Midwinter Thaw - Nature Photography Workshop

Get a jumpstart on spring by attending a nature photography workshop on Feb. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Iowa Lakes Community College, in Emmetsburg.

The goal of the workshop, titled "Midwinter Thaw," is to encourage more people to get outside and become involved in nature. Topics include picking out the right camera equipment and its proper use; and marketing and selling your work.

There is a dramatic upswing in wildlife and nature viewing locally and throughout the country and photography is often the next step. There are many types of nature photography ranging from wildlife to landscapes. Close up views of a honeybee on a wild bergamot prairie flower can be just as captivating as a panoramic photo of a sunset over Lost Island Lake.

The workshop will be lead by professional photographers from northwest Iowa, including Don Poggensee, from Ida Grove, Stan Buman, from Carroll, Dan Ruf, from Spirit Lake and Bruce Morrison, from Hartley. They will offer insight into how they achieve success in nature photography.

The northwest Iowa watchable wildlife project will also be highlighted at the workshop. Currently, this project covers 13 counties and emphasizes the nearly 500 county conservation and DNR public areas throughout the region.

To learn more about the watchable wildlife project, visit the northwest Iowa watchable wildlife web site at: http://www.watchablewildlifenwia.org.

The public workshop is sponsored by Iowa Lakes Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), Palo Alto County Conservation Board, O'Brien County Conservation Board and Clay County Conservation Board.

There is a $20 registration fee which includes lunch. Registration is required.

To register or for more information about the workshop, contact the Iowa Lakes RC&D office at 712-262-2083, the County Conservation Board Naturalists from Palo Alto County at 712-837-4866, O'Brien County at 712-295-7200, or Clay County at 712-262-2187.

Iowa Lakes Resource Conservation and Development: http://www.iowalakesrcd.org/NewsMedia.htm
- PSA, Flyer and Registration Form

Great American Campout - Connecting to the Natural World

Explore Iowa’s Great Natural Resources this Summer

Great American Campout is June 27

June has been proclaimed Great Outdoors Month as a way to encourage Iowans to put down the video game, turn off the television and head outside.

There are enough wonderful natural resources in Iowa for everyone to enjoy, from camping to bird-watching to canoeing. Try something new this year like geo-caching or fishing. Or, if you are a seasoned pro, take along someone who has never had the opportunity and show them the ropes. You could gain a hiking or fishing buddy for life.

There are many physical and psychological benefits to getting out and enjoying the great outdoors. Research shows that youngsters who regularly play outside have lower stress levels, tend to play more creatively and have a greater respect for themselves, for others and for the environment. Did you know that good old-fashioned dirt contains a variety of microbes, bacteria and viruses that are actually good for kids by helping boost their immune systems. So take the children outside and get dirty this month.

The Great American Campout is June 27 so, grab your tent and the marshmallows and head out to a state park or at the least, your own backyard, for a campout. Watch the stars light up the sky as you tell stories and connect, not only with the great outdoors, but also each other.

There are dozens of camoping opportunties in State Parks, Recreation Areas and County Parks near you.

This is the perfect opportunity to start traditions that will last a lifetime.

Spring is Here - Check Out These Beautiful Parks

CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PLACES OF BEAUTY

These three State Parks are among the dozens of natural spaces in Iowa that offer great opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking and mushroom picking during the spring season.

Pine Lake State Park - Located in Hardin County in north-central Iowa

Pine Lake State Park provides a pleasing mix of woodland, river and lake in the midst of rolling farmland. The 650-acre park encompasses two lakes: 50-acre Lower Pine Lake and 69-acre Upper Pine Lake. Of special appeal to nature enthusiasts are the ancient white pine, the white-barked birch trees and rare ferns found along the Iowa River.

A renovated 124-site campground includes facilities usually available around mid-April. Four rustic stone and timber cabins, nestled along the Iowa River, are available year-round. Reservations are accepted for both camping and cabins.

Fishing opportunities at the lakes and river provide the angler a chance at bass, crappie, northern pike, and channel catfish. Boat ramps and more than seven miles of well-developed trails are available around the lakes. There is also a 2.5-miles concrete bike path that runs from the welcome center in Eldora along both lakes in the park to near County Highway S56. Wildlife watching and mushroom hunting are two favorite activities in the spring. For further information on the park, call 641-858-5832.

Lake Ahquabi State Park - Located just south of Indianola and the Des Moines metro area

Lake Ahquabi State Park provides a variety of recreational opportunities. The 770-acre park is very popular with anglers, offering opportunities for crappie, bluegill, redear, sunfish and bass. Facilities include numerous jetties for shoreline fishing, two boat ramps, and a covered ADA fishing pier, which provides an excellent opportunity for all visitors to enjoy fishing no matter what time of year. A renovated 142-site campground includes facilities usually available around mid-April. Reservations are accepted. The park offers 8 miles of trails for hiking. Wildlife watching and mushroom hunting are favorite spring activities. For more information, contact the park at 515-961-7101.

Lake of Three Fires State Park - Located in Taylor County in southwest Iowa

Lake of Three Fires State Park is popular in the spring for visitors interested in picnicking, fishing, hiking, nature photography, or harvesting mushrooms, berries and nuts. The park includes 8 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding and includes two campgrounds, both located a shore distance from the lake. The 23-site equestrian campground and the 98-site non-equestrian campground both have facilities that are available usually around mid-April. The park also features six modern family cabins available year-round. Reservations are accepted for both camping and cabins.

The 85-acre Lake of Three Fires is nearly a mile long and a half-mile wide, with scenic inlets ideal for fishing and boating. Surrounding the lake are 691 acres of picturesque woodlands. For more information, contact the park at 712-523-2700.

Other parks in Iowa that you might want to consider for a springtime visit include: Ledges State Park (central Iowa), Red Haw State Park (south-central Iowa), Pikes Peak State Park (northeast Iowa) and Lake Wapello (southeast Iowa).

An Overview of Last Child in the Woods

In this influential work about the staggering divide between children and the outdoors, child advocacy expert Richard Louv directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today's wired generation—he calls it nature-deficit—to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.

Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond—and many are right in our own backyard.

This new edition reflects the enormous changes that have taken place since the book was originally published. It includes:

• 100 actions you can take to create change in your community, school, and family.



• 35 discussion points to inspire people of all ages to talk about the importance of nature in their lives.



• A new progress report by the author about the growing Leave No Child Inside movement.



• New and updated research confirming that direct exposure to nature is essential for the physical and emotional health of children and adults.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder has spurred a national dialogue among educators, health professionals, parents, developers and conservationists.

This is a book that will change the way you think about your future and the future of your children.

Click on the NPR Logo to listen to a brief interview with the author

July 16, 2008: TODAY’s Ann Curry talks with Richard Louv about ways to help your kids experience nature: