Looking for a great way to show your support of low impact recreation, environmental education, and land stewardship in Pottawattamie County? Join us for the 2020 fundraising event, Go Wild For Conservation, September 17th through October 1st. This entirely online event combines education, fun, and fundraising spread out over the course of two weeks. Participants will have the opportunity to view special, behind-the-scenes videos to learn more about the important work done by Pottawattamie Conservation. Our online auction is chock full of terrific items including gift cards, private outdoor experiences, outdoor gear, cabin stays, and more.
To gain access to all our exclusive content and view the terrific auction items up for grabs please visit our online auction page and register as a participant today! Or, new for 2020, Text PCF to 72727 to register. Registering as a participant is free and gives you the opportunity to view our brand new videos, bid on auction items, or make a donation.
Grab your lederhosen, braids, and alpine hats when you join The 712 Initiative on a bike ride that spans across 22+ miles of our own beautiful trail system! A portion of the proceeds from this event directly supports the Pottawattamie County Trails Association.
This cycling event gives you a police escort to our trail system which is sprinkled with several friendly faces from the trails association. After completion of the ride, our route returns you to the Historic 100 Block, with many restaurants and bars to visit to fill your stomachs and quench your thirst.
This year's event won't be too different from previous years, thanks to the ability to be outside, but we plan to take several safety precautions to ensure everyone is safe and feels comfortable. This BIKEtober you can choose between a 10-mile and 20-mile route!
Early-bird pricing available until September 14, 2020. $20 for adults and $10 for youth. (Registration after September 14 is $25 for adults)
Each Saturday in October, head down to Olde Town Park for ghost stories in the park with Grist Mill Performing Arts! Bring your own blankets, chairs, and snacks for a PG-rated evening. Free will or food pantry canned good donations are welcomed!
*The event will be canceled if it is raining.
This event is sponsored by Pottawattamie Conservation and WanderLoess.
Families with young learners are invited to hit the trails for a self-guided hike full of fun nature learning at Hitchcock Nature Center available during regular park hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. October 3rd through 12th.
As you enjoy the sights & sounds along the Boardwalk Trail you will spot trail activities posted along your route that are designed to help learners age 3 to 5 experience nature in a new way. Activities are posted along a .25 mile stretch of trail for your enjoyment. This is an "out & back" hike, once you reach the end of the trail you turn around & head back to the trailhead, making a .5 mile round-trip hike.
Enjoy autumn at Arrowhead Park and join us for our annual Chili Fest this year done “Social Distance Style”. Pick up a tasty chili dinner at Arrowhead and have dinner at the park or take it home to enjoy. Chili dinners include a large serving of tasty chili and crackers, all prepackaged and ready to go. Dinner is free but free-will donations are gratefully accepted at the pickup window and will be used to support further improvements and low-cost programming at Arrowhead Park.
No pre-registration is required, this event is free with park admission or an annual permit. Due to COVID-19 safety concerns we will not be hosting our traditional campground trick or treat, pumpkin painting, or hayrack rides.
Each Saturday in October, head down to Olde Town Park for ghost stories in the park with Grist Mill Performing Arts! Bring your own blankets, chairs, and snacks for a PG-rated evening. Free will or food pantry canned good donations are welcomed!
*The event will be canceled if it is raining.
This event is sponsored by Pottawattamie Conservation and WanderLoess.
Join us for the next session of a new 2020 programming series, "A Land Ethic Workshop". Join instructor Ron Cisar as we celebrate the life and legacy of the famous naturalist and philosopher Aldo Leopold. Our October 10th session will focus on Leopold's essay "Red Lantern" and featuring guest speaker Dan Poggensee, a professional photographer with Wind Rider Images.
Participants in this session will study and learn the science behind the annual change in foliage, the cycle of life: photosynthesis & cellular respiration, and techniques to improve your nature photography skills. This program is intended for participants age 14 and over. Online pre-registration is required as space is limited. For questions not answered online please call 712-545-3283. The cost for this program is $15.00 per person.
Enjoy scenic lake views while you run, jog, or hike the 5K marked course! Complete two laps and make it a 10K. This is a 100% non-profit event with all of the proceeds supporting the Pottawattamie County Trails Association.
Social Distancing: We are planning a continuous rolling start to allow for spacing on the course. Individuals or small groups who wish to run together will be sent out every 1-2 minutes, with your starting window based on your preferred pace. (*Wave start times are estimates and will vary based on attendance.) Select either 5k or 10k distance and then choose your pace window based on your average mile in a road 5k.
