Public Programs

New course offered, starting Thursday, Sept 17th! Learn to see and capture nature in this 8-session Beginner/Intermediate Drawing Course at the Prairie Woods Nature Center. Adults and young adults will learn from Master Artist, Jake Van Wyk, a local artist and retired Dordt Art Professor.

The course will include 2-hour sessions on both Thursday evenings (5-7pm) and Saturday mornings (9:30-11:30am) for four consecutive weeks. Thursdays will be instruction, demonstrations, and critique time. Saturdays will be field days, with active sketching surrounded by nature in Oak Grove Park.

Registration is required, limited spaces available. Please register by calling the SCCB Environmental Education Department at 712/552-3057. Upon registration, students will receive a supplies list of easy to find items to purchase for the class, and more details on what to expect from the coursework. Cost is $60 for the course, and includes 16 hours of class time.

Visit jakevanwyk.com to learn more about Jake’s passion for art.

Class is co-sponsored by the Hawarden Area Arts Council. 

New course offered, starting Thursday, Sept 17th! Learn to see and capture nature in this 8-session Beginner/Intermediate Drawing Course at the Prairie Woods Nature Center. Adults and young adults will learn from Master Artist, Jake Van Wyk, a local artist and retired Dordt Art Professor.

The course will include 2-hour sessions on both Thursday evenings (5-7pm) and Saturday mornings (9:30-11:30am) for four consecutive weeks. Thursdays will be instruction, demonstrations, and critique time. Saturdays will be field days, with active sketching surrounded by nature in Oak Grove Park.

Registration is required, limited spaces available. Please register by calling the SCCB Environmental Education Department at 712/552-3057. Upon registration, students will receive a supplies list of easy to find items to purchase for the class, and more details on what to expect from the coursework. Cost is $60 for the course, and includes 16 hours of class time.

Visit jakevanwyk.com to learn more about Jake’s passion for art.

Class is co-sponsored by the Hawarden Area Arts Council. 

Unfortunately COVID-19 has hit close to home and we has made the difficult decision to cancel Trick or Treat Hike this year. Trick or Treat Hike has become one of our biggest events of the year and we don’t want to create an atmosphere that would expose a large number of people from various communities. Since campers make plans for decorating and buying candy, we had to make the call at this time.

Join us for a fun evening of Trick or Treating. Ages 12 and under are invited to trick or treat in costume. Deer Run campground will be full of campers with friendly faces at each campsite and of course pre-packaged candy/goodies too. If you would like to be a camper, see below for details. Parking is provided. Trick or treating is from 5:30-8:00 pm. No pre-registration needed.

Campers can register first come first served on Sept 14 starting at 8am by calling 712/552-1047.  Will need to provide candy for 800 kids in exchange for free camping Oct. Friday and Saturday night.

Listen to KSOU 93.9 FM for weather cancellations.

** After talking with our partners, we are sad to announce we have decided to cancelled this years Youth Pheasant Hunt. Please keep us in mind for next season!

We partner with Sioux Prairie Pheasants Forever and Rock Valley Gun Club on this day to give 12-15 year old Iowa residents, who have passed their hunter education course, a great pheasant hunt experience! The day starts with breakfast and a quick review of hunter safety and trap shooting. We pair youth with a mentor and hunting dog. Youth and mentor travel in groups to local hunting areas, both public and private, for the morning. Following the hunt, youth and mentors return to the Rock Valley Gun Club for lunch. Only a limited number will be taken so you must pre-register, registration will open approximately two months prior to event.

Register approximately two months prior to event HERE.

Please also print out the following forms:

registration

emergency form

Through this writing workshop attendees will improve their writing ability to perceive the natural world and to reflect on the meanings found in nature. Participants will learn through a series of short presentations, outdoor and indoor writing exercises, and group discussions.

A native of Colorado, Ann Lundberg has a Bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Wyoming and degrees in English from Wyoming and Notre Dame. She taught writing and literature at Northwestern College for 20 years and has taught for the Creation Care Studies Program in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Ann specializes in environmental and nature writing.  She has spent several summers working as a Ranger with the National Park Service.

Pre-registration required, only 15 spots open. $10 fee to be paid at door.

After registration, a selection of readings will be emailed to participants to complete in advance.

Register by clicking here.

The Prairie Woods Nature Center will host Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) ever third Tuesday of the month! Due to COVID-19, the next couple of SELF programs may look a little different than our normal gatherings. We understand the concern in the world today, we also know some of you are longing for interaction. We are working hard to come up with safe ways to interact and still fellowship together and learn about our environment!

This month we have a special guest speaker! World Class birder, Kelly McKay, will be joining us to bring us one of his most popular birding presentations: Thu Ultimate Winter Bird Survey: Summary of the First Ever Christmas Bird Count Marathon. This presentation give and overview and history of the Christmas Bird count Program. We describe the successful competition of the first Christmas Bird Count Marathon by discussing each individual count and highlighting noteworthy birds identified.

Whether you are new to SELF or a committed participant, we encourage you to give it a try. We promise you will enjoy your-SELF!

Pre-registration is not required but appreciated. Register by clicking here.

We will take to the trails looking and listening for our feathered friends. This hike is part of the build a Better Birder Workshop Series. We will be joining expert birder, Kelly Mc Kay, who is presenting programs before and and later in the day. This hike is brought to you by a REAP-CEP Grant!

The Prairie Woods Nature Center will host Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) ever third Tuesday of the month! Due to COVID-19, the next couple of SELF programs may look a little different than our normal gatherings. We understand the concern in the world today, we also know some of you are longing for interaction. We are working hard to come up with safe ways to interact and still fellowship together and learn about our environment!

This month we have a special guest speaker! World Class birder, Kelly McKay, will be joining us to bring us one of his most popular birding presentations: Thu Ultimate Winter Bird Survey: Summary of the First Ever Christmas Bird Count Marathon. This presentation give and overview and history of the Christmas Bird count Program. We describe the successful competition of the first Christmas Bird Count Marathon by discussing each individual count and highlighting noteworthy birds identified.

Whether you are new to SELF or a committed participant, we encourage you to give it a try. We promise you will enjoy your-SELF!

Pre-registration is not required but appreciated. Register by clicking here.

This presentation, by expert birder Kelly Mc Kay,will summarize birding trips from different countries around the world. We will discuss the threats that are eliminating natural habitats around the globe. Get ready to view a tremendous variety of unique bird species from far-flung locations. Brought to you by REAP-CEP Grant.