UNDER THE OAK TREE · 6,7- ACORN overnight trip to Dubuque/Galena 10- Board Meeting 11- Day Camp– animal tracks 13- Day Camp– mythical animals 15- At the Park Family Canoeing

VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV UNDER THE OAK TREE PAGE 1

HOW TO BUILD A BACKYARD BUTTERFLY HABITAT When: Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. at Oakland Mills Nature Center

Lots of flowers and not as many butterflies? What do butterflies need to be attracted to your garden? This program

will give you those answers and tell you what you need to do to attract and keep butterflies in your area. Includes

butterfly habitat design, tips, and some "secrets" to a successful butterfly habitat. Provides information to meet

qualification for Backyard Habitat Status from the National Wildlife Federation as well as LIVE butterflies.

WINTER 2013

Thank you, cabin rentals,

animal sponsors

2

Calendar of Events 3

ACORN 2013 Schedule 4

Night hike photos and

thanks, David Stokes

program, Country School

film

5

Kid’s Corner, items 9

Programs 8

Hunting by Willie Amos 6,7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

A NEWSLETTER OF THE HENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

UNDER THE OAK TREEUNDER THE OAK TREE

MAPLE SYRUP

DEMONSTRATION

Top of the Hill

March 2, 2013

9:00 a.m. to noon

Tapping trees, evaporator,

syrup tasting

WE’VE GOT THE BESTWE’VE GOT THE BESTWE’VE GOT THE BESTWE’VE GOT THE BEST By: John Pullis, Executive Director

Super Bowl XLVII was recently played in New Orleans. The football game

featured the Harbaugh brothers, John and Jim, as opposing coaches. John is the head

coach of the Baltimore Ravens and Jim, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Much of the media hype leading up to the game focused, of course, on the brothers and

their parents, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh. Jack was a long-time college football coach.

As a youngster, Jack and his cousin had a favorite saying, “Who’s got it

better than us? Nooo-body!” It was an approach to life Jack passed on to his

children. This football season, Jim adopted this phrase as a motto for his 49er’s team.

This story made me think about the volunteers we have at the Conservation

Department.

With a staff of only four, we have come to rely on our volunteers for nearly

everything we do. From our school programs, such as Pioneer Days and the Night

Hike, to hosting the Nature Center on weekends, to nearly any construction project…

Nature Center renovations, building cabins, all we need to do is place a few phone calls

to our volunteers and they’re ready and waiting.

Aside from the physical help our volunteers provide, they’re a huge source of

information, as well as some much appreciated comic relief. Their respective careers

have run the gamut…a retired pharmacist, retired educators, a retired commercial

airline pilot, a retired prison guard, a graphic designer, etc. What more could we ask

for when we have a problem to solve or need a question answered? As proof of their

commitment to the department, our volunteers have logged over 1,000 hours of service

each of the past 8 years.

To our volunteers, we say “Thank you” and “Who’s got it better than we

do? Nooo-body!”


Barred Owl SponsorsBarred Owl Sponsors Todd Brereton; John and Mary Ann Freeland; Henry County Nature Society;

Hy-Vee, Inc.; Mt. Pleasant; Duane and Joni Maxwell; Lori Muntz;

Real Estate, by Waters; Alexandria Rowe; Steffensmeier Surveying

RECREATIONAL RENTAL CABIN RATES

Henry County Conservation Department has two

rental cabins overlooking the Skunk River.

Call at 319-986-5067 or go on-line at

www.henrycountyconservation.com for more information and to

check reservation availability.

PEAK SEASON OFF-PEAK SEASON

April 1st—October 31st November 1st—March 31st

Sunday - Thursday $ 55.00 per night Sunday - Thursday $ 50.00 per night

Friday - Saturday $ 75.00 per night Friday - Saturday $ 65.00 per night

One week (7 days) $350.00 per week One week (7 days) $325.00 per week

A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes to all of the individuals, families, groups, businesses, and organizations that have donated time, talent, money, or items to the Henry County Conservation Department or to the Oakland Mills Nature Center.

