Public Programs

With the holiday season increasing interactions among families, we has made the tough decision to cancel December’s SELF program. We will start up SELF again on January 19, with our new theme of By Design! Check out January’s event summary for more information!

Whether you love ice fishing or interested in learning more about it, join us on the ice at the Big Sioux Rec Area, just west of Hawarden. Bring a sack lunch or snacks and a bucket to sit on and we will provide the rest! We will pre-drill the holes, provide bait, poles and discuss the types of fish you may catch and equipment being used. There is no cost for this event, entry fee to the park is waved during the time of the program.

Those age 16 and over actively fishing must have a valid Iowa fishing license.

Registration will open approximately two months before event and ends 11:59pm the day before event. Please call our office for last minute sign ups 712-552-3057. Click Here to Register.

Morning session: 9:30-10:30am
Afternoon session: 2:00-3:00pm

The Prairie Woods Nature Center will host Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) ever third Tuesday of the month at 9:30am and 2:00pm. 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! The theme for 2021 will be all “By Design”. Each month we will take the time to explore how the specific design of our chosen topic is essential to its owner.

This month we be our Series Kickoff-By Design

**COVID-19 Note: We are working hard to come up with safe ways to interact and still fellowship together and learn about our environment! Please bring a mask with you, we will be social distancing in the large classroom space.

Pre-registration is appreciated. Call or register online through mycountyparks.  Click here to Register,   **If it is the day of event, online registration will be blocked, please call 712-552-3057 to check for availability.

Want to learn more about owls, maybe even get the chance to see one up close? February is a great time for hearing owls during their courtship and egg-laying season. We start out in the Prairie Woods Nature Center in Oak Grove Park and present information about our Sioux County Owls and our visiting owls. After our presentation we hit the trails to try an call some Owls. It is important you dress warmly and bring a red flashlight- a normal flashlight covered with red cloth or cellophane works too.

***Special Announcement: This year we will be joined by expert birder, and great owl caller, Kelly McKay. This program is part of the “Build a Better Birder” series of programs brought to us through Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP-CEP) grant.***

Registration is appreciated. Registration opens approximately two months before event and closed at 11:59pm day before event. Please call our office 712-552-3057 for day of event registration.   Click here to register online.

Weather related cancellations will be aired on 93.9 FM.

Today we will have 4 separate programs regarding Bald Eagles! All four sessions will be lead by bird expert Kelly McKay and apart of our “Building a Better Birder Workshop Series”.

8:00-10:00am Eagle Watch (Outdoors, unless dangerous wind chill) After a morning lesson we will hike to view local eagles as they come off their night roost.

10:00-11:00am Presentation– Bald Eagle Night Roost Survey (Indoors) Mr. McKay will will define and describe what a Bald Eagle communal night roost is, as well as discussing Bald Eagle winter ecology. Additionally, he summarize the background and preliminary results of this 6          year project.

11:00-1:00pm Eagle Watch (Indoors/Outdoors) Bring your binoculars and sack lunch and join fellow eagle lovers as we view eagle migration from the nature center. Bring outdoor clothes just in case we get the itch to watch outdoors.

1:00-2:30pm Presentation– Human Activity Impact on Bald Eagle Reproductive Success (Indoors) During this presentation, we will examine and assess the impacts of various types and frequency of human activities on Bald Eagle reproductive success within the McGregor District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Please register online here. Registration will close at 11:59pm night before. Please call our office for day of reservation- or just show up!

The ‘Building a Better Birder Workshops’ are a series of local community scientist programs designed to create better bird identification skills and to promote local participation with community science projects. Funding for this workshop was provided by the Resource Enhancement Protection-Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP).

Morning session: 9:30-10:30am
Afternoon session: 2:00-3:00pm

The Prairie Woods Nature Center will host Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) ever third Tuesday of the month at 9:30am and 2:00pm. 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! The theme for 2021 will be all “By Design”. Each month we will take the time to explore how the specific design of our chosen topic is essential to its owner.

This month we will focus on FEET!

**COVID-19 Note: We are working hard to come up with safe ways to interact and still fellowship together and learn about our environment! Please bring a mask with you, we will be social distancing in the large classroom space.

Pre-registration is appreciated. Call or register online through mycountyparks.  Click here to Register,   **If it is the day of event, online registration will be blocked, please call 712-552-3057 to check for availability.