Polk County Conservation is implementing a Callery (Bradford) Pear and Burning Bush “buy-back” program for residents of Polk County, Iowa.
This summer Polk County Conservation Parks are getting upgrades! As the temperature increases, stay informed on all the projects and closures happening in the parks.
Slide down a 600-foot-long hill tubing starting this spring at Sleepy Hollow.
Join us for a seed harvesting event focused on early spring ephemeral wildflowers in our woodlands.
Join us at Iowa’s largest annual Earth Day event right here in the Des Moines Metro!
Build simple kites as we explore the science of flight. We will discuss the remarkable adaptations birds have developed in order to take flight. We will assemble and decorate a small kite and send them aloft for a fun ending. Each registered individual will receive a kite.
Prescribed burn season is upon us! Our Natural Resource Crews will be conducting prescribed burning in our parks and trails as weather allows this week and extending through the spring season.
Join a naturalist on a lovely spring day for a walk in the woods. We’ll take a leisurely stroll and identify and discuss some of Iowa’s native woodland wildflowers. We will also discover other plants and maybe even a coveted fungus.
A wetland is an area of land that is continuously or periodically wet during the year. Also called swamps, marshes, bogs, or prairie potholes, Iowa was once dotted with thousands of wetlands.
Let your imagination run wild with this nature-themed story time! Hear a story followed by the naturalist’s choice of an activity such as an animal encounter, puppets or a craft.
Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) is a form of restoration work that occurs in degraded woodlands with the goal of improving the quality of native tree and plant species. Often this involves reducing the quantity of trees, especially non-native varieties.
Like all birds of prey that were devastated by DDT in mid-20th century, Ospreys have recovered. And their presence has been delighting outdoor enthusiasts in the 21st century. Learn how Polk County Conservation contributed a pivotal role in bringing these birds to Iowa.
