Happy Valentine’s Day! You can download free Valentine’s Day cards at this link for a classroom, Sunday School, friends, family members and anyone else you want! These cards print front/back and even have a place to tape candy and include a fun nature fact.

Staff are gone Feb. 5-7 for the annual conservation board employees conference in Coralville. If you need anything during this time, feel free to call or text Kiley.

During Volunteer Appreciation Day, we toured some of the new exhibits at the nature center and learned about other exhibits currently under construction. The new kids area has a space theme and includes costumes, a constellation magnet board, a light table, a rocket shop to play in, a bouncy moon, an activity trail and so much more!

The How Do You Compare to a Bear? Exhibit area has expanded. Visitors can measure themselves against predators, see how their hands or feet compare to predator tracks and play a “Sound & Scat Match” game.

The former eARTh exhibit area now houses the Alfred R. Wallace exhibit. Wallace was a contemporary of Charles Darwin, and the Dickinson County Nature Center has photos of Wallace’s collection that can only be viewed here or at the Smithsonian. This is a rare and neat exhibit with new interactive elements.

A new topography sandbox is also being constructed. Stay tuned for more details!

The Dickinson County Nature Center will be closed Feb. 18 in observance of President’s Day.

Thank you to all our volunteers who have given so much to the nature center. We had 52 active volunteers donate 1,523.5 hours of service in 2018. We are so grateful and could not do what we do without you. You are so appreciated!

The next Volunteer Appreciation Day will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 4. See you there!