John & Sherla Arp

Big Creek Outdoors, Jim & Shelly

Smith

Boone Historical Society

Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad

Dan & Lois Braun

Sandy Breazeale

Todd Brereton & Lori Muntz

Tony Brown

Harold & Sharon Busby

Ann Davis, Gary R. David Memorial

Vern & Carolyn Dorothy

Ricardo & Joy Dow

Jan R. Feltes

Scott Flam

John and Mary Ann Freeland

Friends of Conservation in Henry

County Foundation

Mike Prottsman

Dr. Pete & Jan Rankin

Kenny & Sharon Rhum

Mandy Riley

River Rock Café, Butch Bittle

Christina Roelofs, Shelby-Audubon Co.

Ralph & Helen See

Seminar Crowds, Barb Miller

Carroll Smith

SOAR, Kay Neumann

Don and Gene Stewart

UNI-CEEE

Sarah Virden

Jake Virden

Deb Vroom

Larry & Dee Wagner

Jane Woodsmall

RedRed--tailed Hawk Sponsorstailed Hawk Sponsors Allie's on Jackson Street; Electronic Engineering Co.; Otto and Collette

Groenewald; David McCoid; Dan Peterson; Q P & P; Paulette Shappell; Wells Fargo

Advisors, LLC, Pat McCabe and Dan McCabe, Financial Advisors

Bev Garrels

Clark & Peggy Hays

Henry County Nature Society

Linn Hunsaker

Iris Dental, P.C.—Michael Fitzpatrick

Bruce Krause

Robert Latta

Mary Jane Leyden

Jim & Erica Macbeth

Mahaska County Conservation Dept.,

Laura DeCook

Joan Millard

Syd Millard

Mississippi River Eco-Tourism Center,

Clinton County Conservation

Tina Myers

Sandy & Dave Neff

Prairie States Mushroom Club

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED


Kestrel SponsorsKestrel Sponsors Allie’s on Jackson Street; Friends of Conservation in

Henry County; Iris Dental P.C.; Mike Prottsman;

Q P & P; Jared and Cole Smith

Bobcat SponsorsBobcat Sponsors Allie’s on Jackson Street; Sharon Barton; Sam Beatty; Jan Feltes; Bruce and

Bertha King; Q P & P; Eugene and June Schutte; Deborah Fisher Vroom;

Drs. Steve and Mary Wettach

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

“Like Us”

2013 Calendar2013 Calendar

This calendar could be subject to change. Check out our website at www.henrycountyconservation.com for more details

and full listings on all our programs and to download necessary registration forms.

February

7- ACORN Animal Valentines

7- At the Park Fly-tying

11- Board Meeting

18- Offices closed for President’s Day holiday

21,28- At the Park Fly-tying

March

2- At the Park Maple Syrup demonstration

7- ACORN Sunshine’s Surprise, live hawk

9- Hunter Education

11- Board Meeting

April

TBA Camping/Nature Center open for the season

8- Board Meeting

11- ACORN trip to Buchanan Co., Fontana Park

23- At the Park ButterfliZ Iowa, backyard habitat

May

2- ACORN Ice Age program, atlatals

6- At the Park David Stokes, Laughing With the Animals

at Van Allen Elementary

13- Board Meeting

14- 5th grade Pioneer Days at Oakland Mills

15- 5th grade Pioneer Days at Oakland Mills

27- Offices closed for Memorial Day holiday

June

6,7- ACORN overnight trip to Dubuque/Galena

10- Board Meeting

11- Day Camp– animal tracks

13- Day Camp– mythical animals

15- At the Park Family Canoeing at Oakland Mills

17- Day Camp– rivers and ponds part 1

19- Day Camp– rivers and ponds part 2

21- Day Camp– canoe scavenger hunt at Gibson,

under 3rd grade must have an adult

24- Day Camp– owls and what they eat

26- Day Camp– “Head to Toe”

