Park & Trail Closures
UPDATED: APRIL 19th
For updates on Polk County Conservation park and trail closures due to flooding, please refer back to this post, as it will be updated as in…
Glow Wild 2019 Tickets On Sale Now
Hosted by Polk County Conservation and Cumulus Media, this family friendly-event is fun for all ages! Glow Wild is held at the Jester Park Nature Center in Gran…
For more information about upcoming events for Jester Park Nature Center, see our calendar.
Thursday, April 25, 2019Step Back in Time Bus TourJourney back in time as we visit the Amish & Mennonite community in Jamesport, Missouri. Antiques store, quilt store, Amish bakery, bulk food grocery store and quality furniture store are just of the few of the places we will tour. Lunch will be served family style at the local Mennoni...
Saturday, April 27, 2019Mystery and History HikeTake a hike with a naturalist as they lead you through this beautiful park. Along the hike, we will discuss the history of the park and unravel a few of its mysteries along the way. Hike will be about a 2-mile loop and require beginner to moderate hiking ability. FREE. No registration required.
Saturday, May 4, 2019 - Sunday, May 5, 2019Upper Iowa River Weekend Kayak AdventureFloat past beautiful limestone bluffs as you kayak down this crystal clear waterway. We will depart Jester Park and head for Chimney Rock Campground, set camp and eat lunch before taking on the river. Experienced and trained naturalists will lead you on a 3-4 hour paddling trip before returning to c...
Saturday, May 4, 2019Trails 101 WorkshopThe 2019 Trails 101 Workshop series is devoted to volunteer care of natural/hiking trails and in preparation for National Trails Day on June 1st. In this series, you will learn the nuts and bolts of trail building and maintenance, and how to apply that knowledge to volunteer workdays on your favorit...
Monday, May 6, 2019Nature Friends - Wiggly SquigglyPreschoolers Exploring Nature
Join a naturalist in a nature adventure for 3-5 year olds and an adult! We will explore a different nature topic each evening through stories, sharing time, guided exploration, and art activities. Snacks will be provided. This program is sponsored by West Des Moines ...
Tuesday, May 14, 2019VTO Restoration DaysMany amazing local companies, organizations, and schools offer Volunteer Time Off (VTO) as an added benefit for their workforce. This provides an excellent opportunity to offer those within their ranks with a unique way to create positive impact within their community. If your organization offers VT...