Small-Group Starts: If you want to run with a partner or group of 2-6 people, please register individually. You will be prompted to create or join a group/team during sign up. If you are the first person of your group, "create a group" and name your team (please keep it family-friendly). You will also have the option to set a password to share with your team. Other members will then be able to "join a group" and select the name from a drop-down menu. (If you are running individually, you do not need to create or join a group.)
Early Bird Sign-Up: $25 if you sign up before August 10th. A t-shirt will be included!
Each Saturday in October, head down to Olde Town Park for ghost stories in the park with Grist Mill Performing Arts! Bring your own blankets, chairs, and snacks for a PG-rated evening. Free will or food pantry canned good donations are welcomed!
*The event will be canceled if it is raining.
This event is sponsored by Pottawattamie Conservation and WanderLoess.
Join us for the 16th Annual HawkWatch 5K and do it your own way this year! Register online for this fun, virtual run then complete a 5K run (3.1 miles) anywhere you like. You can run a track, run in your own neighborhood, or head out to Hitchcock Nature Center to run our trails. Wherever you choose to run is fine with us! Pre-registration is required and the cost for this event is $20.00 per runner and will support the Hitchcock HawkWatch raptor monitoring program as well as other programs and improvements at Hitchcock Nature Center. Runners of all ages are welcome to join in the fun! All runners who submit a final race time by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17th will receive a commemorative patch and sticker to celebrate their success. You will also be entered into a drawing to win a free, two night stay in one of Hitchcock Nature Center’s cozy camping cabins.
Have a "howling" good time at Hitchcock Nature Center during Hitchcock Haunted Hollow! This all-ages program is the perfect way to get outdoors and explore autumn in Iowa. Participants may arrive anytime between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to pick up their treasure hunt materials. Once you have your clues in hand, hit the trails to see if you can find the answers and return victorious. Costumes are welcome! Participants will be able to choose their route based on age and skill level.
The cost is $5.00 per person age 4 and over and includes park admission. Children age 3 and under are free and do not need a reservation. Online pre-registration is requested.
Each Saturday in October, head down to Olde Town Park for ghost stories in the park with Grist Mill Performing Arts! Bring your own blankets, chairs, and snacks for a PG-rated evening. Free will or food pantry canned good donations are welcomed!
*The event will be canceled if it is raining.
This event is sponsored by Pottawattamie Conservation and WanderLoess.
Join naturalist and student of folklore Dustin Clayton for an evening hike through the Halloween forest! We'll walk and talk about the plant, animal, and mineral communities of the forest and prairies and their significance in the seasonal folklore and folk magic associated with Halloween. We'll examine how folklore and associated practices can be used as a gateway to deepening your relationship with the forest community. If time allows, we'll return to the lodge for a demonstration of some of the items and techniques discussed on the hike.
This event is being presented as part of our adult education programming and is intended for participants age 16 and over. The cost is $8.00 per person & online pre-registration is required. Participants should note this program will be held at Hitchcock Nature Center and will at times require pedestrian travel over difficult terrain; some sessions may be physically challenging.
Each Saturday in October, head down to Olde Town Park for ghost stories in the park with Grist Mill Performing Arts! Bring your own blankets, chairs, and snacks for a PG-rated evening. Free will or food pantry canned good donations are welcomed!
*The event will be canceled if it is raining.
This event is sponsored by Pottawattamie Conservation and WanderLoess.
Area homeschool students and educators are invited to join us for another fun-filled program, Homeschool in the Hills: Nocturnal Animals. Get to know the animals that spend most of their waking hours in the dark! These special animals are called nocturnal and have special adaptations that allow them to be just as active at night as we are during the day. Online pre-registration is required and walk-in participants will not be admitted. The cost for this event is $3.00 per person for children age 3 and over, accompanying adults and children under 3 are free, children under 3 do not need a reservation. Please visit www.pottconservation.com for more information & to register online. For questions not answered online please call 712-545-3283.
Barenaked Ladies are bringing Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket to Harrah's Stir Cove for their Last Summer On Earth Tour. This will be the 6th edition of the tour, founded by the band in 2012 – the year that the Mayan calendar predicted would be the last, hence the “Last Summer On Earth”. Don't miss a summer night of good times and great music.
