• January 31 (Saturday): 1 PM, DMACC, Polk County. IPN Central Region Winter Workshop and silent auction.  There will be prairie discussions, networking opportunities, and the option to help support a prairie project via the silent auction.  Held at Des Moines Community College in Ankeny. Contact Trish Patrick, 57540 270th St., Ames, IA, 50010 or tpatrick@iastate.edu.

    Iowa Prairie Network Central Region’s Winter Workshop Announced

     The Central Region’s 2004 Winter Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 31st at the Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Campus in their Convention Center (Building 7).  The building will be open at noon for registration, bidding on silent auction items, viewing of displays, and visiting.  The program will start at 1:00 p.m.  

     This year’s program will feature 2 Iowa projects that are addressing the challenge of finding and documenting prairie remnants.  Dan Fenimore will discuss the pilot project he is conducting to locate native prairie remnants in 9 central Iowa counties.  The project is a joint effort supported by Iowa Native Lands , the DOT Living Roadway Trust Fund, the NRCS, and the IDNR.   Dr. Tom Rosburg of Drake University will give an overview of the prairie remnant survey he conducted in Ringgold County last summer for the Nature Conservancy.   Following the presentations there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

     The meeting will wrap up around 4:00 with the close of the silent auction and a “Prairie” slide show by nature photographer Jim Riggs.

     This is the 5th silent auction to be held by Region 5.  The money raised will go to promote prairie education and management with the creation of a “Prairie Rescue and Restoration Internship Program” at Drake University .  The auction proceeds will be given to the Drake University Biodiversity Center as a mini-grant, which will provide prairie-management internships for undergraduate students.  The interns will work weekends during the school year doing management on small prairie remnants under the guidance of Tom Rosburg.  Previous auctions, in cooperation with other conservation organizations, have funded 3 property acquisitions and a summer intern with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.  A handout on the silent auction is available here.

     Directions to Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny campus: from I-35 take exit 90 west to Highway 69 ( Ankeny Blvd ); turn right /north to the DMACC campus (if you take exit 92 you will need to turn left/south on Highway 69).  The entrance is on the west side of the road.  The meeting is in the Conference Center , Building # 7, this will be the first left after you’ve entered the campus from Hwy 69 ( Ankeny Blvd ). 

    A map is available here

     Tables are available for displays and information - contact Lloyd Crim at lcrim@opencominc.com or

    515-432-5026 to reserve space.

     Call Trish at 515-382-2802 or e-mail sandprairie@cs.com for more meeting information.

     The meeting is open to the public, no registration or fees required, just come and enjoy the afternoon!

  • March 9 (Tuesday): Prairie Preview XXI, 6:30PM, Johnson Co.  Information and displays from local environmental groups, a presentation and book signing by Carl Kurtz, and refreshments.  Iowa City 4H Fairgrounds. Contact: (319) 337-2322 ext. 2

  • March 9 (Tuesday):  First Annual Iowa Stormwater Conference, 8AM -5PM, Polk Co., Merle Hay Holiday Inn, $100. Contact: (800) 810-4268, www.iamu.org/main/stormwater.htm

  • March 11 (Thursday): Native Plant Propagation Workshop, 9AM-2PM, Blackhawk Co.  Seed pre-treatments and vegetative propagation will be demonstrated., including information on soil mixes, amendments, and watering in a greenhouse environment.  Participants will be able to pot up their handiwork to take home. $35, lunch included, pre-register by March 3.  Contact: Greg Houseal, 319-273-3005, gregory.houseal@UNI.EDU

  • Mid-March—April: Prairie Chicken viewing, dawn, Harrison Co. Missouri.  The Dunn Ranch, a 3000+ Nature Conservancy preserve in Harrison Co. Missouri (just south of Lamoni and Kellerton), will have a blind available mid March– April for viewing these birds.   This is an opportunity to be within 15 ft. of booming prairie chickens, in a prairie landscape, with trained a guide present.  Reservations are required (only 10 people allowed per outing), call (816) 271-3100. 

