Public Programs/Events

The Master Conservationist Program is coming to Sioux County this fall for the first time through a partnership between ISU Extension and Outreach, Sioux County Conservation Board, and local conservation experts. This five-week blended online and in-person series will help participants better understand Iowa’s natural resources, ecosystems, conservation history, and current challenges while learning practical ways to become informed stewards and community conservation leaders. Sessions will be held at various locations throughout Sioux County, see below for details. Cost for the program is $80 per person and covers meals, activities and Master Conservation Goodie Bag.

Click here to register.

Setting the Stage with Charcuterie Board
Monday, August 31 @ Oak Grove, Prairie Woods Nature Center
As participants enjoy a delicious charcuterie board, we will explore the history and current structure of conservation in Iowa. Oak Grove provides the perfect backdrop for setting the stage as we learn to read the land and uncover the stories it tells about its past, while also exploring the diverse ecosystems that make Iowa unique.

Aldo Leopold and the Prairie
Tuesday, September 8 @ Dordt Prairie
Aldo Leopold’s conservation work helped change how we understand and care for our natural landscapes. His efforts to protect Iowa’s remaining prairies helped preserve a vital ecosystem that had been nearly lost to development and agriculture. His legacy continues to inspire conservation and stewardship for future generations. Professor Dr. Robert De Haan will walk participants through the process of creating Dordt’s prairie and the impact it has on the community.

NRCS Bus Tour
Monday, September 14 @ TBD
The Natural Resource Conservation Service connect homeowners and landowners to government funding opportunity to help reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and improve soil health. This week, local NRCS staff will guide our bus tour, highlighting a variety of conservation practices and showcasing impactful, hands-on demonstrations along the way!

Watershed Health and Fish Shocking
Monday, September 21 @ Big Sioux Recreation Area
Watershed health is an ongoing challenge, with flooding, runoff from surrounding areas, and upstream influences among the many factors that impact water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Andrew Carlson, Iowa DNR Fisheries Management Biologist, will meet us at the 90-acre lake located between the Dry Creek Watershed and Big Sioux Watershed. Following a brief presentation about his work, Andrew will demonstrate one of the Iowa DNR’s valuable fisheries management tools—the electrofishing boat.

Fresh Air and Fresh Fares (Outdoor Meal) and U-pick at Holland Farms
Monday, September 28 @ Sandy Hollow Recreation Area
The grand finale of our series will be an opportunity for reflection and discussion over a delicious outdoor dinner featuring local ingredients. We will celebrate the human element of conservation while exploring how we can effectively communicate the topics covered within our local communities. We will end the evening with a special U-pick experience at Holland Farm.

Please gather up your family and friends and join us in welcoming our featured artist, Lesley Valerio Chairez. Lesley will be on site to visit with guests, and refreshments will be served during this open-house style event. Lesley Valerio Chairez resides in Hawarden, Iowa. She is an independent artist and current art teacher at West Sioux Schools. She enjoys painting, print making, embroidery, clay, wheel throwing, stained glass, paper mache, collage work, and gouache.

Open house style event sponsored by the Sioux County Conservation Board and Foundation.9:00

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.

Please register by clicking here.

Sept 5-Cardboard Boat Races

Big Sioux Recreation Area, noon-2:00

Grab your friends and join us for the first-ever Big Sioux Recreation Area Cardboard Boat Race! Build your own cardboard boat, dress up in costumes (optional but encouraged), and see if your creation can make it across the course without sinking! Building rules found on mycountyparks.com website. Join us for an afternoon of fun, creativity, and friendly competition! Participation is FREE and admission to Big Sioux Recreation Area is free for both participants and spectators during the event. Pre-registration is encouraged to help with race day organization.

Click here for Official Rules and Pre-Registrations

Grab a partner, hop in a canoe and paddle your way to the finish line! Boats and paddles are provided. Life jackets are required and will be available at check-in. Three divisions: Kids 12-16yr, Womens and Mens. Whether you’re racing for the win or just looking for some friendly competition, come out and enjoy an afternoon on the water! Participation is FREE and admission to Big Sioux Recreation Area is free for both participants and spectators during the event. Pre-registration is encouraged to help with race day organization.

Click here for Official Rules and Pre-Registration

Help create a fun experience for local families! Campers hand out purchased candy/goodies (Oak Grove: 800 or Sandy Hollow: 700 pieces) in exchange for free camping Friday and Saturday night of the event weekend. Decorate your campsite for a chance to win our NEW Best Decorated Campsite prize! Campground gates close prior and during event.

Oak Grove camper registration begins Sept. 8 at 8:00 a.m. by phone only, 712-552-1047, while Sandy Hollow campsites are first come, first served.

Sandy Hollow Event Date: October 3, 5:30-7:30pm

Oak Grove Event Date: October 10, 5:30-8:00pm

Independent Seniors! Are you looking for a great place to gather with friends? Come enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short nature presentation.

Each month we will explore and learn about a different topic. This year’s theme will cover Favorite Outdoor Hobbies and Past Times!

