Families with young learners are invited to hit the trails for a self-guided hike full of fun nature learning at Botna Bend Park available during regular park hours of 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. As you enjoy the sights & sounds along a Botna Bend trail you will spot activities posted along your route that are designed to help learners age 3 to 5 experience nature in a new way. 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 to .6 mile round-trip hike. Of course, if you are having fun you can choose to continue on & enjoy more of the beautiful trails at Botna Bend without posted activities. Your Little Tike Hike will begin near the bison pen located along the main park road. Watch for posted signs to guide you to your starting point. This event is completely self-guided. It is free to all park users with paid park admission.
The great outdoors begins in your own backyard. Join us for our new programming series "Gardening for Diversity". Saturday, October 16th at 3:00 p.m. at Hitchcock Nature Center. Participants at this session will learn how to identify and harvest native seeds, how to store them for the future, & how to continue to enhance your gardens at home!
Gardening for Diversity is a series that will walk participants through creating your own diverse native gardens through a mix of classroom learning & hands-on gardening exercises. Each session will cover different aspects of native gardening, from planning to planting to maintaining, & is perfect for beginning gardeners & anyone who is looking for new ways to incorporate native plantings in your own garden.
Attendees will enjoy hands-on work as they plan, plant, & maintain a native garden with guidance from our staff. Attendees are not required to attend every program session but each programming session will build on the next & our recommendation is to attend as many as you are able to for the best experience.
The cost is $15.00 per person per session & includes program materials & admission to the park, we ask that participants be age 14 or older, please. Online pre-registration is required as space is limited. For questions not answered online please call 712-545-3283.
*In the event of cancellation due to inclement weather participants will be notified via the email address provided during registration.
Due to COVID-19 the format of this program may be adjusted, please check back for updates.
This event is not pet-friendly, service animals are always welcome. Weather Permitting.
Enjoy free live music outside Saturdays from 4 pm - 7 pm In the Loess Hills. Bring a chair, taste some local food and savor fall in the hills!
Join us and celebrated educator Ron Cisar for another session of "A Land Ethic Workshop". This program will be held entirely online and is perfect for anyone with an interest in conservation and a desire to develop a better understanding of the natural world outside their own front door. Our October program participants will enjoy an introduction to the science behind our annual fall color and a look at the process of photosynthesis.
This program is intended for participants age 14 and over. The cost is $15.00 per session. Pre-registration is required for this online program, visit www.pottconservation.com for details and to register online.
Since 1991, Hitchcock Nature Center’s HawkWatch volunteer group has been recording the migration of thousands of hawks, eagles, owls, and other raptors, and it’s time to celebrate their important work! Help celebrate their 30th anniversary on Sunday, October 17th between 1 - 4:00 p.m. and join us for several fun activities where you and your family can learn more about the fascinating world of raptors:
- Meet live raptors rescued by our friends at Fontenelle Forest
- Attend a presentation from Ty Smedes, a world-traveled wildlife photographer
- Climb up the observation tower and get to know our full-time Hawk Counter Caleb Strand who will share raptor facts
- Meet our experienced HawkWatch volunteers
- Swing by our refreshment table for lemonade and cookies, sponsored by our welcome desk volunteers
Make a day out of it by fitting in a hike before or after and see if you can spy any Hitchcock raptors soaring or perched above! This event is free with park admission or an annual pass.
Join Bellevue Bicycle Club members as they ride down to Silver City or Malvern from Council Bluffs and enjoy the fall colors along the Wabash Trace Trail. A stop may include Toby Jack's in Mineola for refreshments. Membership in the BBC is not required.
In fall 2018, we partnered with Pottawattamie County Conservation and Iowa Prairie Network on two events for native prairie seed harvest. We've expanded the program each year since then. We are working with local partners to find volunteers for the project. Volunteers will visit local prairie remnants and learn how to identify which plants are available for seed collection. The hand-collected seed will then be used for local prairie restoration and reconstruction projects.
Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge. The event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. Details at goldenhillsrcd.org/prairieseed
The Taco Ride takes place every Thursday evening on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Mineola, Iowa, and back. The scenic ride is about 20 miles through the Loess Hills and ends with dinner at Tobey Jack's Mineola Steakhouse. The weekly rides take place from when the trail is dry enough in the spring (usually in April or May) until late in the fall (usually until Halloween).