  • March 20 (Saturday): Volunteer prairie work day, Monona Co. Join David Zahrt on the vernal equinox to work on prairie restoration in the Turin Nat’l Natural Landmark and Special Landscape Area.  Contact: David, (712) 353-6772, ch.bnb@longlines.com

  • March 27 (Saturday): The ecology of savanna and woodland in the metropolitan area, Coon Rapids, MN (Minneapolis area)  Annual symposium MN Native Plant Society. Contact:Karen Schick, 651-222-2193, kschik@fmr.org

  • April 15-17 (Thursday-Saturday): Lost Mound Sand Prairie Conference, Galena, Illinois. Contact: Dan Wenny, (815) 273-3184, dwenny@inhs.uiuc.edu

  • April 16-17 (Friday-Saturday): Insect Biodiversity on the Prairie, Lincoln, Nebraska.  Annual meeting for the Kansas (Central States) Entomological Society.  Contact: Mary Liz Jameson, mjameson1@unl.edu, (402) 472-2664, www.museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/CSE/CSE2004.html

  • April 17 (Saturday): Prairie Chicken Day, Ringgold Co. View booming prairie chickens, plant prairie forbs.

  • April 17 (Saturday): Earth Day activities at Neal Smith Nat’l Wildlife Refuge, 9AM –3PM, Jasper Co. Stewardship activities and special interpretive programs suitable for all ages.  Contact: Al Murray (515) 994-3400, http://www.tallgrass.org/

  • April 17 (Saturday): Earth Day prairie rescue events scheduled around the state. 

  • April 24 (Saturday): Prairie Rescue, 9AM-1PM, Polk Co. Join the 3rd annual prairie rescue at Big Creek State Park, help remove the last of the black locust and gray dogwood and establish a prairie nature trail.  Wear tough clothing, bring leather gloves.  Lunch provided.  Contact: Kim Olofson (515) 250-4308, or 984-6473.

  • April 24 (Saturday): Prairie Rescue, 10AM-1PM, Warren Co.  Join the Warren Co. Conservation Board to help preserve Rolling Thunder Prairie, primarily removing woody shrubs and trees.  Located 4 miles NE of New Virginia.  Contact: (515) 961-6169

  • April 29 (Thursday): Native Seedling Identification Workshop, Blackhawk Co. Learn to identify native seedlings, and compare and contrast to weed look-a-likes.  All participants will receive the booklet "Prairie Seedlings Illustrated" by Dr. Laura Jackson.  $35, pre-register by April 23. Contact: Greg Houseal, 319-273-3005, gregory.houseal@Uni.Edu

  • May 1 (Saturday): Owego Wetlands Field Day, Woodbury Co. Migratory birds, restored prairie, reconstructed wetlands, 7 miles east of Salix.  Contact: dchapman@sioux-city.org

  • May 8 (Saturday): Breakfast with the birds, 7-11AM, Johnson Co. Bird watching walk, open to everyone, breakfast and binoculars provided.  Herbert Hoover Nat’l Historic Site, near Iowa City. Contact: Daniel Peterson, (319) 643-2541, dan_peterson@nps.gov

  •  May 8-9 (Saturday-Sunday): International Migratory Bird Day, 9AM-4PM, Jasper Co. Neal Smith Nat’l Wildlife Refuge will have crafts, activities, educational programs and a free lunch for all who attend. Contact: (515) 994-3400, http://www.tallgrass.org/

    •

  • May 15 (Saturday):  Prairie Work Day, 10AM-3PM, Boone Co. Join staff from the Iowa DNR Prairie Seed Team as they plant 2000 plants in a prairie reconstruction at Ledges State Park.  Bring a watering can if you have one, attend for an hour or all day.  Free camping too!  Contact: Bill Johnson or Tim VandeNoord (515)  432-2823.

  • May 15-16 (Saturday-Sunday): 10th Annual Wings and Wetlands Festival, Spencer, IA (Clay Co.) Contact: 712-837-4866

  • May 22 (Saturday) Prairie State Mushroom Club (PSMC) will foray at the Bill and Marlys Brown Farm in the bottom lands along the North Fork Maquoketa River north of Canton in Jackson County.  Our foray leader is Roger Heidt (319-393-5712, email: rwheidt@fmtcs.com).  Meet at 10:00 AM.  East from Canton on E17, cross the bridge across the Maquoketa River, and then left (north) on 6th Ave about 1.3 miles to 166th Street.  Turn right (east) and go 0.5 mile (you will pass an old stone schoolhouse on the north side of the road) and then turn north on 21st Street.  Cross the bridge across the North Fork Maquoketa River (about 1.3 miles) and continue another 0.5 mile.  After passing a cemetery on the right side of the road, there will be a farm pasture gate on the left.  Drive west across the pasture.  Depending on conditions, we will go through a second gate down to the river or park in the pasture.  Keep the gates closed as cattle will be in the pasture.  Roger will try and be there early to mark the gate with a flag.  He will wait at the gate from 9:40 to 10:15.  He will have his cell phone with him: 319-573-4795.  If this sounds complicated, ask PSMC to email you a map (contact iowafungi@yahoo.com).  Bring a picnic lunch.

