Environmental and Conservation Education Programs
The Wapello County Conservation Board places a high priority on Environmental and
Conservation Education. Pioneer Ridge Nature Center provides exhibit and classroom
space for a variety of oral and visual presentations. The surrounding ponds, woodlands,
open fields, and the extensive trail system of Pioneer Ridge Nature Area enhance this study
of the natural world.
Our staff is trained to offer programs beneficial to any size group and to fill
any length of time. We request at least two weeks notice before giving a presentation.
If you are planning a school program or field trip please call at your earliest convenience
to ensure the best choice of dates. If there is a subject you are interested in but it is not
listed give us a call and we will help in any way we can.
Animal Adaptations: Not all animals are the same. Learn
how different animals adapt to their environment. The students will learn about creatures
of the water, land, and air. This program offers field trip activities, in-school programs
as well as classroom activities.
Animals: What is an animal? Learn what it takes to be labeled an ANIMAL!
Backyard Wildlife: Have you ever wanted to watch the birds in your backyard
or maybe you have always wanted to attract them to your yard. With this program we cover all the bases of attracting
wildlife to your backyard, starting with song birds and finishing with butterflies.
Bees, Wasps, and Hornets: Learn what roles bees play in the cycle of life. Learn to identify bees from
flies and the many different types of bees, wasps, and hornets.
Birds of Iowa: Everyone knows what a Robin looks like, but do you know what a Bobwhite looks like?
Which birds make Iowa their home?
Bird Watching: Can you identify a bird by its flight pattern? Or how about its song? This program will give you the
basics and a tour of the grounds. We will look for common birds like Robins, Blue Jays, and Crows.
Bird House Building: This program is usually held in the early spring or late winter at the Nature Center. However we can also do this
program in school or send you the kits and you can do it yourself.
Brief Culture History of Iowa: Learn about Iowa's cultural past by exploring the ages and the study of artifacts and fossils. Storytelling
and play acting help teach about Iowa's past.
Butterfly Gardening: Learn how to create a beautiful butterfly garden, attract specific butterflies and how to design your dream garden.
Camping: This program teaches the basics in tent and shelter camping. Learn how to make a fire and find wild edibles.
Conservation: Conservation means "wise use." Learn what you can do to conserve our land, water, and wildlife.
Eagles: Wapello County has several visitors throughout the year, a few even call Wapello County home. Did you know
that bald eagles don't get their white heads until they are five years old! Watch and learn more about our national symbol.
Endangered Species: There are many species of wildlife that are being lost to us forever. Find out what you can do to help prevent the loss of our
wildlife.
Fishing: Once you've learned about Iowa's fish, try your hand at catching one of those slippery critters. We have several poles on hand. You supply the bait.
Forestry: Several programs are done on this subject: Identification of trees by using leaves and bark, Tree planting for wildlife and establishing windbreaks,
Wildlife of a forest, and Utilization of trees and tree products.
Habitats: Learn what a habitat is by the useage of games and habitat exploration.
Hunting and Trapping in Iowa: What is hunting and trapping? Learn what is hunted and trapped in Iowa.
Insects: We live in a world dominated by insects that walk, crawl and fly. Some live on and in the ground, while many live in the water. Learn how some are beneficial
to us, while others cause agony and death.
Lakes, Ponds, and Marshes: There are great many things that live in our fresh water. Learn how they depend on each other and we depend on them. We'll explore a few
different sites trying to catch some of these creatures so that we can better study them.
Mammals of Iowa: Did you know that the Red Fox calls Iowa and Wapello County home? Did you also know that the Bobcat lives in Wapello County? Learn about wildlife in Iowa and in
Wapello County.
Mammals of the world: Learn what it takes to be labeled a mammal and not a reptile! Lots of hands on. We'll even explore our outside world in search of mammals.
Native American "The Early Iowans:" Who was here before Lewis & Clark? This is a video presentation. We will explore Iowa's early history.
Occupations in Conservation: Careers in conservation in county, state, federal and private sectors.
Outdoor Art: A variety of art and art forms can be made by using materials from the natural world. Learn to express yourself by using live and dead plants, sticks, rocks, bones, and other materials.
Outdoor Games: A variety of games based on environmental information and challenges. Fun for all ages.
Predator Prey: So, you want to eat your neighbor. In this game you can, if you're a coyote or a fox! Learn about the food chain as we explore our timber looking for predators and prey!
Primitive Skills: If you have ever wanted to live off the land, this is the program for you. Learn how to make a shelter, eat wild edibles, cook wild game, start fires without matches.
Pollution: Acid rain, sedimentation, sewage, hazardous waste and littering. All of these and more affect the lives of those living on this planet. Discover what you can do to help resolve these problems.
Prairies:Close to 85% of Iowa was once covered by prairie. Wapello County was covered with large tracts of prairies, broken only by woodlands that were protected from prairie fires along the river banks.
Learn what it was like to live on the prairie, how it was tamed and what we are doing to preserve and re-establish our natural heritage.
Prairie Restoration: Learn how to restore a prairie, how to harvest seed and how to differentiate wildflower seed from grass seed.
Prairie Wetlands and Potholes: Prairie wetlands are recognized as the duck factories of North America. They also provide erosion control and recharge the ground water. Most of these are gone from Iowa.
Learn what they are and why we need them.
Rainforests: Learn about the beauty and color of the rainforests and why we need to protect them.
Reptiles and Amphibians: Learn about reptiles and amphibians.
Recycling: Do you recycle? Do you know where your garbage goes? Everything you need to know about recycling.
Sensory Awareness: Using sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste to better understand the world around us.
Winter Overnight at Pioneer Ridge Nature Center This overnight program is for students in 5th and 6th grade. The students arrive at the nature center in the evening with sleeping bags under their arms ready for fun. The types of activities that the students cluld do are: Top Secret, Night Hike, Campfire, Star Gazing, and Naturalist's Chioce. You would need to bring snacks and breakfast for the students. For more information you can call the nature center.
Wildflowers of Iowa: Explore the beauty of Iowa's wildflowers by a slide presentation or by a short hike. At Pioneer Ridge you can visit ponds, the forest and the prairie. We will also learn about endangered flowers in Iowa.
Teacher Tips for Field Trips
Email
Main Page