Most riders start at Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Park where parking is available. Slightly more than halfway between the trailhead and Tobey Jack's, many riders will stop at a picnic area, nicknamed Margaritaville, for a quick break and to join in a conversation with fellow bikers or to partake in refreshments they brought with them.
Note: The Taco Ride is a weekly event. It runs every Thursday evening during most of the year, weather permitting. Visit the Taco Ride website, linked below, for event news. For more information about the ride, visit our blog.
Join Angels Care Home Health and American Red Cross for a spooktacular Vein Drain Blood Drive. Blood donation is essential to ensuring community health. We hope to see you there! To register, contact Jessica Duncan at jessica.duncan@angmarcompanies.com.
Note: American Red Cross requires that donors - vaccinated or unvaccinated - must wear a mask.
Promotion Details: We are partnering with Zaxby’s to offer donors who come to give Oct. 1-31, 2021, a free Zaxby’s Signature Sandwich reward. Or for donors who don’t live near a Zaxby’s or would prefer a different offer, a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Examples of e-gift cards include Amazon, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, etc. Thank you!
Arrowhead Trail Run is a 5k marked course at Arrowhead Park near Neola, Iowa. Choose the traditional 5k distance, 2 laps for a 10k, or complete as many laps as you can in a 4 hour Enduro! Medals will be awarded for the top 3 Males and Females in the Competitive Waves of the 5k, 10k, and Enduro events. If you wish to jog, walk or hike for fun at your own pace, choose the Open Wave. Enjoy the scenic lake and wooded views on the trails and grounds of beautiful Arrowhead Park. 100% non-profit event with all proceeds supporting the Pottawattamie County Trails Association.
Have a "howling" good time at Hitchcock Nature Center during Hitchcock Haunted Hollow from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23rd. This all-ages program is the perfect way to get outdoors & explore autumn in Iowa. Participants may arrive anytime between 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 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 & return victorious. Costumes are welcome! Participants will be able to choose their route based on age & skill level.
The cost is $5.00 per person age 4 & over & includes park admission. Children age 3 & under are free & do not need a reservation. Online pre-registration is required as space is limited. Please note, this event will be held outdoors & involve pedestrian travel over uneven surfaces. Strollers are not permitted. Please dress for the weather, bug spray & water are recommended.
This flea market is for anyone looking for a place to sell any and all of your used wedding items. Decorations, flowers, chair covers, jewelry and so much more!! For just $15 you can set up your table to sell anything wedding-related. Upcoming couples, this is a great opportunity to get a great deal on gently or never-used wedding items. Admission is free to the public!
Have a "howling" good time at Hitchcock Nature Center during Hitchcock Haunted Hollow from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 24th. This all-ages program is the perfect way to get outdoors & explore autumn in Iowa. Participants may arrive anytime between 1:00 p.m. & 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 & return victorious. Costumes are welcome! Participants will be able to choose their route based on age & skill level.
The cost is $5.00 per person age 4 & over & includes park admission. Children age 3 & under are free & do not need a reservation. Online pre-registration is required as space is limited. Please note, this event will be held outdoors & involve pedestrian travel over uneven surfaces. Strollers are not permitted. Please dress for the weather, bug spray & water are recommended.
Come dressed in your costumes for the Treynor Spooktacular! The trunk or treat is free to participate in and will be located in the west parking lot.
$5 admission for ages 4 and up for the Carnival and Pumpkin Patch. Admission includes access to the carnival, pumpkins from the Haunted Patch, Halloween Bingo, kids train rides, a petting zoo, and more!
The Taco Ride takes place every Thursday evening on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Mineola, Iowa, and back. The scenic ride is about 20 miles through the Loess Hills and ends with dinner at Tobey Jack's Mineola Steakhouse. The weekly rides take place from when the trail is dry enough in the spring (usually in April or May) until late in the fall (usually until Halloween).
Most riders start at Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Park where parking is available. Slightly more than halfway between the trailhead and Tobey Jack's, many riders will stop at a picnic area, nicknamed Margaritaville, for a quick break and to join in a conversation with fellow bikers or to partake in refreshments they brought with them.
Note: The Taco Ride is a weekly event. It runs every Thursday evening during most of the year, weather permitting. Visit the Taco Ride website, linked below, for event news. For more information about the ride, visit our blog.
