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| News Releases Pioneer Field Day at Wagaman Mill (5-20-10)
5th Annual Off the Beaten Path (9-19-09) The 5th Annual Off the Beaten path 3K fun run and 6K trail race was held at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve on September 19, 2009. The weather was beautiful for the 125 participants who braved the tough cross country course in this Jasper County park. The winner in the 3K was Darrell Batterson with a time of 14.11 and the winner of the 6K was Bryan Friedman with a time of 24.02. See results for the 3K and 6K races.
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2nd Annual Hook Line and Sinker Fishing Derby (6-6-09)
Pioneer Field Day at Wagaman Mill (5-19-09)
Wildflower, Mushroom and Photography Hike (5-2-09)
Prairie Burn a Success at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve (4-3-09)
Photo by Rod DePenning Maquoketa Caves Trip (3-14-09)
Photo Contest Update (2-10-09) Jasper Conservation Connection recently held it’s first photo contest, using the winning pictures on blank winter greeting cards. The non-profit group for the Jasper County Conservation Board sold the cards as a fundraiser throughout November and December, raising $225.00 for future park projects and programs. The greeting cards were sold in packages of twelve for $11.95 a package. The winning photographers were Howard Vrankin, Barbara Van Zante and Tesha Huffaker, who all received a free package of cards. Jasper Conservation Connection is planning to have another photo contest in 2009. Have your cameras ready throughout the year to capture nature scenes, wildlife, people in the outdoors, and Jasper County parks. This year’s photo contest will feature nature in Jasper County during all four seasons. For more information, please contact Katie Cantu at (641) 792-9780. See 2008 winning photos! Ice Fishing at Mariposa (2-7-09)
"Professor Acorn" Program at Baxter Elementary (11-20-08)
Off the Beaten Path 6K trail race and 3K Fun Run/Walk(9-20-08)
Hartley Heritage Fen Dedication(9-6-08) The Jasper County Conservation Board and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) celebrated the acquisition of Hartley Heritage Fen at a public dedication the morning of Sept. 6, 2008. The ceremony formally introduced the natural gem and recognized donors and special guests. After the short program, Jasper County Conservation Board staff and friends of the fen lead a guided hike. "This event was scheduled for September because the native prairie are in full bloom," said Keri Van Zante, Jasper County Conservation Board Director. A fen is a type of wetland that hosts some of Iowa’s rarest plants and animals. The Hartley property includes a 6.5-acre fen and 26.5 acres of cropland that are being restored to wetland and upland prairie habitats. A complete species inventory of the property is not yet available, but a number of plants that are strong fen-indicator species have been found there, including turtlehead, flat-topped aster, Riddell’s goldenrod and spring cress. Restoration and enhancement of the fen and surrounding upland prairie habitat has begun and will continue throughout the next several years. "Just like the marsh marigolds in the spring and the Riddell's goldenrod in the fall, the outlook for this fen is now bright," said Laurie Fenimore, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) staff member and a friend of the fen. Fenimore credited former owners Bill and Coleen Sandquist of Adel, Iowa, whose partial donation helped make protection of the fen possible. Bill inherited the land from his cousin Paul Hartley and was poised to sell it for housing until he and Coleen learned of the land’s unique qualities. "The name Hartley Heritage Fen is appropriate," said Fenimore, "as it honors Bill's relatives who had owned the land for many years." The Jasper CCB, Pheasants Forever and many other partners raised over $78,000 in private donations to acquire the 33-acre site. INHF, a nonprofit conservation group, provided fundraising assistance and interim ownership and management. In addition to donations, the Jasper CCB received a REAP grant for $150,000 and a DOT Living Roadway Trust Fund grant of $17,500 for the project. Hartley Heritage Fen is located at the intersection of N 59th Ave W and W 148th Street N/NE 120th Street, rural Valeria. Take I-80 to Exit 149 (Mitchellville). Go North on S-27 for 5.5 miles to NE 110th Ave. Turn East onto NE 110th Ave. Go 1 mile East to the next stop sign (NE 120th St). Hartley Heritage Fen will be directly to the Northeast. Turn North and go up the hill. Parking is on the right side of the road. Download a map here. Shelterhouse Grand Opening at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve (8-13-08)
Ashton Outdoor Adventure (8-2-08)
Fishing Derby at Mariposa (6-7-08)
Bird Preservation After School Program (3/25/08) On Tuesday, March 25, 5th graders in Mark Law’s class at Emerson Hough Elementary in Newton participated in an after-school bird preservation program. Members of the Tallgrass Prairie Chapter of the Audubon Society, Bob and Connie Van Ersvelde, along with Naturalists Katie Cantu and Nathan Unsworth, assisted with the project. The Jasper County Conservation Board has a special permit allowing the possession of birds for educational use. Bird specimens were brought to the classroom and the students turned them into natural looking displays. Van Ersvelde injected a solution of formaldehyde and borax into the birds which will preserve them for future study specimens. Bluebird House Building Workshop (3/1/08)
