Author: Pam True

Jackson County Conservation
Teacher Newsletter
Summer 2010

What’s new at the Hurstville Interpretive Center?
The Tallgrass Prairie…What it was, what happened to it, and what may lie in its future is something that...you can now discover! A traveling prairie exhibit entitled Tallgrass Prairie: Past, Present, and Future will be on display at the Hurstville Interpretive Center from May 29—July 21. Hands-on displays and interactive components will engage visitors in learning about the prairie landscape and native animal and plant species. Members of the community are also invited to become personally involved in the preservation and restoration of the prairie ecosystem (see next page for prairie events).
The prairie exhibit was produced by the Iowa Association of Naturalists with funds from the Resource Enhancement and Protection – Conservation Education Program (REAP – CEP), Living Roadway Trust Fund, Pheasants Forever, Iowa Trust for Local Conservation, the Tallgrass Prairie Center – UNI, and Truax Company.

The Early Bird gets the Worm
It’s never to early to start thinking about next year. Our staff is available to meet with you and schedule field trips and programs for the 2010-11 school year.
A list of available in-school programs is available on our website at www.jacksonccb.com/EE.html. We will also work with you on any other topic you would like assistance with.
Fall field trips are also popular—call early to get yours scheduled! Options include but are not limited to: Millrock School, Hurstville Interpretive Center, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Green Island, Eden Valley, and the Hurstville Lime Kilns.

Smart Lunch Winner Announced
As you know, here at the Hurstville Interpretive Center, we like to reduce our impact on the environment by reducing the amount of garbage thrown away. We challenge all school groups who visit the center to pack Smart Lunches to accomplish this (such as using reusable containers instead of throwaway items). We weigh the trash bag of each school and divide it by the amount of people with the school and give out a prize to the top class each fall and spring.
Spring 2010 winner is Preston 2nd grade! 54 people left less than 2 ounces of trash! Great job 2nd graders!

Bus Grant for Jackson County Schools
What?
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is offering bus grants of up to $350 per school to help with transportation
costs for field trips to Silos partner sites.
Silos & Smokestacks partner sites in the area include: Hurstville Interpretive Center, Mississippi River Museum, Mines of Spain, Putnam Museum, and more!
Who is eligible?
Administrators and teachers employed by an accredited Pre K-12 public, private, or charter school within the Heritage Area (includes Jackson County).
When can I apply?
Applications for the 2010-11 school year will be accepted starting August 1, 2010. Grants will be awarded on a first come first serve basis, so get in the application for your school ASAP. Last year funds were gone within 5 weeks.
How to apply?
Go to www.silosandsmokestacks.org, scroll down and click on grants on bottom bar. Fill out very short application and submit! For more info, contact Silos Education Manager– Angi Reid at (319) 234-4567 or areid@silosandsmokestacks.org.
We hope that area schools will utilize
this great funding source!

To schedule a program or for more information please contact:
Ann Burns amburns29@jacksonccb.com
Jess Wagner jess@jacksonccb.com
Jess Howell AmeriCorps@jacksonccb.com

Phone: (563) 652-3783

www.JacksonCCB.com

Summer Calendar of Events
Date—Program/Event—Location (if not specified then event takes place at the Hurstville Interpretive Center)
May 28— American Kestrel—South Sabula Lakes Park
May 29— American Kestrel—Spruce Creek Park
May 29-July 21—Traveling Prairie Exhibit
May 31— Honey Bees
June 5—Free Fishing Clinic—Hurstville Fishing Pond
June 8—JCC Board Meeting—South Sabula Lakes Park
June 9— Nature Tales: Buzzy Bees
June 10— Tallgrass Prairie
June 10—Science Under the Stars
June 12—Prairie Rescue—Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area
June 13—River Clean-up/Canoe Trip—Maq. River
June 15—Friends of JCC Meeting
June 20— Salamanders
June 24—Trumpeter Swans
June 27—Prairie Walk
July 2—Water Safety—South Sabula Lakes Park
July 3— Water Safety—Spruce Creek Park
July 5— Prairie Animals
July 8— American Kestrel
July 13—JCC Board Meeting—Preston
July 14— Nature Tales: Party in the Prairie
July 18—Kite Flying
July 22— Wetland Wonders
July 25—GPS/Geocaching 101
August 5— Insects Galore
August 10—JCC Board Meeting—Blackhawk Wildlife
August 11— Nature Tales: Animal Olympics
August 15—Trumpeter Swans

Funky Nests in Funky Places Contest! Environmental challenge from Cornell Lab seeks the weird and wonderful
The Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is bringing back its "Funky Nests in Funky Places" environmental challenge! For the 2010 contest, participants may take photos, do a painting, write a story, or shoot a video showing a bird’s nest built in some out-of-the-way or out-of-this-world place.
Prizes include Kaytee bird feeders and seed, sound CDs, books, Cornell Lab gift baskets, nest boxes, and more. We'll also be creating a 2011 calendar using some of the best entries.
Email your entry to urbanbirds@cornell.edu:
Write "Funky Nests_Your First and Last Name_ Your City and State" in the subject line.
In the email, you MUST include your name, mailing address, and location where photos were taken.
Tell us why you submitted your entry to the Funky Nests in Funky Places contest.
Choose your favorite entry and send just that one.
Read the terms of agreement on our website.
Be careful around nesting birds. Read more about how to find nests and what to do once you know where birds are nesting.
If you agree to the terms above, send us your entry before July 1, 2010.
For more info- http://www.birds.cornell.edu/celebration

Workshops for Educators:

Fish Iowa!
A comprehensive module to teach basic fishing; Fish Iowa! incorporates physical education, health, biology, geography, and family and consumer sciences into a program that focuses on fishing. It is designed for use in formal settings with middle through senior high students, but adapts to non-formal settings such as camps, scout outings, etc.
Fish Iowa! works with students with all levels of abilities. Program support includes free-loan rods and reels. Materials are available to Iowa educators and youth leaders only through training sessions. Additional modules include Ice Fishing and Fly-Fishing.
We are going to offer a training session this summer (June) and in the fall (September) for teachers that are interested. Training lasts approx 3 hours. Please contact Jess Wagner if you are interested. Dates will be set once we know who is interested and their availability.

Fit Environment
Hands on professional development for educators integrating active outdoor recreation and environmental concepts into the core curriculum.
Learn basic skills and teaching strategies for:
~Canoeing ~Using GPS
~Snowshoeing ~Cross Country Skiing.
Explore how to:
Use inquiry and environment based strategies to enhance learning
Study nature in the schoolyard
Integrate outdoor recreation and nature study into your teaching
Credits: 1 Drake graduate credit or 1 renewal credit
Stipend: $150 available to participating teachers
When: Saturdays: July 17, 2010 & Jan. 22, 2011
Where: Wickiup Hill Outdoor Center (Linn County)
Register: http://www.aea10.k12.ia.us/profdev/assesscurricinstruct.html

Jackson County Conservation Teacher Newsletter Summer 2010