Bird Food Giveaway

The Mahaska County Conservation Board is providing the public free cracked corn for bird feeding this Saturday, December 21, 2024 from 9:00 am – noon behind the Environmental Learning Center. Families can get up to 10 gallons of free cracked corn for bird feeding this winter. Please bring your own containers and they will be filled and loaded into your vehicle. Donations are greatly appreciated. The Environmental Learning Center is located at 2342 Hwy. 92, Oskaloosa, IA 52577. If you have questions, contact our office at (641)673-9327.

This giveaway has been made possible by the generous corn donation from Cargill, cracking of corn by Ozinga Feed Service, and the volunteers and staff of the Mahaska County Conservation Board.

Life in the Arctic Circle & Making Reindeer Food

‘Tis the season for fun at the Environmental Learning Center! All ages are invited to join Mahaska County Conservation for a fun program called “Life in the Arctic Circle” that will be held on Monday, December 23 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm at the Environmental Learning Center. Supplies and space is limited, so contact Mahaska County Conservation by Friday, December 20 to reserve a seat and activity materials. Call 641-673-9327 or email decook@mahaskacountyia.gov to make your reservation.

Mahaska County’s Green Iowa AmeriCorps member, Ella Paulson, will share about her experiences from spending time in the Arctic Circle. She will talk about this interesting ecosystem and explain amazing facts about the reindeer at the North Pole. Participants will be able to make and take home reindeer food to set out for Christmas Eve!

Knee-High Naturalists "Snowman Science Experiments"

Bring your children ages 5 and younger out to the Environmental Learning Center on Wednesday, January 8 from 9-10 am for the monthly Knee-High Naturalist program. This FREE program is designed to help foster learning about nature and exploring the outdoors. We ask that adults bringing children remain with them during the program.

On January 8th, the program is titled "Snowman Science Experiments". Kids will have fun with snowman experiments and making snowy crafts.

***Registration is needed to participate. To sign up for this program, contact the Mahaska County Conservation by calling (641)673-9327 or emailing decook@mahaskacountyia.gov.

Volunteer Training

Join the volunteer team for Mahaska County Conservation by attending a volunteer training! Please sign up by calling (641)673-9327 or emailing decook@mahakacountyia.gov.
There are many things to do as a volunteer.
* Environmental Learning Center Host
* Program assistant/greeter
* County Park Steward
* Weekly bird feeding at ELC
* Flower bed maintenance
and more!

At the training, participants will take part in an informative volunteer game and enjoy
refreshments.

All ages are invited to volunteer with us. Volunteers are asked to become updated in training such as this one just once every three years to maintain volunteer status. We appreciate all of our volunteers! Hope you can join the team!

Volunteer Training

Join the volunteer team for Mahaska County Conservation by attending a volunteer training! Please sign up by calling (641)673-9327 or emailing decook@mahakacountyia.gov.
There are many things to do as a volunteer.
* Environmental Learning Center Host
* Program assistant/greeter
* County Park Steward
* Weekly bird feeding at ELC
* Flower bed maintenance
and more!

At the training, participants will take part in an informative volunteer game and enjoy
refreshments.

All ages are invited to volunteer with us. Volunteers are asked to become updated in training such as this one just once every three years to maintain volunteer status. We appreciate all of our volunteers! Hope you can join the team!

Grizzly Documentary "Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons"

Come out the Environmental Learning Center to watch "Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons" in the Discovery Lab. This is a documentary documentary film (FREE for all ages) about the the modern lives of grizzly bears.

Grizzly 399, the most famous bear in Grand Teton National Park, has a litter of four cubs to raise. Every day, the family must contend with threats to their survival involving nature and human encroachment in bear country. Some western states seek to remove grizzlies from the endangered species list - which would make it legal to hunt them. This is a riveting story full of twists and turns, hope and heartbreak. Grizzly 399 stands as a symbol of the clash between humans and the wild.

Seating is limited, so if you plan to attend, please let sign up by calling Mahaska County Conservation at (641)673-9327 or email decook@mahaskacountyia.gov. 

Homeschool Science Lab "Endangered Species"

The Mahaska County Conservation Board invites homeschool and online school families to the monthly Homeschool Science Lab on Wednesday, January 15 from 10:00-11:00 am at the Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center.

The topic for January will be a "Endangered Species". Kids will learn how a plant or animal becomes endangered which endangered species are found locally.

****This program is free, and reservations are needed to participate. A minimum of 5 kids are needed to hold the program. Sign up by calling MCCB at (641)673-9327 or email decook@mahaskcountyia.gov.

OWLS Program for ALL AGES "Storybook Players"

All ages are invited to a special OWLS program on Friday, January 24th from 11:00 am -12:00 pm at the Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center.

****Please let us know if you are coming because space is limited. Reservations are made by contacting MCCB at (641)673-9327 or decook@mahaskacountyia.gov.

The talented Oskaloosa High School Storybook Players return to perform in the lower level of the Environmental Learning Center. This group will perform their own versions of the Princess and the Pea, the Frog Prince, and Peter Pan. We had a full room last year, so be sure to make your reservations!