Programs & Events

Polliwog Playtime Series - Aquatic Animals

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 12 kids/session.

Knee-High Naturalists Series - Aquatic Animals

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 12 kids/session.

Earth Day Clean-Up

In celebration of Earth Day, join us in a clean-up event at Deep Lakes Park. Meet at the Beach Parking Lot. Snacks and water will be provided. Please bring gloves and a grabber if you have one.

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

Back again this year, let’s celebrate Arbor Day (a day late) by giving trees away!

This event will be held at Discovery Park in the Parking Lot of the Environmental Learning Center.  We will have 275 saplings to give way, FREE!  Limit 2 per household.  First come, first served, no reservations.  Species included will be Hackberry, Red Oak, Eastern White Pine, Wild Plum, Redbud, and Aronia berry. 

All trees should be planted on the same day you pick them up, planting information will be available. If there is a date change, information will be posted on the Muscatine County Conservation Facebook Page.

Polliwog Playtime Series - Worms

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 12 kids/session.

Knee-High Naturalists Series - Worms

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 12 kids/session.

Mother’s Day Foray

We’re hunting for morels! Join us for a fun hike and mushroom foray through Saulsbury! We will highlight other wild edibles in season. Trails can be squishy, so please wear hiking shoes that can take on some dirt. This program is entirely outdoors, so please dress for the weather.

Twilight Paddle Series

Let’s watch the sun set and the moon rise from Lake Chester.  Canoes, kayaks, and lifejackets are available to borrow, or bring your own.  Please bring a light that can be attached to your boat.  Sign up for any number of the upcoming Twilight Paddles.

Pre-registration is required by calling 563-264-5922 or by email at conservation@muscatinecountyiowa.gov.

Summer Nature Camps - Hello Sun!

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Hello Sun!

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Hello Sun!

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Hello Sun!

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Chipmunk Camp - Discover Astronomy

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Chipmunk Camp - Discover Water

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Kestrel Camp - Discover Water

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Otter Camp - Discover Water

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Outdoor Recreation Camp - Explore Big Sand Mound

Meet at the Environmental Learning Center and travel to other areas.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Summer Nature Camps - Wind Wonders

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Wind Wonders

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Twilight Paddle Series

Let’s watch the sun set and the moon rise from Lake Chester.  Canoes, kayaks, and lifejackets are available to borrow, or bring your own.  Please bring a light that can be attached to your boat.  Sign up for any number of the upcoming Twilight Paddles.

Pre-registration is required by calling 563-264-5922 or by email at conservation@muscatinecountyiowa.gov.

Summer Nature Camps - Wind Wonders

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Wind Wonders

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Discover Astronomy Camp

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Kestrel Camp - Discover Astronomy

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Otter Camp - Discover Astronomy

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Summer Nature Camps - Rain & Puddles

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Rain & Puddles

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Outdoor Recreation Camp - Explore Odessa (Paddling)

Meet at the Environmental Learning Center and travel to other areas.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Live Animals at the Campground

Join a naturalist and learn about amphibians and reptiles who live in Iowa. There will be live animals! Meet near the campground host at site # 20.

Summer Nature Camps - Rain & Puddles

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Rain & Puddles

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Clouds & Sky

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Clouds & Sky

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Outdoor Recreation Camp - Explore the Cedar River (Paddling)

Meet at the Environmental Learning Center and travel to other areas.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Twilight Paddle Series

Let’s watch the sun set and the moon rise from Lake Chester.  Canoes, kayaks, and lifejackets are available to borrow, or bring your own.  Please bring a light that can be attached to your boat.  Sign up for any number of the upcoming Twilight Paddles.

Pre-registration is required by calling 563-264-5922 or by email at conservation@muscatinecountyiowa.gov.

Summer Nature Camps - Clouds & Sky

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Clouds & Sky

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Chipmunk Camp - Discover Birds

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Discover Birds Camp

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Discover Insects Camp

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Kestrel Camp - Discover Birds

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Otter Camp - Discover Birds

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Summer Nature Camps - Celebrating Weather

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Celebrating Weather

Get ready for a great adventure!  We will have fun exploring nature together at Discovery Park.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Chipmunk Camp - Discover Insects

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register. Maximum of 16 kids/session.

Water, Water, Water!!!

Join a naturalist to discover what makes the water at Deep Lakes Park so crystal clear. We’ll explore the incredible water cycle, human impacts on water quality in Iowa, and have some fun cooling off with water. Meet near the Camp Host’s site #22.

Summer Nature Camps - Celebrating Weather

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Summer Nature Camps - Celebrating Weather

Toddlers, bring your favorite adult to Nature Camp! Activities are designed to help toddlers explore nature through hands-on activities, stories, crafts, games, and activities.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit the Environmental Learning Center to register.

Twilight Paddle Series

Let’s watch the sun set and the moon rise from Lake Chester.  Canoes, kayaks, and lifejackets are available to borrow, or bring your own.  Please bring a light that can be attached to your boat.  Sign up for any number of the upcoming Twilight Paddles.

Pre-registration is required by calling 563-264-5922 or by email at conservation@muscatinecountyiowa.gov.

Hunter Education Class

Hunter education is a mandatory program that is designed to introduce students to several life-long skills that are important to many different types of outdoor recreational opportunities. The course teaches students basic survival and first aid skills, water safety, wildlife identification, the basics of wildlife management, hunting laws and firearm/archery safety. Hunter education also stresses the importance of individual responsibility and outdoor ethics.

Iowa law requires that anyone born after January 1, 1972 must be certified in hunter education before they are eligible to purchase an Iowa hunting license.
Students must pick up a manual and complete the questions in the back of the manual prior to the class.

Students must attend entire day to receive certificate. Bring a sack lunch and something to drink.

Class size is limited.

Pre-registration is required for this event.

Monarch Tagging

Try your luck at catching Monarch Butterflies to tag on their way to Mexico. Wear long pants and bring a butterfly net if you have one. We will have a few extra nets to borrow if you don’t have one.

Twilight Paddle Series

Let’s watch the sun set and the moon rise from Lake Chester.  Canoes, kayaks, and lifejackets are available to borrow, or bring your own.  Please bring a light that can be attached to your boat.  Sign up for any number of the upcoming Twilight Paddles.

Pre-registration is required by calling 563-264-5922 or by email at conservation@muscatinecountyiowa.gov.