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

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

Join guest instructor Tucker Lutter of the Loess Hills Audubon Society and a Sioux County Conservation Naturalist for a morning of bird watching. Fall migration begins in early September, making this a great time to spot a variety of birds as they pass through the area. Whether you’re an experienced birder or just curious about the birds around you, come enjoy a peaceful morning outdoors and see what we can discover! If you have a bird guide or binoculars, you’re encouraged to bring those along. Meet at the Bird Watching Blind after parking at either the swimming beach or the Eagle View Campground comfort station. Pre-registration appreciated but not mandatory, park pass waved during program time for participants.

Click here to Register. 

Featuring guest Naturalist, Christina Roelofs of Shelby County and IADNR. Christina will bring Callie, who is a non-releasable adult female bald eagle. Christina has been a Naturalist with the Shelby County Conservation Board for 24 years, shared position with the Iowa DNR for the past 10 years. She began working with raptors about 21 years ago, and with eagles in 2008. “I love using these birds to educate people about raptors”, Roelofs says. Program is free thanks to the sponsorship by the Sioux County Conservation Foundation. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

Preregistration is encouraged but not mandatory.

You can pre-register for this program here.

Calling all area Dutch Oven Cookers and curious onlookers! We will be hosting a Dutch Oven Gathering at Oak Grove Park.

Cookers

• Dishes categories include: breads, appetizers, main dishes and desserts.
• 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

• Help cook a dish, or just ask questions, at any campsite with a Dutch Oven sign starting at 3:30.
• Join us for the judging and meal at 6! Bring a side dish to share!
• Pre-registration is appreciated

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.

Each month is a new topic!

9:00, 10:30am and 1pm

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.

Month of October-Your Friendly Neighborhood Traveling Exhibit @ the Prairie Woods Nature Center during open hours

“Your Friendly Neighborhood” – Deepening Understanding and Connection The core message of “Nature is For Everyone” drives the exhibit’s ability to create a deep and immediate connection to the natural world.

The exhibit focuses on common, highly adaptable species like the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit and Great Horned Owl, which are present in both urban and rural settings across the United States. By highlighting species that thrive even with human encroachment, the exhibit deepens the understanding that conservation is a local, everyday activity. Visitors are encouraged to be energized to get outside and look for who lives in their ” Friendly Neighborhood.

This exhibit is available to us thanks to a REAP-CEP grant, and the Sioux County Conservation Foundation.

Join us for a fun evening of Trick or Treating. Ages 12 and under are invited to trick or treat in costume. The campgrounds are full of campers with friendly faces at each campsite and of course candy/goodies too. If you would like to be a camper, see below for details. Parking is provided. Trick or treating is from 5:30-7:30 pm. No pre-registration needed. Food trucks available! Listen to KSOU 93.9 FM for weather cancellations.

CAMPERS: First come First Serve for camping spots. Decorating encouraged, not required. Free camping Friday and Saturday night only, in exchange for handing out 700 pieces of purchased candy/goodies. NEW!!!! Prize awarded for “Best Decorated Campsite”. Will be voted on by visitors. Campground gates close at 5:00 for event, no traffic in campground during.

Join us for a fun evening of Trick or Treating. Ages 12 and under are invited to trick or treat in costume. The campgrounds are full of campers with friendly faces at each campsite and of course candy/goodies too. Prairie Woods Nature Center will be open! Trick or treating is from 5:30-8:00 pm. No pre-registration needed. Listen to KSOU 93.9 FM for weather cancellations.

Want to be a camper?? Campers can register by phone only starting at 8am on Sept 8th by calling 712/552-1047. Will need to provide candy for 800 kids in exchange for free camping Oct. 9 and 10. NEW!!!! Prize awarded for “Best Decorated Campsite”. Will be voted on by visitors

Independent Seniors! Are you looking for a great place to gather with friends? Come enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short nature presentation.

Each month we will explore and learn about a different topic. This year’s theme will cover Favorite Outdoor Hobbies and Past Times!

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

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

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.

Register approximately two months prior to event HERE.

Please also print out the following forms found on MycountyParks.com!

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.

Each month is a new topic!

9:30, 10:30am and 1pm

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.

Over the years selecting a new tree for the yard has become more difficult. It may be that picking the popular tree that is on sale or one with a really pretty picture of a mature tree may not be your best choice. Hannah Hageman, District Forester for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will offer tips on getting the right tree for the right place and planting it in the right way.

Hannah will focus on native trees that have resistance to the diseases and pests that troubled non-native trees. Her presentation will include a handout of trees native to our corner of Iowa. She will also talk about why some trees are better in certain spots than others. She will show how to plant a tree for best success. There is a possibility that bare root seedlings will be distributed to participants, pending availability of trees.

The program will have a small fee for participants. Click here to sign up.

Independent Seniors! Are you looking for a great place to gather with friends? Come enjoy coffee, treats, fellowship and a short nature presentation.

Each month we will explore and learn about a different topic. This year’s theme will cover Favorite Outdoor Hobbies and Past Times!

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

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