Nature Night. This free monthly program is held on the 4th Friday of the month at 5 PM with a changing theme. (date adjustments for holidays) This is a great way to connect with your family and nature! Please preregister for this program online by clicking on the "Event Registration" button above.

2023 Schedule:

January 27th: Animals Wide Awake in Winter
February 24th: Love Bugs
March 24th: Animal Olympics
April 28th: Animal Architects @ Horseshoe Bend
May 19th (moved due to holiday): Family Fishing @ Westport Park
June 23rd: Blast from the Past- One Room Schoolhouse
July 28th: Metamorphosis
August 25th: Disc Golf
September 22nd: *Postponed to Friday 29th* Dutch Oven Cooking
October 27th: Howlin' Halloween
November 17th (Moved due to holiday): Animal Open House
December 15th: Christmas Pajamas and Stuffed Animal Tea Party

Nature Explorers

Nature Explorers is a free, hour long program at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Kenue Park for ages 5-12. This program occurs on the 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays, June through mid August at 10:30 am. Expect to be outside exploring nature so please be dressed appropriately; hat, sunscreen, etc.

Pre-registration is required to attend. Simply click on the "Event Registration" button above to register!

June 14th: Up in the Sky
June 21st: The World Down Below
July 12th: Creatures of the Day
July 19th: Creatures of the Night
August 9th: Fun in the Park @ Kenue Park

Birding on the Green

The Dickinson County Nature Center partners with Brooks Golf to host Birding on the Green. This is a free adult program for the novice birder to the more experienced birder. The outing heads out at 7 a.m. and is led by an expert birder and a DCNC staff member. This monthly program occurs on the first Monday, May - Sept. (moved to 2nd Monday on holidays) There is no need to preregister for this event. Gather in the parking lot at Brooks Golf by 7 a.m.

2023 Schedule

Meet at Brooks Golf in Okoboji at 7 a.m. to drive golf carts through the Audubon-certified course documenting up to 60 species by sight and sound.

No pre-registration necessary for this free program for all ages.

May 1st
June 5th
July 10th (Moved due to holiday)
August 7th
September 11th (Moved due to holiday)

Kenue Coffee Hour

Kenue Coffee Hour is a free adult program held on the first Thursday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Each month will have a different topic of conversation and a light beverage bar is served. Coffee is compliments of the Oakwood Inn of Okoboji.

No registration is required for this program.

2023 Schedule

January 5th: IRVM Tanner Bouchard, Plant This, Not That
February 2nd: Brian Cuperus, DCCB Natural Resource Manager- Native Mussel Habitat
March 2nd: Regional Collection Center, Charles Vigdal-Can I Throw This Away?
April 6th: Brett Hetland, Brooks Golf- Audubon Certification
May 4th: DCCB Naturalist, Britney Snell-Native Snakes of Iowa
June 1st: Drew Howing- Blandings Turtle Research
July 6th: Becky Peters- Okoboji Tourism
August 3rd: Sharon Hoerichs, Little Sioux Apple Orchard
September 7th: West O Brewery
October 5th: Erin Reed, Trails of Dickinson County
November 2nd: DCCB IRVM Tech, Amy Heibult- Insects of the Midwest
December 7th: Buena Vista County Naturalist, Katie- Live Raptor Program

Homeschool Ed-Ventures

Homeschool Ed-Ventures

Every month on the 3rd Thursday. From 10:30 a.m. till 11:30 a.m./12:00 p.m.

This program is free for ages 5 to 12. Families can either drop off or stay. If you have siblings younger than 5, they are welcome to join, we just ask a guardian stay and join the fun. Click on the "event registration" button above to register.

January 19th: Endangered Species
February 16th: Winter Survival
March 16th: Animal Classifications
April 13th: Eagle vs Osprey
May 18th: Chromotology
September 21st: Glacier Landmark Tour: 10 am-2 pm, Plan to caravan to different sites in Dickinson County
October 19th: Fishing Day @ Isthmus Park
November 16th: Bear Education- Bring a bear and we'll have a small bear party!

Summer Camps

These camps are for the grade your student will be going into the following academic year.

Online registration for summer camps begins March 1st . No refunds for cancellations made within a week of camp. Cancellations will void the T-shirt.

June Summer Camps | Magic School Bus

9 a.m.-12 p.m. $20 (includes t-shirt, 1 snack)

PreK 1: June 5,6 ~ The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses
PreK 2: June 12,13 ~ The Magic school Bus Explores the Senses
TK/K 1: June 19,20 ~ The Magic School Bus, A Time of Dinosaurs
TK/K 2: June 26,27~ The Magic School Bus, A Time of Dinosaurs

9 a.m.-3 p.m. $40 (includes t-shirt, 2 snacks)

1st/2nd Grade 1: June 22,23 ~ Magic School Bus, Inside A Beehive
1st/2nd Grade 2: June 29,30 ~ Magic School Bus, Inside A Beehive
3rd/4th Grade: June 8,9 ~ Magic School Bus Plants a Seed @ Horseshoe Bend
5th/6th Grade: June 15,16~Magic School Bus Wet All Over
Day 1 @ Westport Park
Day 2 @ Horseshoe Bend

July Summer Camps | Ways Animals Move

9 a.m.-12 p.m. $10 (includes 1 snack)

PreK: July 10, 11 ~ Jumpers
K/TK: July 13, 14 ~ Diggers
1st-3rd Grade: July 24, 25 ~ Flyers
4th-6th Grade: July 20, 21 ~ Swimmers

Partner Camps

Clay/Dickinson County Camp: June 1, 2 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Grades 4th-6th (10 campers maximum) $10 registration fee.
Kindermusik and Art Center Partner Camp: July 17, 18, 19 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Ages 4-6 years old are welcome. Register through Kindermusik.
Girls in Science (STEM) Camp Overnight at Lakeside: August 3, 4. For girls in grades 7th-9th. Register through Lakeside Lab.