Loess Hills Seminar accepts registrations
Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- The 32nd annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, titled "Nature in Iowa," will be May 30 through June 1 at the Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area near Onawa, Iowa, and at West Monona High School in Onawa.
SIOUX CITY -- The 32nd annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, titled "Nature in Iowa," will be May 30 through June 1 at the Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area near Onawa, Iowa, and at West Monona High School in Onawa.
The event is sponsored by the Northwest Area Education Agency, the Monona County Conservation Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with grants from REAP Conservation Education programs and Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund and much support from a variety of educational institutions, organizations and volunteers.
The seminar is for educators, students of all ages, families and all community members. Special programs for children allow parents to participate fully in the rich variety of new and traditional field sessions and indoor evening programs.
Some programs are provided at the campground while others involve a walk, hike or biking. People of all ages will find plenty of options. Educators can earn credit if they pre-register through Northwest AEA.
Evening program highlights for children include the Science Center of Iowa "Boom!" and "Simply Electrifying," fishing games, rope making and "Buffalo Bill." Outdoor sessions for children feature live reptiles and insects and introductions to geology, archaeology, prairie and animals of the Loess Hills and more.
Adults and older students will hear Connie Mutel speak about the history of nature in Iowa based on her book entitled "The Emerald Horizon."
Other speakers will provide information about the Loess Hills, prairies and landscaping with native plants. Field sessions focus on birds, plants, ecology, photography, painting and drawing, outdoor writing and storytelling and many other natural history topics.
The May 30 evening program will end with the option of going on a Listening to Amphibians field trip or going to the campground for an astronomy Star Party.
An EarthSongs concert for the entire family will conclude the program at the high school on evening of May 31. Douglas Wood and two other musicians will play six- and 12-string guitars, dobro, banjo, mandolin and bass, and provide vocal harmony.
The seminar will end Sunday morning, June 1, with music provided by Adair Kaehlar and other local musicians, the final field sessions and the release of a raptor by Kay Neumann of Saving Our Avian Resources.
Three sessions are new to the seminar, including one at 1:30 May 31 which is an indoor session about the Loess Hills at the Monona County Conservation Board office; a session about boats at Lewis and Clark State Park that will include a boat ride and a natural history bike tour on Sunday morning beginning in Castana, Iowa.
Registration is requested and is due by May 16. Donations will be accepted for those who can only attend a small portion of the seminar. Registration is $20 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for children, with reduced fees for families, educators and those who are attending for the first time. Meals are an additional expense and must be ordered by May 23 through Northwest AEA.
The seminar was founded by Carolyn Benne who was an employee of the former Western Hills AEA. She was passionate about the seminar and created it to foster recognition, appreciation and educational use of the natural wonders found within our communities.
A full brochure outlining the sessions and programs will be provided at the seminar, but most of the information and the registration form is available now on the Northwest AEA Web site at http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/loess_hills_prairie_seminar/.
SIOUX CITY -- The 32nd annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, titled "Nature in Iowa," will be May 30 through June 1 at the Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area near Onawa, Iowa, and at West Monona High School in Onawa.
The event is sponsored by the Northwest Area Education Agency, the Monona County Conservation Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with grants from REAP Conservation Education programs and Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund and much support from a variety of educational institutions, organizations and volunteers.
The seminar is for educators, students of all ages, families and all community members. Special programs for children allow parents to participate fully in the rich variety of new and traditional field sessions and indoor evening programs.
Some programs are provided at the campground while others involve a walk, hike or biking. People of all ages will find plenty of options. Educators can earn credit if they pre-register through Northwest AEA.
Evening program highlights for children include the Science Center of Iowa "Boom!" and "Simply Electrifying," fishing games, rope making and "Buffalo Bill." Outdoor sessions for children feature live reptiles and insects and introductions to geology, archaeology, prairie and animals of the Loess Hills and more.
Adults and older students will hear Connie Mutel speak about the history of nature in Iowa based on her book entitled "The Emerald Horizon."
Other speakers will provide information about the Loess Hills, prairies and landscaping with native plants. Field sessions focus on birds, plants, ecology, photography, painting and drawing, outdoor writing and storytelling and many other natural history topics.
The May 30 evening program will end with the option of going on a Listening to Amphibians field trip or going to the campground for an astronomy Star Party.
An EarthSongs concert for the entire family will conclude the program at the high school on evening of May 31. Douglas Wood and two other musicians will play six- and 12-string guitars, dobro, banjo, mandolin and bass, and provide vocal harmony.
The seminar will end Sunday morning, June 1, with music provided by Adair Kaehlar and other local musicians, the final field sessions and the release of a raptor by Kay Neumann of Saving Our Avian Resources.
Three sessions are new to the seminar, including one at 1:30 May 31 which is an indoor session about the Loess Hills at the Monona County Conservation Board office; a session about boats at Lewis and Clark State Park that will include a boat ride and a natural history bike tour on Sunday morning beginning in Castana, Iowa.
Registration is requested and is due by May 16. Donations will be accepted for those who can only attend a small portion of the seminar. Registration is $20 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for children, with reduced fees for families, educators and those who are attending for the first time. Meals are an additional expense and must be ordered by May 23 through Northwest AEA.
The seminar was founded by Carolyn Benne who was an employee of the former Western Hills AEA. She was passionate about the seminar and created it to foster recognition, appreciation and educational use of the natural wonders found within our communities.
A full brochure outlining the sessions and programs will be provided at the seminar, but most of the information and the registration form is available now on the Northwest AEA Web site at http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/loess_hills_prairie_seminar/.
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