28- Day Camp– canoe Geode 4th grade+

July

4- Offices closed for 4th of July holiday

8- Board Meeting

9- Day Camp– fishing

11- Day Camp– archery and BB guns

12- Day Camp– canoe river 5th grade+

15- Night Camp– digital scavenger hunt

16- ACORN trip to Office of the State Archaeologist

17- Night Camp – GPS treasure hunt

19- Family canoe at Geode

20- At the Park Girls’ Morning Out 12 years+

August

12- Board Meeting

20- ACORN trip to Honey Creek and coal mine museum

25- At the Park Outdoor Cooking

September

2- Offices closed for Labor Day holiday

9- Board Meeting

12- ACORN trip to Wapello Zoo and pumpkin patch

17- At the Park Film Country School: One Room, One

Nation, appearance by producers

October

TBA At the Park Night Hike- A Night Out

TBA Camping and Oakland Mills Nature Center closes for

the season

10,11- ACORN overnight trip to Omaha, wildlife refuge

14- Board Meeting

November

1- ACORN bats and building bat houses

11- Offices closed for Veteran’s Day holiday

11- Board Meeting

28,29- Offices closed for Thanksgiving holiday

December

9- Board Meeting

13- ACORN annual potluck and movie Green Fire

25- Offices closed for Christmas holiday


A.C.O.R.N. Club Adult Conservation Oriented Responsible Neighbors

“We’re all a bunch of nature nuts!”“We’re all a bunch of nature nuts!”“We’re all a bunch of nature nuts!”“We’re all a bunch of nature nuts!”

February 7, 2013 Animal Valentines

10:00 a.m. Free Program; EE classroom; bring Valentine snack to share. Conservation will provide sandwiches.

March 7, 2013 “Sunshine’s Surprise” movie and appearance by a live red-tailed hawk

10:00 a.m. Free program, but fee for those wanting pizza; EE classroom; movie is one hour long- it’s a tale of a red-tailed hawk who hatched chicken eggs. Beautiful story about an interspecies relationship. Pizza in EE classroom afterward.

April 11, 2013 Buchanan County Conservation- Fontana Park

8:00 a.m. See their nature center and many outdoor live animals; program “Outdoor General Store” with a focus on buffalo by their

naturalist; bring sack lunch; depart from Oakland Mills Nature Center. $$TBA

May 2, 2013 Ice Age presentation then atlatal demonstration and participation

10:00 a.m. Free presentation highlights many ice age mammals; DeBrito’s for lunch following presentation; EE classroom.

June 6-7, 2013 Dubuque/Galena – overnight stay

7:00 a.m. Itinerary and cost to be confirmed; Plans include Maquoketa Caves program, Crystal Lake Cave, Linmar Gardens (with

luncheon), and evening tours (Civil War Lamplight tour or Ghost Walk). Other possibilities include the Galena Historical

Museum, historical bus tour of the area, President Grant’s home, alpaca farm, and Hurtsville Kilns. Participants will

make their own hotel reservations at Stoney Creek Inn, phone 815-777-2223 and tell them you are part of the Henry

County Conservation block. Trip and hotel deadline is May 3, 2013. Hotel room: $77.00 based on double occupancy. Each

additional person per room is $10. Breakfast included.

July 16, 2013 Office of the State Archaeologist- Iowa City

8:30 a.m. Tour of their facility plus program on “Iowa Prehistory”- what we know about ancient Iowa. The tour will give a little

insight into how artifacts are recovered, processed, and stored. The group will see the equipment used in excavation,

cleaning, and processing material and can see some of the material stored in their repositories. Depart from Oakland

Mills Nature Center. Lunch at Olive Garden. Visit to Devonian fossil gorge after lunch, weather permitting (heat). No

fossil collecting, but worth seeing. $$TBA

August 20, 2013 Honey Creek and Coal Mine Museum in Centerville

8:00 a.m. Walking tour of Honey Creek resort lodge. Program on their LEED certification by their naturalist and tour of their solar

activities building. Visit museum in afternoon. Bring your lunch. $$TBA

Sept. 12, 2013 Wapello Zoological Farm and Barnyard Blooms

9:00 a.m. Visit the area’s newest zoo. After, we will have lunch in Wapello, then head to Grandview to Barnyard Blooms for their

fall activities- including an optional corn maze. $$TBA

Oct. 10-11, 2013 DeSoto Bend and the Omaha area- overnight stay

7:00 a.m. View fall migration in full swing- hundreds of snow geese and other waterfowl. Nature Center and refuge tour. Will visit

Omaha’s Henry Dorley Zoo with an aquarium program just for us. Loess Hills information to be given on bus. Evening

program includes Humanities Iowa speaker Darrel Draper as Teddy Roosevelt at our hotel. Stop at Shelby-Audubon

County on the way home for catered lunch and live bald eagle program. Depart from Oakland Mills Nature Center.

$$TBA Participants will make their own hotel reservations at Country Inn and Suites Council Bluffs, phone 712-322-

8282 and tell them you are part of the Henry County Conservation block. Trip and hotel deadline is September 6, 2013.

