Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, programs will have limited numbers. We will try to keep this page and social media updated, but please e-mail naturecenter@dickinsoncountyiowa.govcreate new email to check the status of any program you are unsure about.

Our

programs

Click here for online registration

2022 program schedule

Special events Nature Tots Family Nature Night Nature Explorers Birding on the Green No School Day Camps Saturday Morning Stories Kenue Coffee Hour Homeschool Ed-Ventures Summer Camps

Special events

2022 Schedule of Special Events

Weed Warriors: June 11th at 11:30 a.m.

Bee and Butterfly Festival: September 2nd from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Dickinson County Conservation's largest event of the year celebrates pollinators with butterfly tagging activities, entertainment, and more!

Seed Collecting Program: October 8th at 11:30 a.m.

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.

January 12th: Among the Stars
February 9th: Everyone loves Snow
March 9th: Weather in the Woods
April 13th: eARTh - Celebrate Earth Day with Art
May 11th: Mr. Sun
June 8th: Wiggle Worms
July 13th: Things with Wings
August 10th: Might Minis - Enjoy World's Smallest Creatures
September 14th: Meet the Feet
October 12th: Moving Migrators
November 9th: Into the Woods
December 14th: Worldwide Animals

Family Nature Night

5 p.m. the fourth Friday of each month for all ages. Call 712-336-6352 to pre-register your family for this free program.

2022 Schedule:

January 28th: Animal Defenses
February 25th: Night Time Snowshoe Adventure
March 25th: Gross Science
April 22nd: Earth Day
May 20th (moved due to holiday): Young Casters - Family Fishing Event
June 24th: Nibble Hike
July 22nd: Dig Deeper - Life Under the Soil
August 26th: Fungi Walk
September 23rd: Unbelievable Galls
October 28th: Howlin' Halloween: Bones
November 18th (Moved due to holiday): No Bones About it
December 16th (Moved due to holiday): Recycled Art Christmas Ornaments

Nature Explorers

10:30 a.m. 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of the Month June-August. For ages 5-12. Call 712-336-6352 to register for this free program.

June 8th: Never Eat Soggy Waffles - Compass Navigation
June 15th: Young Navigators: GPS Navigators
July 13th: Living Things in the Environment
July 20th: Non-Living Things in our Environment
August 10th: Rocks vs. Minerals
August 17th: Sand, Silt, Clay

Birding on the Green

No School Day Camps

Saturday Morning Stories

Kenue Coffee Hour

Adult Program: Coffee and a Chat

1st Thursday of the month at 10:30 a.m.

This program is for adults to come learn and socialize!

2022 Schedule

January 6th: Public Relations Coordinator Jess Bode and her therapy dog Montana
February 3rd: Ashley Hansen with Lakeside Lab talking about the CLAMP program
March 3rd: History of the Spirit Lake Massacre
April 7th: Osprey
May 5th: Basics of Birding with Naturalist Britney
June 2nd: Birds of Prey with Ms. Katie
July 7th: Wild Edibles
August 4th: Come learn about Drones from Corteva's Chad Huffman
September 1st: Burr Oak Blight - Amber Thompson IDNR
October 6th: Dutch Oven Cooking
November 3rd: Charles Vigdal - Galapagos Islands
December 1st: Nature Trivia

Homeschool Ed-Ventures

Homeschool Ed-Ventures

Every other 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.

January 20th: Snowshoe Adventure
March 17th: H2O on the Go
May 19th: Parasites and Animal Relationships
September 15th: Fishing Day
November 17th: Winter Birds and Pinecone Feeders

Homeschool All Day Ed-venture

$10 per child

For Ages 5-12

April 21st: 8:00 a.m.-3 p.m.

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 at 8:00 a.m.

June Summer Camps

Animal Scientists

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

PreK 1: June 6-7 ~ Entomology-Study of Insects
PreK 2: June 13-14 ~ Entomology-Study of Insects
TK/K 1: June 16-17 ~ Herpetology-Study of Reptiles and Amphibians
TK/K 2: June 23-24 ~ Herpetology-Study of Reptiles and Amphibians

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

1st/2nd Grade 1: June 20-21 ~ Mammalogy-Study of Mammals
1st/2nd Grade 2: June 27-28 ~ Mammalogy-Study of Mammals
3rd/4th Grade: June 30-July 1 ~ Ornithology-Study of Birds
5th/6th Grade: July 7-8 ~ Ichthyology-Study of Fish

July Summer Camps

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

1st/2nd Grade: July 11-12 ~ Discover the Outdoors
PreK: July 14-15 ~ Imagine
K/TK: July 18-19 ~ Create in the Environment
3rd/4th Grade: July 21-22 ~ Explore your Environment (Camp will be hosted at Horseshoe Bend)

Partner Camps

Clay/Dickinson County Camp: June 9-10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Grades 4th-6th (10 campers maximum) $10 registration fee.
Kindermusik and Art Center Partner Camp: July 25-28 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Ages 4-6 years old are welcome.
Girls in Science Camp Overnight at Lakeside: August 12-13. For girls in grades 7th-9th.

2 Comments

Cyndee Dather on May 22, 2017 at 7:29 pm

Please register my grandson Kellen Proctor, who is 2 1/2 for 10:30 AM. The following dates for Nature Tots:
– June 14
– July 12
– Aug 9
– Sept 13
– Oct 11
– Nov 8
– Dec 13
Thanks Cyndee Dather
- kiley on May 23, 2017 at 7:54 am
  
  Please call 712-336-6352 to register. We will put you on the June and July list. The August date is full, so we will need your phone number to put you on the waiting list. As of right now we are only taking reservations through August. Thank you!