Critters & Wildlife of the Iowa River Greenbelt; Presentation, Hike, & Optional Paddle

JOIN US ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Join us for an adventuresome afternoon & evening as Dr. Jim Pease tells tales about the unique critters and wildlife that live in and along the Iowa River in Hardin County.  

Jim has paddled Iowa's rivers since age 12 and is a wildlife & interpretive specialist who will help you find and understand the critters that call the Iowa River Greenbelt home.   See below for more background on presenter Dr. Jim Pease.

Following the presentation there will be a hike along the nature trail at Calkins Nature Center to the river to see if Jim can conjure up some critters.   The indoor session and hike are limited to 20 participants.

An optional paddle will follow the presentation & hike at approximately 6:00 pm for a “round trip paddle” in and out of Weaver's Cove in Iowa Falls.   Maximum number of canoes/kayaks is 12.

Paddlers may use their own canoe/kayak/paddle/PFDs or contact Mary Hyland at 641-373-6302 to reserve one of the 6 canoes/paddles/PFDs provided by Hardin County Conservation on a first-come/first-served basis.   Everyone will be required to wear a PFD while on the water.

What to bring/wear:  Tennis shoes or hiking boots and if paddling shoes you do not mind getting wet, bug spray, water, sun glasses, jacket, and anything else you may need to be comfortable in the woods and/or on the river, plus an adventuresome attitude!

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF canoes/kayaks FOR THE PADDLE IS 12.  Please indicate the number
of boats for you and "friends" when you register.

This event is free, but registration is required.

ONLINE REGISTRATION will be open until openings are filled or Friday September 20th.  

After that date, please contact Mary Hyland at 641-373-6302.  

Click on the link below to register. 

Register Now! ONLINE REGISTRATION will be open until openings are filled or Friday, September 20.  After that date, please contact Mary Hyland at 641-373-6302.

 

PRESENTER:  Dr. Jim Pease has over 3 decades of experience as a front-line interpreter, professor of interpretation, and writer and consultant on many interpretive and environmental education projects.  He has taught thousands, from youth through senior citizens, in formal and non-formal settings, written dozens of publications for professionals and lay people alike, and communicated by a regular statewide radio program, TV segments, podcasts, and websites.  His experience includes teaching interpretation to undergraduate and graduate students for 24 years, research on impact of interpretive and education strategies, over two decades as an Extension Wildlife Specialist, director of Iowa's NatureMappig and master Conservationist programs, and fifteen years in youth development and natural resources.  He helped design and coordinate Iowa's new Master River Stewards program with Iowa Rivers Revival.  Now retired from Iowa State University, he consults on a variety of projects, leads international trips, and can be heard monthly on Iowa Public Radio's "Talk of Iowa" program.

Find more information about Hardin County Conservation and Calkins Nature Center, at: http://hardincountyconservation.com  

Find more information about the Iowa River Greenbelt Water Trail at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/riverprograms/Iowa%20River,%20Hamilton%20Co.pdf?amp;tabid=868

Click on the link above to register.