Public Programs/Events

All ages 11 and over are invited to join us for our annual Hunter Safety Education Course, August 10, at the Prairie Woods Nature Center from 9am-7pm. Must register at www.gooutdoorsiowa.com. During registration you will receive a link with the review questions to complete and bring to class. Class will cover firearm safety, hunting ethics, first aid, hunting laws, and more. We will also shoot archery, shotgun and rifle. Students need a sack lunch and snacks, supper provided.

Register will open approximately two months prior to event. Register by clicking here.

Morning session:10:00am
Afternoon session: 12:30pm & 2:30pm

Join us for Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) each month, we promise you will enjoy your-SELF! Enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short presentation. Our 2022 theme is “Creature Feature”.

This month we will focus on Turtles!

SELF is held every third Tuesday of the month, except December. Call or register online through mycountyparks.  Click here to Register online,  **If it is the day of event, please call 712-552-3057 to check for availability and register.

Attention animal and nature lovers ages 2 through 5! Our Wild Child Nature Series is a nature based experience that will get your child exploring, moving, playing, and using their senses. An adult is required to join the child(ren). No fee. Pre-registration required.

Monthly Topic: Caterpillars and Butterflies
Morning session: 10:00am-11:00am
Afternoon session: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Click here to Register online. Registration will open approximately two months before date. **If it is the day of event, please call 712-552-3057 to check for availability and register.

Join us Saturday morning with the family to learn about the monarch butterfly. This will be a two part morning, join us for one part or both!

• Part 1: We will start with a program indoors on Monarchs their anatomy, their migration pattern, and why scientist are studying them.
• Part 2: Weather and conditions permitting, we will hike the park roads, gardens and trails to see if we can assist scientist in tagging monarchs. We will cover how to tag them and provide nets! Part 2 of program cancelled if raining.

There is no cost for event, we have a limited number of nets for use. If you have your own net bring it along.

Pre-registration is not required, but appreciated. Please register by clicking here.

Today is the day registration opens for our Camper Registration Trick or Treat event (October 8) at Oak Grove!!

Call 712/552-1047 starting at 8am to claim a spot. Each camper can register themselves and one other camper.

Campers will receive Friday and Saturday night free camping in exchange for enough candy/goodies for 800 children per campsite.

Join us Saturday for a morning of relaxing painting! Our guest instructor, Jodi Brown, has been teaching classes for the past 10 years around the area. This particular class will have participants painting with leaves on canvas. Participants may bring leaves from home or collect during the class from the park. Bring a sack lunch if you would like to take advantage of the parks many picnic areas after you finish. Snacks and refreshments will be donated during the class.

Jodi Brown is donating/hosting this class as a fund raiser for the Sioux County Conservation Foundation. Minimum donation is $20 per person to the Sioux County Conservation Foundation to be paid at door.

Ages 10 and up. Adult must attend with child. Limited Space, pre-registration required. Click here to register.

Calling all area Dutch Oven Cookers! We will be hosting a gathering at Oak Grove Park. Dishes include: breads, appetizers, main dishes and desserts. Dishes will be judged with first place awarded in each category, potluck meal afterwards. You must preregister by calling 712/552-3057 to sign up as a cooker.

First 10 cookers will receive a free campsite at Turkey Ridge for Saturday night.

Public is welcome to come and observe and ask questions in Turkey Ridge Campground, starting at 3:30pm. Join us for meal at 6pm at the Oak Grove Lodge, bring a dish along to share (doesn’t have to be a Dutch Oven for potluck).

Morning session:10:00am
Afternoon session: 12:30pm & 2:30pm

Join us for Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) each month, we promise you will enjoy your-SELF! Enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short presentation. Our 2022 theme is “Creature Feature”.

This month we will focus on Monarchs!

SELF is held every third Tuesday of the month. Please Call to register, 712-552-3057 and talk to Sarah!

Attention animal and nature lovers ages 2 through 5! Our Wild Child Nature Series is a nature based experience that will get your child exploring, moving, playing, and using their senses. An adult is required to join the child(ren). No fee. Pre-registration required.

Monthly Topic: Painting With Nature
Morning session: 10:00am-11:00am
Afternoon session: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Click here to Register online. Registration will open approximately two months before date. **If it is the day of event, please call 712-552-3057 to check for availability and register.

Join us for a fun evening of Trick or Treating. Ages 12 and under are invited to trick or treat in costume. Campground(s) 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. Trick or treating is from 5:30-8:00 pm. No pre-registration needed.

Campers can register first come first served on Sept 6 starting at 8am by calling 712/552-1047.  They will need to provide candy for 800 kids in exchange for free camping, Friday and Saturday night.

Listen to KSOU 93.9 FM for weather cancellations.

Morning session:10:00am
Afternoon session: 12:30pm & 2:30pm

Join us for Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) each month, we promise you will enjoy your-SELF! Enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short presentation. Our 2022 theme is “Creature Feature”.

This month we will focus on Eww! It will be a combination of several animals that typically get an EWW response. 

SELF is held every third Tuesday of the month. Please Call to register, 712-552-3057 and talk to Sarah!

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 Application

emergency form

Attention animal and nature lovers ages 2 through 5! Our Wild Child Nature Series is a nature based experience that will get your child exploring, moving, playing, and using their senses. An adult is required to join the child(ren). No fee. Pre-registration required.

Monthly Topic: Owls
Morning session: 10:00am-11:00am
Afternoon session: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Click here to Register online. Registration will open approximately two months before date. **If it is the day of event, please call 712-552-3057 to check for availability and register.

Morning session:10:00am
Afternoon session: 2:30pm

Join us for Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) each month, we promise you will enjoy your-SELF! Enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short presentation. Our 2022 theme is “Creature Feature”.

This month we will focus on Turkeys!  

SELF is held every third Tuesday of the month. Please Call to register, 712-552-3057 and talk to Sarah!

Morning session:10:00am
Afternoon session: 2:30pm

Join us for Senior Environmental Learning and Fellowship (SELF) each month, we promise you will enjoy your-SELF! Enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short presentation. Our 2022 theme is “Creature Feature”.

This month we will celebrate our year together with a friendly game of Jeopardy!

SELF is held every third Tuesday of the month. Please Call to register, 712-552-3057 and talk to Sarah!

Attention animal and nature lovers ages 2 through 5! Our Wild Child Nature Series is a nature based experience that will get your child exploring, moving, playing, and using their senses. An adult is required to join the child(ren). No fee. Pre-registration required.

Monthly Topic: Tracks
Morning session: 10:00am-11:00am
Afternoon session: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Click here to Register online. Registration will open approximately two months before date. **If it is the day of event, please call 712-552-3057 to check for availability and register.