Snowshoeing with Berg Middle School (2/21/08)
Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing at Krumm (2/9/08) The frigid weather was no match for the spirits of the families at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve. The temperature on Saturday was in the single digits, but the level of participation at the annual cross country skiing and snowshoeing event was at an all time high! Nearly 50 adults and children arrived at the park bundled up and ready to learn winter sports! Cross country ski lessons were taught by park officer Dennis Cooling and snowshoeing was lead by naturalists Katie Cantu and Nathan Unsworth. 2007 Halloween Hike (10/26/07)The Jasper Conservation Connection and Boy Scout Troop 354 held a fun and not scary Halloween Hike on October 26 at Mariposa Park. Over 250 participants and volunteers were able to solve the mystery of Wolfe Lake and discovered what could be done to improve the water quality and habitat of the park. The Des Moines Astronomical Society provided telescopes and expertise for visitors as they stargazed. Kids also had the opportunity to decorate pumpkins to put on their own doorstep for Halloween! Special thanks to all of the scouts, parents, and volunteers for all of the donated time and effort! "Off the Beaten Path" (9/22/07) The 3rd Annual "Off the Beaten Path" 6K Trail Race and 3K Fun Run/Walk was held at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve on September 22. Nearly 130 participants braved the terrain to complete the 2007 event! Proceeds from the event will benefit the Jasper Conservation Connection and the PI Foundation. Click here for 2006 3K and 6K race results and here for the 2007 3K and 6K results. Thanks to all of our great volunteers and participants! Join us again next year on September 20, 2008 and, until then, we will see you somewhere "Off the Beaten Path"! Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) and the Jasper County Conservation Board have combined forces to purchase and protect a 33-acre site. It contains a 6.5-acre fen, a scarce type of wetland that hosts some of Iowa's rarest native plants and animals. The additional 25 acres that is currently cropland will be restored to fen and upland prairie habitats. Learn more about this project at: http://www.inhf.org/jasper_fen.htm Earth Packs are Here! (5/1/07) The Jasper County Conservation Board has created 10 nature themed "Earth Pack" backpacks that are available for public use. Earth Pack themes include: insects, water quality, birds, geology, prairie, aquatic habitats, woodlands, animal signs, outdoor survival, and camping. Earth Packs were created with grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to teach families about protecting our Earth’s natural ecosystems by involving them with hands on learning activities. Earth Packs can be checked out for up to 2 weeks at a time and require a $10 deposit that will be refunded upon safe and timely return of the pack! For more information, contact the Jasper County Conservation Board at 641-792-9780. |
On
Thursday, May 20th, Berg 4th grade from
Newton participated in a Wagaman Mill “pioneer field day” held
by the Jasper County Conservation Board and the Lynnville
Historical Society. About seventy-five students took part in
pioneer school, museum tours, wild edibles, farming tools, and
the grinding of grain in the wheelhouse. They made homemade
butter, cooked biscuits over a fire, tried on pioneer clothing,
had three legged/gunny sack races and sampled dandelion
fritters. The day was a great success and the staff of the
Jasper County Conservation Board is hoping other Jasper County
schools will take advantage of the program for the 2010-2011
school yea
This
summer, 13 students participated in the Leadership Adventure program,
which introduced them to what it means to be a leader and taught them
important leadership skills. The program included a variety of team
building activities and concluded with a kayak trip down the North Skunk
River.
Nearly 150 participants and
volunteers braved the weather for a successful fishing derby at
Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve.
On Tuesday, May 19th,
the Berg 4th grade participated in the first Wagaman Mill
“pioneer field day” held by the Jasper County Conservation Board and
the Lynnville Historical Society. Seventy-one students took part in
pioneer school, museum tours, wild edibles, farming tools, and the
grinding of grain in the wheelhouse. They made homemade butter,
cooked biscuits over a fire, and sampled dandelion fritters. The
day was a great success and plans are being made to offer the
program to other Jasper County schools for the 2009-2010 school
year.
On May 2nd,
a beautiful Saturday morning, a group of 15 people joined Naturalist
Katie Cantu and amateur photographer Howard Vrankin on a woodland
hike at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve. The group discovered many
wildflowers including Dutchman’s Breeches, Bloodroots, Dog-toothed
violets, Mayapples, Rue Anemones, and hillsides covered with
Bluebells. Vrankin shared tips and ideas for getting great nature
pictures. No morel mushrooms were found, but participants enjoyed
the wonderful weather and the many sights and sounds of the woods.
Volunteers from local schools donated
their time to better the environment during the week of 2009 Earth Day.