  • May 27 (Thursday): Doolittle Prairie walk, 7PM, Story Co.  Join Lloyd Crim and prairie enthusiasts for an evening stroll through Doolittle Prairie Preserve.  From I-35 exit 123 (Roland) go west on E-18 about 1/2 mile, then south 1.5 miles on (gravel) 560th Ave.  Follow lane west to the preserve.  Contact: Lloyd Crim, (515)432-5026, lcrim@opencominc.com

  • May 29 (Saturday)  PSMC and the UI Museum of Natural History will sponsor a Mushroom Hunt and Wildflower Walkat Palisades-Kepler State Park east of Cedar Rapids. Meet in the first big parking lot at 10:00 AM and bring a sack lunch.  More information from Museum Associate Dave Brenzel (319-335-0482, email: david-brenzel@uiowa.edu).

  • May 31 (Monday, Memorial Day)  PSMC will foray at Geode State Park west of Burlington.  We will meet at 10:00 AM in Shelter #4 on the west side of the lake.  Potluck lunch at 12:00.  A map of the park may be found on the Iowa DNR website at www.state.ia.us/parks/geode.htm (click on <Map of Park> in the upper left corner).

  • June 4-6 (Saturday—Sunday):  Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, Monona Co.  Sponsored by the Western Hills Area Education Agency.

  • June 12-13 (Saturday-Sunday): Sand Prairie Field Days, Clinton County and western Illinois.  Come explore vast sand prairies of the Mississippi River, and some unique sand dune landform features in this two day field trip.  Contact Carol Rogers

  • June 19 ( Saturday): Volunteer prairie work day, Monona Co. Join David Zahrt on the summer solstice to work on prairie restoration in the Turin Nat’l Natural Landmark and Special Landscape Area.  Contact: David, (712) 353-6772, ch.bnb@longlines.com

  • June 21 (Monday): Kettleson - Hogsback Hike, 7 AM, Dickinson Co.  Meet at Kenue Park in Spirit Lake to carpool to site.  Hike guided by County Conservation Board Naturalists. Contact: 712.338.4238

  • June 24 (Thursday): Doolittle prairie walk, 7 PM, Story Co. Join Lloyd Crim and prairie enthusiasts for an evening stroll through Doolittle Prairie Preserve.  From I-35 exit 123 (Roland), go west on E-18 about 1/2 mile, then south 1.5 miles on (gravel) 560th Ave.  Follow lane west to the preserve. Contact: Lloyd Crim 515.432.5026, lcrim@opencominc.com  

  • June 26 ( Saturday): Buffalo Day, 9AM-3PM, Jasper Co. Neal Smith Nat’l Wildlife Refuge signature event, held in conjunction with Prairie Days in Prairie City.  Contact: (515) 994-3400, http://www.tallgrass.org/  

  • June 28 (Monday): Silver Lake Fen tour, 7 AM, Dickinson Co. See June 21 listing.

  • July 5 (Monday): Gull Point State Park, Barney Peterson Trail tour, 7AM, Di ckinson Co.  See June 21 listing for more information.

  • July 8 (Thursday):  Lake Hawthorn Hike, Lake Hawthorn Hike, 6:30 PM, Mahaska Co. IPN board member Pam White leads evening hikes at the lake the second or third Thursday of the month, May - September.  Meet at the boat ramp parking lot on east side of the lake, on Victoria Ave, one mile east of V13 and 2.5 miles south of Barnes City.  Contact: Pam White :  pam-white@usa.net

  • July 9 – 11 (Friday-Sunday): Joint IPN and Iowa Native Plant Society annual meeting, Chariton.   

  • July 9-11 (Friday-Sunday): Dragonfly Society of the Americas Annual Meeting, Winnesheik Co., Decorah, IA. Contact: www.windsofkansas.com/dsa2004.html

  • July 19 (Monday): Horseshoe Bend County Recreational Area tour, 7 AM, Di ckinson Co. See June 21 listing for more information.

  • July 22 (Thursday): Doolittle prairie walk, 7PM, Story Co.  See May 27 event for details.