Hotel room: $77.00 includes breakfast.

Nov. 1, 2013 Bats!

10:00 a.m. Free program. EE classroom. Bring your lunch and after, those of you that want to stay, will make bat houses. Cost for

bat house materials only.

Dec. 13, 2013 “Green Fire” movie and annual potluck to follow

10:00 a.m. Movie highlights Aldo Leopold’s career and contributions to conservation. EE classroom for the movie with potluck being

in the basement of the conservation offices. Free. Bring favorite holiday dish to share. Soup will be provided.

*Reminder postcards or emails are sent out each month for those that are interested in the A.C.O.R.N. program.

Costs and itineraries are announced when the reminders are sent. You may also listen to Cari Nicely, Naturalist,

on KILJ Radio on the first Thursday of the month for updates to all programs.

Boone Scenic

Railroad


Funny Bones was the theme of the 2012 fall night hike. It focused on animal groups with and

without backbones. There were activities and door prizes in the Oakland Mills Nature Center.

About 140 people attended this event despite the rain. This annual event is held in October.

Thank you to the following people or businesses who helped make this night happen:

Boy Scout Troop 24 Hy-Vee Tony Brown Chris Nicely

Mt. Pleasant News Jane Woodsmall Kent White Kristin Burnstedt

Wesleyan Seminar Class Fairfield Ledger Jim Onorato Chance Nicely

Linn and Julie Hunsaker Mitchell Burnstedt KILJ Radio Susan Farnsworth

Dr. Lori Muntz Jerry Barker Salem Newsletter

Like community theater but want minimal time commitments? Interested in acting? Would like to participate in

conservation activities? Contact Cari Nicely, naturalist, at 319-986-5067 if you want to be part of this year’s night

hike! Date not yet set, but will be first part of October. Food chains are revealed in the 2013 theme: “A Night Out.”

DAVID STOKES Laughing With the AnimalsLaughing With the Animals

Monday, May 6, 2013 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 a.m. shows

Van Allen Elementary

Wisconsin naturalist David Stokes

uses songs, stories, movement,

riddles, and hands-on materials, to

actively engage students in learning.

Live animals and animal artifacts are

used in his programs. He is being

sponsored by Q P & P; Allie’s on

Jackson Street; and Wells Fargo

Advisors LLC, Pat McCabe and Dan

McCabe, Financial Advisors. Contact

Cari at 319-986-5067 to sign your

class up! Note: Only 9 a.m. show open.

COUNTRY SCHOOL:

ONE ROOM, ONE NATION

With film producers Kelly & Tammy Rundle

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013

Film starts at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Q & A session

Oakland Mills Nature Center

Film synopsis taken from Film synopsis taken from countryschoolmovie.comcountryschoolmovie.com::

“Country schools took rough-hewn pioneers and multilingual

immigrants and transformed them into a literate and patriotic new

nation. Whether personally, or through a parent or grandparent, the

country school as an American architectural icon, is as imprinted on our

perception of the nation’s early history as the log cabin and the general

store. Stories told by former teachers and students are often nostalgic,

but they are also dramatic, humorous, and heart-wrenching….”

This program is supported by Humanities Iowa and the National This program is supported by Humanities Iowa and the National This program is supported by Humanities Iowa and the National This program is supported by Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by this Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by this Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by this Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National Endowment for the Humanities.Endowment for the Humanities.Endowment for the Humanities.Endowment for the Humanities.


HOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED By: Willie Amos

On November 6, 2008, my life changed forever. That day, I fell 28 feet from my tree stand while deer hunting. I was

instantly paralyzed from the waist down. With the help of a good friend Steve Witthoft, who was with me that day and the fast

response of the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, the Mt. Pleasant Police, and Henry County EMTs, I was life flighted out of

the timber very quickly. Life as I knew it changed from that day forward.

It’s been four years since that accident and I won’t bore you with the details of rehab and surgeries and all the things

that have come with a life-changing injury or just, in general, the changes I have had to make living with a disability. While it

was and still is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with, some of the things I loved to do in the past still have not

changed. Especially hunting. While it is different now than it used to be, it is still something that I very much have a passion

for. I have had to change the way I do it and while it has been difficult, it hasn’t been impossible.

I have a 4x4 wheel chair that I use to get in and out of the timber. It’s a beast. It gets me wherever I need to go

relatively unscathed although I have tipped it over a few times in the timber and have had the batteries nearly die a few

evenings coming out. Since I do most of my hunting by myself, those days certainly were interesting for sure! I shoot with a

crossbow now and of course don’t hunt from a tree stand. Hunting from the ground has been interesting, to say the least. I have

a pickup truck that picks my 4x4 wheelchair up and safely puts it in the back of my truck and then unloads it right next to my

truck door when I am ready to hunt. I have been fortunate that technology in handicapped vehicles has greatly advanced and

has allowed me to use these tools to continue to hunt.

I am also fortunate that the awareness of disabled hunters needing places to hunt has moved forward. That is where

the Henry County Conservation Department, local people, and several outdoor organizations such as the Henry County

Chapters of The National Wild Turkey Federation and Whitetails Unlimited have really stepped in. Hunting ground is very

hard to come by these days in Henry County, especially for a disabled hunter because landowners are somewhat leery of

allowing someone in a wheelchair on their property because of liability issues. I can understand that, but it really should not be

a concern. I have been lucky enough to have a few places to hunt and am very grateful for those opportunities and to the folks

who have opened up their land to me.

The late season has always been a challenge for me. My body doesn’t take the cold like it used to and the snow on the

ground makes it difficult to get to some places even though my chair gets through it pretty good. The biggest issue is the

temperature, so I usually didn’t do much hunting in the late season and missed some good opportunities due to the cold

weather. I heard that Henry County had some accessible hunting blinds that they, several people, and a few organizations

worked together to build.

I made a call and was given the specifics of the blinds. To say I was excited would have been an understatement! I was

also a little skeptical as sometimes things that most people think are accessible really are not that accessible when you actually

try to use them.

I made plans to go out to the conservation office and get permits for a week to hunt using the new blinds. Jim Smith

volunteered to go with me the first time to

be sure everything would work out. Our

schedules didn’t quite mesh the first week

as we planned and we could not make our

schedules meet. The first night, I went to

Heron Marsh where there was an accessible

blind that was not far from my house. I

loaded up my chair and all my hunting gear

and headed out to the blind. I was very

surprised when I got there as there was a

very nice trail leading right up to the blind.

They did a nice job of making the blind

blend in with the surroundings as I went

past it by about 300 yards without ever

seeing it.

Once I figured it out and got to the

blind, I was very impressed. I was able to

open the door with a rope that was attached

to the door and roll right in with my 4x4

chair. The minute I was in, I was amazed at

the room and the way the blind was built

and set up. It was extremely spacious and

had windows on all three sides that slide

open. It had a nice bench that moved and

you can pull that closer to you to put your

bow or muzzleloader on for added stability.

Blind at Heron Marsh


Although it was raining that evening, you would never know it while inside. It was perfect! Again, I am a little skeptical of

things like this as a lot of times they just don’t work as good as you hope when you’re in a wheelchair. Keep in mind most things

that are accessible are usually made by people who are not in wheelchairs and although their intentions are good, they don’t

always know the things that need to be done to make them truly accessible. That was not the case with this blind. It was a

perfect fit and the folks who built it did their homework. I think I sat the first hour or so and just smiled. It was a good feeling

to know I was going to be able to stay out in the wintry weather and hunt without getting cold and having to go home early.

I didn’t see any deer that evening, but I had a wonderful time. I never have to see deer to have good time hunting. I

actually like the peacefulness and the scenery much more than the hunt itself. At the end of the evening, I loaded up my stuff

and left.

A few weeks later I was able to get the blind at Ketchum Switch and Jim Smith was able to go with me. We decided to

go in the morning and Jim brought his daughter along for the hunt also. We were really hoping she would get a shot at a deer. I

think the temperature was near 9 degrees; it was as cold as it has ever been. We made the trek to this blind with the snow and

the wind blowing right in our faces. I was happy to see that once we arrived, this blind was much the same as the other. We all

fit in very easily and other than nearly freezing to death, we had a great morning. We didn’t see a deer, but we knew they had

been there as we saw plenty of tracks.