The IMPACT for Women Summit on October 28, is the inaugural event for the Women's Fund of Southwest Iowa. This half-day event is packed with dynamic conversations geared toward sharing knowledge and building community to support women in our region. The morning discussion is focused on women in the workforce and the most relevant work happening from a statewide perspective with Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Also scheduled are two fast-moving conversations -- one regarding childcare as a driver of economic development featuring Dawn Oliver Wiand, executive director of the Iowa Women's Foundation, and the other on opportunities and challenges around aging in place in rural communities with Lakelyn Hogan, Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate with Home Instead Senior Care. The summit culminates with Elizabeth Smart, the renowned author and nationally recognized advocate for change related to child abduction, recovery programs, and national legislation.
This is a hybrid event with online and in-person (Ameristar Casino Hotel) options available.
All ghosts and goblins are invited to wear costumes and collect yummy treats from local businesses in Carson!
Participating businesses:
Businesses at the Community Center parking lot:
Come enjoy Halloween Treats on Main Street! Stop by City Hall, The Painted Camel Gallery, the Pioneer Trail Museum, TS Bank, The Back Forty Bar & Grill, the Post Office, and enjoy treats from other local organizations like the Grist Mills McCready Theater, Riverside Links, and more.
In fall 2018, we partnered with Pottawattamie County Conservation and Iowa Prairie Network on two events for native prairie seed harvest. We've expanded the program each year since then. We are working with local partners to find volunteers for the project. Volunteers will visit local prairie remnants and learn how to identify which plants are available for seed collection. The hand-collected seed will then be used for local prairie restoration and reconstruction projects.
Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge. The event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. Details at goldenhillsrcd.org/prairieseed
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 associated with Halloween. Ages 16+.
Join us and celebrated educator Ron Cisar for another session of "A Land Ethic Workshop". This program will be held entirely online and is perfect for anyone with an interest in conservation and a desire to develop a better understanding of the natural world outside their own front door. Our November program participants will explore the process of nature's annual decomposition and the organisms responsible for breaking down organic matter.
This program is intended for participants age 14 and over. The cost is $15.00 per session. Pre-registration is required for this online program, visit www.pottconservation.com for details and to register online.
This overnight investigation is a “Thirteen” event.
Your time will be spent in the most haunted areas with limited guests.
The haunted Squirrel Cage Jail is a haven for the paranormal.
Our overnight Ghost Hunts at this location will definitely test your nerve as you explore this vast and daunting location.
Squirrel Cage Jail was the home of “Jake Bird” the Evil Serial Killer who took the lives of 46 Victims.
Many visitors and overnight Ghost Hunters have witnessed and experience some of the most harrowing paranormal experiences here.
Who are the lost souls that still make their presence known and are often seen wandering the dark halls of this abandoned jail?
Your ghost hunt at Squirrel Cage Jail includes the following
This overnight investigation is a “Thirteen” event.
Your time will be spent in the most haunted areas with limited guests.
The haunted Squirrel Cage Jail is a haven for the paranormal.
Our overnight Ghost Hunts at this location will definitely test your nerve as you explore this vast and daunting location.
Squirrel Cage Jail was the home of “Jake Bird” the Evil Serial Killer who took the lives of 46 Victims.
Many visitors and overnight Ghost Hunters have witnessed and experience some of the most harrowing paranormal experiences here.
Who are the lost souls that still make their presence known and are often seen wandering the dark halls of this abandoned jail?
Your ghost hunt at Squirrel Cage Jail includes the following
To celebrate the band's 20th year on the road, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is mounting an all-new production of the show that first turned them into an arena-rock phenomenon. First performed in 1999 and recorded for a TV special – which became just as much of a holiday staple as ‘The Sound of Music' – ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve' was conceived by Paul O'Neill, TSO's original mastermind.
The inaugural MAGE (Mid-America Gamers Expo) will take place in Council Bluffs in November! Powered by the Iowa West Foundation, this unique multi-tiered, three-day esports festival will be held at the Mid-America Center and will feature three main components.
Friday, November 19 from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, November 20 from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday, November 21 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tickets and entries for the tournament and LAN Party are now available! A variety of options are being offered including single day and weekend passes, LAN Party admission, and Tournament entry for teams and individuals wishing to be placed on a team. Click here for more information!
