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You must be the change you want to see in the world– Mahatma Gandhi |
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Ecology Club |
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Upcoming Events |
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Wednesday, 9/28- DMACC Urban Campus “No Impact Man” book discussion with film screening 11:30-1:30, bldg 1, room 211 Topics are consumption and waste (chapters 1-4). We will watch “Crapshoot” and “The Story of Stuff” Bring your lunch!
Sunday, 10/2- Fun and Funky Farm Crawl 2011 11:00 am -5:00 pm, Knoxville and Lacona Area Eight independent family farms, in a small pocket of south central Iowa, welcome you to tour their farms on one big day this autumn. The eight farms include: Blue Gate Farm, Coyote Run Farm, Dan-D Farms, Pierce’s, Pumpkin Patch, Reichert’s Dairy Air, Schneider Orchards, White Breast Pottery and Weaving, and Crooked Gap Farm. Meet these farmers, see their operations, visit the animals, sample the goodies, learn something new about agriculture and enjoy delicious food as you drive yourself from farm to farm through the beautiful Iowa countryside, and have fun with your family and friends! Sorry, no pets allowed. Prepared food and snacks available for purchase at various farms. More detailed information, maps and pictures on the web at: www.farmcrawl.com.
Saturday, 10/8- Neal Smith NWR Fall Volunteer Work Day 7:45 am-2:30 pm, Neal Smith NWR (near Prairie City, Iowa) Join us and other conservation-minded individuals as we spend the morning working on improving the world’s largest reconstructed tallgrass prairie! Meet at Urban campus at 7:45. Wear layers, study closed-toed shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing. Bring work gloves, if you have them, and water. Lunch and transportation will be provided. Email Mel Sadeghpour (mhsadeghpour@dmacc.edu) if you want to participate in this great annual event!
Tuesday, 10/11- Picket Fences to High Trestle Trail: Bridges Fall Tour 8:00 am -5:30 pm, depart from Wal-Mart in Grimes Explore the diversity of culture and eco-tourism in Central Iowa. Enjoy the view of the High Trestle Trail Bridge via a horse drawn wagon ride. This bridge is one of the tallest and longest pedestrian bridges in the world. Have lunch in a restored corncrib overlooking Iowa’s farm fields, compliments of Corncrib catering. Tour Jester Park; the bison/elk exhibit and the award winning Natural Playscape. Relax at the Snus Hill Winery and try a sampling of their wines. Experience the warm hospitality of local agri-tourism at the Picket Fence Creamery with a tour and sample their wonderful ice cream. Fee: $55; includes transportation, tour fees, and meals. Departure from Wal-Mart parking lot in Grimes. Registration deadline is September 27. http://www.conservationboard.org/Pages/Calendar.aspx
Saturday, 10/15- Basic Wildland Fire Training S130/S190 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Sioux City My name is Kyle Lapham and I am the Loess Hills Fire Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy and I would like to inform you of an opportunity. For any interested people my partners and I will be offering an online version of the Basic Wildland Fire Training S130/S190. Email me (klapham@tnc.org ) for the registration form, the cost will be $10. There will be TWO field days: One to be held in Sioux City, IA on Saturday Oct 15th at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center from 0900-1700. The Second, in Honey Creek, IA on Saturday Oct 22nd at Hitchcock Nature Center from 0830-1700. This is the class needed to participate on many prescribed burn crews and to participate in any fire management activities (prescribed fire or fire suppression) with conservation agencies (i.e. National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, DNR, etc.) Normally the course is a 32 hour classroom session so prepare enough time to complete the course work. Indicate which Field Day you are interested in on the Registration form. Please contact me if you have questions.
Sunday, 10/16- “Do More Outdoors” Event 1:00-4:00, Fort Des Moines Park, Shelter #2 Looking for some fun this fall? Come play outside! Learn how to kayak (must be 12 or older) and geocache. Enjoy a woodland hike, discover pond life, join in on some family friendly games, or learn how to stay safe in the outdoors. To learn more go to www.domoreoutdoorsiowa.com . Cosponsored by Iowa Health - Des Moines. All ages welcome.
Wednesday, 10/19- DMACC Urban Campus “No Impact Man” book discussion with film screening 11:30-1:30, bldg 1, room 211 Topic is transportation (chapter 5). We will watch “Ecological Footprint” and “Escape from Affluenza” Bring your lunch!
Friday, 10/21 –Sunday, 10/23- Midwest Power Shift Cleveland, Ohio I am organizing for an upcoming regional conference on environmental issues, and would like to invite students from DMACC. The conference is called Midwest Power Shift, and it's taking place in Cleveland, October 21-23. Students will have the opportunity to learn about various energy and environmental issues, and it is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable leadership skills. I know students from University of Iowa be going, so there is a possiblity DMACC students could carpool from Iowa City if transportation is a concern. Housing is currently being secured, too, so that will hopefully not be too expensive. The registration rate increases after October 2, so interested students should register before then to save some money. Feel free to check out the website to learn more, and please let me know if you have any questions. Lance Brisbois, Great Plains Organizer, Midwest Power Shift, (402) 350-9267
Saturday, 10/22- Basic Wildland Fire Training S130/S190 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek My name is Kyle Lapham and I am the Loess Hills Fire Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy and I would like to inform you of an opportunity. For any interested people my partners and I will be offering an online version of the Basic Wildland Fire Training S130/S190. Email me (klapham@tnc.org ) for the registration form, the cost will be $10. There will be TWO field days: One to be held in Sioux City, IA on Saturday Oct 15th at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center from 0900-1700. The Second, in Honey Creek, IA on Saturday Oct 22nd at Hitchcock Nature Center from 0830-1700. This is the class needed to participate on many prescribed burn crews and to participate in any fire management activities (prescribed fire or fire suppression) with conservation agencies (i.e. National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, DNR, etc.) Normally the course is a 32 hour classroom session so prepare enough time to complete the course work. Indicate which Field Day you are interested in on the Registration form. Please contact me if you have questions.
Thursday, 10/27- Ramsey Farm, Amish Store, and Prairie Chickens Bus Tour 7:30 am -6:00 pm, depart from Living History Farms parking lot Step back into the past as we tour the Amish Store filled with quality, handmade goods. Experience a Conestoga wagon at Graceland College. Visit the unique Tilapia and Aquaponics farm in Leon. Search for the reintroduced prairie chickens in Kellerton Wildlife area. Our final destination will be a tour of the Ramsey Farm, a 180-acre restored historic working farm and village. Fee: $55; includes transportation, tour fees and meals. Departure from Living History Farms parking lot off of Hickman Road, Urbandale. Registration deadline is October 6. http://www.conservationboard.org/Pages/Calendar.aspx
Saturday, 10/29- “Walk For Wildlife” 8:00 am-1:00 pm, Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Enjoy a family walk through the park or extend your trip with a 5 or 10-kilometer Volkssport walk. There will be a Halloween costume contest, “Minute to Win it” games, and food. Girl Scouts of America are also invited to take part in the day. Walkers can start anytime between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. Co-sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Volkssport Association. All ages welcome. $2 registration fee payable at the event. Past Walk for Wildlife t-shirts will be for sale. Pets on a 6-foot leash are welcome. http://www.conservationboard.org/Pages/Calendar.aspx |