That evening I decided I wanted to go back, thinking that evening would be better. Jim and his daughter headed to the

blind at Heron Marsh and I headed back to Ketchum. Again, it was bitter cold; single digits with several inches of snow on the

ground. I made the journey to the blind and had to maneuver through some deep snow and actually got stuck at one point, but

was able to wiggle my way out and get to the blind. It was a different story that evening. I think I saw my first deer at about

2:30 p.m. They were entering the field from all directions- it looked to be a good night. There were several does and small bucks

eating and sparring in the field. As the evening progressed, some deer exited the field and it was pretty quiet.

Nearing the end of shooting light, I noticed a few deer at the end of the field and one of them was a very nice buck that

was heading my way. I had the windows on the blind cracked open and as the deer got closer I stuck the end of the gun out the

window to get ready for a shot. As I did that, I didn’t notice the does right next to the blind– but they noticed me! They blew and

the field cleared. My heart sank. As I looked out to where the buck was, I noticed he was still there. He was on alert but still

standing there. I eased my gun up and set the crosshairs right on behind his leg and squeezed the trigger. The bullet hit its

mark and the deer fell right where it stood. I probably cleared the rest of the deer from the field with my loud celebration but I

didn’t care- I was pretty happy. I went to inspect the deer and get it ready to take back to the truck. It was a nicer deer than I

thought and I was thrilled. I tagged the deer. Next, I pulled a rope out and wrapped it around the deer and began dragging it

back to my truck. My chair did a great job, except for the last 150 yards when the batteries started to die. I decided I would go

ahead and leave the deer lay so I could call my son Dustin to come and help me get it the rest of the way to my truck.

Dustin and his friend, Jake, came and drug the deer the rest of the way to my vehicle, got it loaded, and we headed out.

I am sure they were freezing– I know I was. Dustin was pretty happy for me. It was great evening!

There are so many things that happened in the months leading up to this day. They are things you don’t know until

afterwards, but I know some very serious sweat and hard work went into building those blinds and a lot of planning and a lot of

people cared enough to make it happen– not for them, but for other people. People they may know and people they may not

know– but that doesn’t matter to them. They just want people of all different ages and backgrounds to enjoy the great outdoors

and I am very grateful for that. I am also happy other people just like me

will be able to enjoy the opportunity to get out hunting.

Note: Dennis Prottsman designed and led the construction of

the handicapped-accessible blinds at Heron Marsh and Ketchum

Switch Recreation Area. He was assisted by Jim Smith. The Henry

County Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation and

Whitetails Unlimited funded and constructed both of these blinds.

Willie Amos

and his

Ketchum

Switch

Buck


DUBUQUE-GALENA TRIP A.C.O.R.N. Club

June 6-7, 2013

Sign-up deadline is May 3, 2013

• Crystal Lake

Cave

• Maquoketa

Caves

• Galena, IL

FAMILY CANOEING June 15, 2013

9:00 a.m. to noon


GIRLS MORNING OUT July 20, 2013

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm.


Ages 12 years and up

OUTDOOR COOKING August 25, 2013

1:00- 4:00 p.m.


OMAHA TRIP A.C.O.R.N. Club October 10-11, 2013

Sign-up deadline is Sept. 6, 2013

• Henry Doorly Zoo with aquarium tour

• Speaker Darrel Draper as Teddy

Roosevelt, sponsored by Humanities Iowa

• Live bald eagle program

• De Soto Bend fall migration

ANNUAL NIGHT HIKE October TBA, 2013

6:00-7:30 p.m.


Theme: food chains

WILDLIFE WATCHERS WANTED!

Do you enjoy watching wildlife? If so, the Iowa DNR’s Volunteer

Wildlife Monitoring Program (VWMP) wants your help! Join them at

an upcoming workshop and learn to be an official VWMP monitor.

2013 Bird Nest Monitoring Workshops

February 23, 2013 - O'Brien County Conservation's Prairie

Learning Center; Peterson, IA;

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

March 16, 2013 - Muscatine County Conservation's Environmental

Learning Center, Discovery Park; Muscatine, IA;

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

March 23, 2013 - Marshall County Conservation's Grimes Farm

and Conservation Center; Marshalltown, IA;

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2013 Frog and Toad Workshops

April 2, 2013 - Osceola County Conservation's Nature Center at

Willow Creek Park; Ocheyedan, IA;

5:30- 9:00 p.m.

April 9, 2013 - Jefferson County Conservation's Nature Center &

Jefferson County Park; Fairfield, IA;

55:30- 9:00 p.m.