  • July 24 (Saturday): Prairies of Butler County, 9AM - 3PM. IPN board member Greg Houseal and sidekick Daryl Smith will lead a tour of Butler Counties unique prairies.  Contact: Greg Houseal gregory.houseal@uni.edu

  • July 24 (Saturday):  Operation Wildflower 2004, 8AM - 5 PM, Story Co.  Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa present lectures and an Ames area prairie tour.  Contact MJ Hatfield, 2505 Tullamore Ln, Ames, IA 50010 or mjhatfield@oneota.org

  • July 26 (Monday): Caylor Prairie Tour, 7 AM Di ckinson Co. See June 21 listing for details.

  • August 1 (Sunday): Wiegert Prairie Farmstead Fallfest, 10AM-4PM,Pochahontas Co.  The 37 acre Wiegert Prairie is located one mile north of Kalsow Prairie on 280th Ave.  Contact: Pocahontas County Cons. Board, 712-335-4395

  • August 2 (Monday): Frdea Hafner Kettlehole tour, 7 AM, Di ckinson Co. See June 21 listing.

  • August 7-8 (Saturday-Sunday): Go Wild, a Celebration of Native Plants and Native Lands Madison, Wisconsin. Note: precedes NAPC (next listing), in same location. Contact: (877) 394-9453, www.for-wild.org

  • August 8-12 ( Sunday - Thursday): 19th North American Prairie Conference, Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact: www.napc2004.org

  • August 19 (Thursday):  Lake Hawthorn Hike, 6:30 PM, Mahaska Co.  See July 8 entry.

  • August 26 (Thursday): Doolittle prairie walk, 7PM, Story Co.  See May 27 event for details.  

  • August 28 (Saturday): Rock Creek State Park prairie remnant tour, 10 AM, Jasper Co.  INPS-sponsored tour led by John Pearson and Roger Thompson.  Meet in the parking lot for the beach, located at the south end of the park road, on the west side of the lake. Contact: mark.leoschke@dnr.state.ia.us

  • September 11 (Saturday):  Stream, savanna and prairie restoration workday, 10 AM - supper, Allamakee Co.  Join IPN board member Kirk Larsen on ambitious multi-habitat 98 acre restoration.   Contact: larsenkj@luther.edu

  • September 16 (Thursday):  Lake Hawthorn Hike, 6:30 PM, Mahaska Co. See July 8 entry for details.

  • September 17-18 - NE Iowa Fen Celebration - On Friday - Visit Kauten Fen and celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the conservation easment drafted to protect one of Iowa's rarest landforms. Invited guests include Iowa Fen Workshop attendees in 1994 to return to the site and see what's changed in the past 10 years. Also come learn about fen restoration work and other fens in other parts of Iowa. Overnight camping available courtesy of Whirling Thunder Lodge near Hawkeye, Iowa. A morning visit is planned at the Schneider-Kleve fen in Clayton County on Saturday, September 18 for overnight campers. For more information or to confirm your participation contact Rebecca Kauten at 515-306-4539 or email rkauten@earthlink.net.

  • September 18 (Saturday): Prairie Seed collection for National Public Lands Day Event near Coralville Lake.  Seed will be collected from Adjoining remnants and planted to a contiguous piece of land.  Contact Mary Sue Bowers at 319-338-3543 or mary.s.bowers@usace.army.mil

  • September 18 (Saturday):  Moravia Prairie Hike, 10 AM, Appanoose Co. Previous IPN president Gene Kromray will lead a tour of this remnant prairie, located a few miles east of Moravia.  Contact: Pam White : pam-white@usa.net 

  • September 18 (Saturday): Prairie Pick’in, 9AM - Noon, Cedar Co. Help pick prairie seed at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.  Contact: Dan Peterson, (319) 643-2541or visit  their website at www.nps.gov/heho

  • October 1 (Friday): Volunteer prairie work day, Monona Co. Join David Zahrt on the autumnal equinox (in conjunction with a Cider Festival) to work on prairie restoration in the Turin Nat’l Natural Landmark and Special Landscape Area.  Contact: David, (712) 353-6772, ch.bnb@longlines.com

  • October 9 (Saturday): Ding Darling Day, 10AM-2PM, Jasper Co. Neal Smith Nat’l Wildlife Refuge will have stewardship activities and a children’s art contest. Contact: (151)994-3400, http://www.tallgrass.org/

  • October 10 (Sunday) Second Annual Martha Skillman Birthday Hike and Pie Tasting. Enter a contest to decide the location for this event this year. Must be in IPN Region 6, have blooming gentians, and be near a site for the pie tasting. Valuable prize to the winner. Send entries to Pam White : pam-white@usa.net.