Jackson County Conservation

Jackson County Conservation provides outdoor recreation and education opportunities and encourages the development and conservation of natural resources.  

We manage 37 parks for public use; including wildlife areas, campgrounds, historic sites and trails; encompassing 2,002 acres across the county.  Popular outdoor recreation opportunities include picnicking, camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, boating, geocaching and more!

Jackson County is located in eastern Iowa along the Mississippi River.

Please browse our website to learn more about parks and outdoor recreation and education in Jackson County! 

Latest News!

Maquoketa Caves State Park is Open

JCCB is partnering with IDNR to provide free public education to obtain the required wrist band to enter the caves.  Stop by the office and get your free band.

Summer Nature Camps

Our summer day camps are now open for registration.  Camps are held throughout the county.  Please visit our calendar of events for a registration form and dates/times/ages, etc...

Newsletter

Current Edition: Spring 2012

Jackson County Conservation's quarterly newsletter, Up and Down the River, highlights programs, activities and projects with our county parks.  Would you like to join our newsletter mailing list?  Email Jess with either your email or mailing address to be added. 

We're on Facebook!

Click here to see our page!

2012 Camping Season

• Spruce Creek Park is open (showerhouse will open April 16)

• South Sabula Lake Park is open (showerhouse will open April 16)
  

• Camping at Joinerville Park requires a special use permit.  Contact our office for details. 

• Duck Creek Park, Buzzard Ridge and Ozark Wildlife Area offer primitive tent-only camping.

Go to our Parks page for more information.

Receive 1 FREE night of camping
when you camp Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, receive Monday night FREE! This special runs prior to Memorial Day weekend and after Labor Day weekend.

Mission Statement:

The Jackson County Conservation Board is responsible to acquire, develop, maintain and make the following available to the inhabitants of the county: public museums, parks, preserves, parkways, playgrounds, recreational centers, county forests, wildlife and other conservation areas, and to promote and preserve the health and general welfare of the people, to encourage the orderly development and conservation of natural resources, and to cultivate good citizenship by providing adequate programs of public recreation.

Contact Us Today!

Jackson County Conservation
18670 63rd Street
Maquoketa, IA 52060

Offices at the Hurstville
Interpretive Center
Click here for directions

Phone: (563) 652-3783
Fax: (563) 652-2191
Email

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday - Sunday
January - March  CLOSED
April - October   12:00 - 5:00 pm
Nov. - Dec.   12:00 - 4:00 pm

Parks are open 6 am - 10:30 pm

"In the Great Outdoors"

Tune into KMAQ on the radio for our weekly "In the Great Outdoors" segment.  Topics relate to wildlife and conservation issues in Iowa.

KMAQ AM 1320 Wednesdays at 4:35 pm
and Saturdays at 8:15 am

KMAQ FM 95.1 Wednesdays at 5:45 pm
and Saturdays at 7:45 am

“That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.”

- Aldo Leopold

Ann Burns Receives EE Award!

Ann Burns, Environmental Education Coordinator for Jackson County Conservation, was awarded an esteemed award this past winter for her efforts in environmental education.

From both the Iowa Association of Naturalists and the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition, Ann was awarded the Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award for her outstanding efforts as an environmental educator! This award recognizes either a formal or non-formal educator for innovative EE programming beyond her/his job expectations.

This award is given to only one individual each year. Ann Burns has worked for Jackson County Conservation for 26 years. Ann’s passion for environmental education is evident through her programming efforts at JCC, volunteer work, and willingness to support young environmental education professionals. She has found ways to partner with local conservation groups, state organizations, and federal agencies to expand her educational programming. Ann is always looking for new ideas, sharing her ideas with others, and working to ensure environmental education continues to thrive in the State of Iowa.

In the 2011 fiscal year alone, Ann reached 5,562 people through her programming efforts.