Always fresh, lively, and thoroughly entertaining, The Nutcracker returns with the visual splendor and charming story that make it a family favorite. Set to one of composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s most famous works, it transports audiences to the enchanting Land of Snow and the opulent Kingdom of Sweets, featuring a uniquely breathtaking Waltz of the Flowers scene. The Nutcracker features lavish sets and more than 250 beautiful costumes.
Happens on the following Dates:
Always fresh, lively, and thoroughly entertaining, The Nutcracker returns with the visual splendor and charming story that make it a family favorite. Set to one of composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s most famous works, it transports audiences to the enchanting Land of Snow and the opulent Kingdom of Sweets, featuring a uniquely breathtaking Waltz of the Flowers scene. The Nutcracker features lavish sets and more than 250 beautiful costumes.
Happens on the following Dates:
This overnight investigation is a “Thirteen” event.
Your time will be spent in the most haunted areas with limited guests.
The haunted Squirrel Cage Jail is a haven for the paranormal.
Our overnight Ghost Hunts at this location will definitely test your nerve as you explore this vast and daunting location.
Squirrel Cage Jail was the home of “Jake Bird” the Evil Serial Killer who took the lives of 46 Victims.
Many visitors and overnight Ghost Hunters have witnessed and experience some of the most harrowing paranormal experiences here.
Who are the lost souls that still make their presence known and are often seen wandering the dark halls of this abandoned jail?
Your ghost hunt at Squirrel Cage Jail includes the following
This overnight investigation is a “Thirteen” event.
Your time will be spent in the most haunted areas with limited guests.
The haunted Squirrel Cage Jail is a haven for the paranormal.
Our overnight Ghost Hunts at this location will definitely test your nerve as you explore this vast and daunting location.
Squirrel Cage Jail was the home of “Jake Bird” the Evil Serial Killer who took the lives of 46 Victims.
Many visitors and overnight Ghost Hunters have witnessed and experience some of the most harrowing paranormal experiences here.
Who are the lost souls that still make their presence known and are often seen wandering the dark halls of this abandoned jail?
Your ghost hunt at Squirrel Cage Jail includes the following
As we count the blessings of this past year, we celebrate the power of coming together. We are grateful for one another and energized by what we can do when we rally together and give. Giving Tuesday will happen across the globe on November 30 this year. In our corner of the world, this is our day to prove the power of our region. We declare November 30th as #GivingTuesday402 in the Omaha metro and #GivingTuesday712 in Southwest Iowa. It is time to give what we can and do what is needed. Join SHARE Omaha on November 30 and be a part of hearts and hands giving to hundreds of local nonprofits across the metro. You can easily make needed donations, find volunteer opportunities and be counted on this powerful day of giving in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro. Give on November 30, all in one stop, at SHAREomaha.org. Giving Tuesday in the metro is powered by SHARE Omaha, with #GivingTuesday402 presented by Core Bank and #GivingTuesday712 presented by TS Bank.
Exhibitors presenting and selling thousands of unique, handmade products. Among the various products being sold at the show are leather goods, oak, pine and wine barrel furniture, paintings and prints, ceramics, kids teepees, wall hangings, toys, blankets, jewelry, metal art sculptures, pet products, etched and stained glass, yard and garden art, pottery, candles, clothing, quilts, aprons, pillows, doll clothes, baskets, rugs, placemats, table runners, purses, floral arrangements and wreaths, wood and metal signs, soap and lotions, emu oils and many more original products. Exhibitors will also be selling coffee cakes, dips, salsa, barbeque sauce, soups, jams, jellies, cheese and sausage, wines, fudge, honey, food mixes, and roasted nuts. All items offered for sale to the public are handmade by the exhibitor.
Our winter blood drive is coming up, and we have appointments to fill! Join us in our partnership with the American Red Cross to give the gift of life on December 7th! If you can't join us on December 7th, we'd love to see you at our spring blood drive.
Join us and celebrated educator Ron Cisar for another session of "A Land Ethic Workshop". This program will be held entirely online and is perfect for anyone with an interest in conservation and a desire to develop a better understanding of the natural world outside their own front door. Our December program participants will explore winter adaptations of the plant and animal world as well as tips and tricks for effective winter bird feeding.
This program is intended for participants age 14 and over. The cost is $15.00 per session. Pre-registration is required for this online program, visit www.pottconservation.com for details and to register online.
Come down to the Mid-America Center for two days of exciting arenacross racing! The event will be held on December 31 and January 1. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m., and the racing starts at 7:00.