Central College students helped to remove invasive species from Mariposa
Park, while Lynnville-Sully High School worked at Wagaman Mill and
painted the walk bridge over the North Skunk River, tidied up the Mill Museum,
and cleaned out the portage path. Newton High School students
picked up trash and painted road drains in Newton to remind people about
the effects of dumping chemicals on water quality..jpg)
Weather conditions were ideal for a
Friday evening public prairie burn at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve. JCCB
employees
burned almost 30 acres during this annual conservation program.
Naturalists Katie Cantu and Nathan Unsworth lead observers into the
savanna and explained to the group of nearly 150 onlookers about why controlled burns
are conducted, the history of prairies in Iowa, and what the
outcome will be after of the burning.
O
Nearly 30 participants tested
their ice fishing skills at Mariposa last Saturday. A few
fishermen and fisherwomen had some luck catching small crappie, bluegill and
bass, but most spent the afternoon enjoying time with family and
learning some basic ice fishing skills from conservation volunteer Bill
Yeager.
JCCB Naturalist, Nathan
Unsworth, conducted his first "Professor Acorn" program at Baxter
Elementary. Unsworth, as Professor Acorn, discussed chemistry and
physical science and applied those principles through simple
experiments illustrating states of matter and exothermic reactions.
Unsworth is now offering this this program to schools and other groups around
the county. To meet Professor Acorn, contact Nathan Unsworth at
641-792-9780 or by email: 
More than 100 runners and walkers took part in
the 4th Annual "Off the Beaten Path" 6K and 3K trail races at Jacob Krumm
Nature Preserve. Bryan Friedman was the winner of the 6K with a
time of 24.33 and Aaron Peter was the winner of the 3K with a time of
13.42. Overall female winners were Carla Stoner in the 6K with a
time of 29.26 and Rachel Peter in the 3K with a time of 17.45. For
complete race results, click here:
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The
Jasper County Conservation Board and the non-profit Jasper Conservation
Connection held a grand opening for the new shelter at Jacob Krumm
Nature Preserve on August 13th at 9:00 am. Though the
project took longer to complete then first anticipated, the groups were
able to add a few special features to make the structure a bit more
sustainable. Through donations and additional grants, a shelterhouse
with a flush toilet and lighting operated by solar panels was
constructed! Special mention should be made about our donors to the
project: Sully Construction, Norris Electrical, Central Iowa Water
Association, Liebus Concrete Products, and Infiltrator Systems. Grants
were also received from the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Family
Foundation, Jasper Community Foundation, and Iowa DNR. Because of all of
these partnerships, the Jasper County Conservation Board is able to
provide the public with a facility that can be utilized day or night.
The Jasper County
Conservation Board held its first Ashton Outdoor Adventure event at
Ashton Wildwood Park on Saturday, August 2. Ashton Park is located
7 miles west of Baxter off Hwy. F-17. Participants learned and
practiced various outdoor skills from a range of presenters
including: The Prairie Rose Cookers, Des Moines Astronomical Society
(DMAS), DNR Conservation Officer Kirby Bragg, DNR District Forester
Joe Herring, DNR Wildlife Biologists, Jasper County ISU Extension
Education Director Alan Keninger, Tall Grass Prairie Chapter of the
Audubon Society, Outdoors Without Limits, Newton Boy Scout Troop
354, and Jasper County Conservation Board Naturalists Katie Cantu
and Nathan Unsworth. Participants sampled Dutch oven cooked
foods throughout the day, had a hotdog supper served by DMAS, and
tried their luck at an evening family outdoor skills challenge.
Later, participants stayed for stargazing with DMAS at the Ashton
Observatory.
Nearly 200 people participated in the
1st Annual Hook, Line, and Sinker Fishing Derby at Mariposa Park.
The Jasper County Conservation Board, along with volunteers from the
Jasper Conservation Connection, Pheasants Forever, Outdoors Without
Limits, and the Izaak Walton League organized the day, starting with 5
educational programs : fish cleaning, casting, water quality, fish ID,
and water safety. Morning sessions were followed by a free lunch
and then an afternoon of fishing, great prizes, and a casting contest.
Click
15 people braved the weather to participate in a canoe
basics workshop at Ahrens Access of Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve given by JCCB volunteer Greg Vitale. Vitale taught about the parts of a
canoe and paddle, as well as instructing basic strokes. All
participants then had the opportunity to put their new skills to the
test on the water. Vitale and the JCCB plan to hold another
workshop next spring! 
On March 1st,
27 people attended a bluebird house building workshop at the Jasper
County Community Center. At the workshop, the participants built over 30
houses. Twelve of the houses will be used to create a bluebird trail on
one of the conservation areas in the county.
Katie Cantu and Nathan Unsworth, naturalists
with the Jasper County Conservation Board, visited Berg Middle School
recently to help the students beat the winter time blues. The students
in Mrs. Boeyink’s PE classes were taught about the historic uses of
snowshoes and were introduced to how much fun snowshoeing can be today.
The students said they all enjoyed the experience even though they were
a little cold and wet by the end of each class!