April 11, 2013 - Cerro Gordo County Conservation's Nature Center

& Lime Creek Area; Mason City, IA;

5:30- 9:00 p.m.

For more information or to register, visit

www.iowadnr.gov/volunteerwildlifemonitoring/

or call the VWMP at 515-432-2823 x 102.


Kid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s CornerKid’s Corner

MAKING

MAPLE SYRUP Pictured above is the Dorothy Family

Maple Syrup Camp. These structures

were donated by Vern and Carolyn

Dorothy. They are located along the trail

in the Oakland Mills Top of the Hill

area.

In late winter or early spring, a public

program on maple syrup is held. Many

classrooms visit this area for programs

held by Henry County Conservation staff

and volunteers.

This program date varies from year to

year, depending on the temperatures.

Check our web site at

www.henrycountyconservation.com or

listen to KILJ for the date and time to be

announced. This year’s event is March 2,

2013, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

MAPLE SYRUP FACTS

◊ Maple sap is a slightly sweet, colorless liquid. Grade A comes in three

shades: light amber, medium amber, and dark amber.

◊ Maple syrup is classified as one of nature’s most healthful foods.

◊ It takes approximately forty gallons of maple sap to make

one gallon of maple syrup.

◊ A gallon of standard maple syrup weighs 11 pounds and has a sugar

content of 66%.

◊ Maple sap is boiled to remove the water and concentrate the sugars in a

process called evaporation.

◊ A maple tree needs to be about 40 years old and have a diameter of 10

inches before tapping is recommended.

◊ One tap yields 10 to 12 gallons of sap per season (about a quart of syrup).

◊ Warm sunny days above freezing and temperatures below freezing at

night determine the length of the maple

season.

◊ Freezing and thawing temperatures create

pressure and force the sap out of the tree.

◊ The budding of trees makes the syrup taste

bitter and production ceases.

ITEMS NEEDED

Pioneer Days is an event held each May

for all Henry County School District 5th

grade classes. Any small pioneer tools or

gadgets would be appreciated for this

activity. Also, the book “the Garbage

Monster” by Joni Sensel is needed.

Contact Cari at 319-986-5067 to make

arrangements for these donations.

COLOR ME!


Henry County Conservation Department

2593 Nature Center Drive

Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

If you would like to make a monetary donation to the

Henry County Conservation Department, please fill out the

form below and mail it along with your donation to:



Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641-8250

Name: ______________________________________

Please give us your name so that we may thank you in our

newsletter, or you may leave this blank if you wish to remain

anonymous. Thank you for your generosity!

I would like my donation to be used for:

_____ The Oakland Mills Nature Center

_____ Environmental Education

_____ Wildlife Habitat

_____ Park Improvements/Facilities

_____ Wherever is needed the most

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT # 410

MT. PLEASANT, IA 52641

Henry County Conservation

Board of Directors

Sarah Borders, President

Lori Muntz, Vice-president

John Klopfenstein, Member

George Jaques, Member

James Onorato, Member

WE ARE ON THE WEB

www.henrycountyconservation.com

Phone: 319-986-5067

Fax: 319-986-5469

E-mail: [email protected]

A NEWSLETTER OF THE HENRY COUNTY

CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

HCCD Staff

John Pullis, Executive Director

Tony Millard, Operations Supervisor

Marcie Givans, Office Manager

Cari Nicely, Naturalist

Tune to KILJ 105.5 FM on your radio on the first and third

Thursday of each month at 8:20 a.m. to hear updates from

the Henry County Conservation Department!

This newsletter is printed

on recycled paper.

If you would like to receive this newsletter via e-mail, we

can make that happen! You may submit your e-mail

address by calling our office at (319) 986-5067; e-mailing

our office at [email protected]; or by

postal mail to:



Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641-8250

Name: _________________________________________

E-mail:________________________________________

Please give us your mailing address so we can remove you

from our newsletter mailing list. Thank you!

Address: _______________________________________

City:________________________ State:_____________

Zip Code: __________________-____________

Open weekdays by appointment only.

Call 319-986-5067. Live animal display is open year-round.

Documents

UNDER THE OAK TREE · 6,7- ACORN overnight trip to Dubuque/Galena 10- Board Meeting 11- Day Camp– animal tracks 13- Day Camp– mythical animals 15- At the Park Family Canoeing