Youth Outdoor Field Day

Bring the kids and family to the 20th Annual Youth Outdoor Field Day at the Russell Wildlife Area on Saturday, September 30th any time between 8 am and 12:00 pm. The Mahaska County Conservation Board and many other local conservation groups and businesses come together each year to put on the outdoor EVENT OF THE YEAR for your family!

Cost of the event is $5 per person (kids & adults). Kids get a free event t-shirt until the early bird deadline of Sept. 15th. After 12 pm on Sept. 15 through the day of the event, the cost will be $10 per person and no event t-shirts for kids.

** Registration forms can be found at www.mahaskaconservation.com under the Events tab.

** Adult t-shirts can be purchased at $10 each until Sept. 15th.

Families can hike around the Russell Wildlife Area and experience many fun outdoor activities:
Fishing
Dutch oven cooking
.22 shooting
Water safety
Fossil digging
Disc golf
Tree ID
Make and take seed balls
Mahaska County Sheriff K-9 dog "Rocco"
and MORE! 

Coffee Club at the ELC

Join us at Mahaska County Conservation's monthly "Coffee Club at the ELC" on Friday, October 6th from 9:00-10:00 am. Homemade refreshments will be served along with freshly brewed coffee.
While at the Coffee Club, we have a great time visiting and learning about fascinating things about nature and MCCB. Bring a coffee cup and fill it with our fresh, hot brewed coffee. Do you have a Halloween decorated coffee cup? If so, bring it to be entered into a door prize!

The Environmental Learning Center is located at 2342 Hwy. 92 East, Oskaloosa.

If you have questions, contact MCCB at (641)673-9327 Ext. 2 or email decook@mahaskacountyia.gov.

Homeschool Science Lab "Spiders!"

The Mahaska County Conservation Board invites homeschool and online school families to the monthly Homeschool Science Lab on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 1:00-2:00 pm at the Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center.

The topic for October will be about "SPIDERS!" and kids will learn some interesting facts about these cool web weavers. We will even build our own spider webs!

This program is free and reservations are needed to participate by October 4th. Sign up by calling MCCB at (641)673-9327 or email decook@mahaskcountyia.gov.
The Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center is located at 2342 Hwy. 92, Oskaloosa, IA 52577.

Knee-High Naturalists "Creepy Crawlies"

Bring your children ages 5 and younger out to the Environmental Learning Center on Tuesday, October 17th from 9:30-10:30 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 October 17th, the program is titled "Creepy Crawlies!". Kids will learn about some interesting insects and spiders. We will have fun with some spider web building!

Registration is needed to participate. To sign up for this program, contact the Mahaska County Conservation Board by October 16th by calling (641)673-9327 or emailing decook@mahaskacountyia.gov. 

Halloween Bash at Eveland Access

Come out to Eveland Access Campground on Saturday, October 21st for a day of fun family activities. The event will kick off at 1:00 pm with a carnival and fun contests for for all ages. Later in the afternoon everyone can listen to spooky stories and participate in a costume parade and trick-or-treating. Back by popular demand, a night time auto tour to see the lighted displays of all the campsites will be held from 7-9:00 pm. Anyone going through the auto tour will be able to vote for their favorite campsite! What fun!

*** An event flyer with a schedule can be found at www.mahaskaconservation.com under the Events tab.

Eveland Access Campground is located at 2890 Galeston Ave., Oskaloosa, IA 52577.

Camping is available for $20.00 per night at a first-come, first-served basis. Campers are encouraged to decorate your campsite for a lighted Halloween theme and hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. There will be great prizes for the winners!

If you have questions about the event, contact MCCB at (641)673-9327 ext. 2 or email decook@mahaskacountyia.gov. 

OWLS Lunch & Learn "Prepare to Scare" with Linda Fox

The Mahaska County Conservation Board invites adults of any age to the O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls) program on Friday, October 27th from 11:30 am -12:30 pm at the Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center at Caldwell Park. Please let us know if you are coming. Reservations are made by contacting MCCB at (641)673-9327 or decook@mahaskacountyia.gov.

This month, Linda Fox will be our guest presenter and she will help you "Prepare to Scare" through storytelling. She will share her tips on telling a good spooky story and demonstrate with some of her own stories that she keeps up her sleeve.

Don't forget to bring a friend and a lunch!

The Environmental Learning Center is located at 2342 Hwy. 92 East, Oskaloosa.