Conservation

Senior Programs & Trips

OWLS - Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors

Looking for an excuse to get out of the house, make some new friends, and learn about the exciting world of nature? Then join us! These programs are held the first Tuesday of every month.

  • Date(s): These programs are held the first Tuesday of each month.
  • Time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Location: Jester Park Nature Center
  • Registration: None
  • Cost: Free
  • Ages: 12+

January 7, 2025 - Get Nutty with Squirrels

Get ready to celebrate National Squirrel Appreciation Day a little early with PCC Naturalist Heidi Anderson. We will learn about Iowa’s ground and tree squirrels and their amazing adaptations for survival.

January 15, 2025 - Winter is for the Birds **held at the Easter Lake Event Center from 1-2pm

Join us as we learn about Iowa winter birds and how to feed them. Bird feeding offers people an opportunity to see birds at close range while providing hours of enjoyment. 

February 4, 2025 - The Art of Polk County Conservation

Parks and nature centers offer great opportunities for public art. Join Polk County Conservation art committee members Missy Smith and Lewis Major for a virtual art walk through Jester Park. You will learn about the process that goes into providing art as well as the intimate stories behind each of our pieces. Journey through the inside of the nature center as well to learn about the art surrounding you. We will end with a quick virtual trip to Easter Lake taking in the recently opened sculpture trail.

March 4, 2025 - Ruby Throated Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated hummingbirds help us mark the changing of the seasons in Iowa as they arrive in spring and depart in fall. Come join us this month to learn some amazing facts about these small, but mighty feathered friends. Focus will be placed on their annual migration as well as the ever-increasing impacts of climate change on their survival.

April 1, 2025 - Culinary History of Iowa

Savor Iowa’s amazing food heritage! Iowa’s delectable cuisine is quintessentially Midwestern, grounded in its rich farming heritage and spiced with diverse ethnic influences. Dig in as I serve up Iowa’s tastiest traditions. From the chili-and-cinnamon-rolls phenomenon to Maid-Rites to the moveable feast known as RAGBRAI, discover the remarkable stories behind Iowa classics and savor a smorgasbord of other unique Iowa food traditions with this fun, interactive program. Relish the tantalizing tidbits you missed in history class! This program is based on the top-selling book "A Culinary History of Iowa: Sweet Corn, Pork Tenderloins, Maid-Rites and More" written by Darcy Maulsby.

Senior Bus Tours 2025

Step on board with Polk County Conservation as we explore the beauty of Iowa and Iowan hospitality throughout the state. Bring a sense of adventure and desire to reconnect with Iowa’s natural resources, while making new friends.

  • October 23, 2025 - Fall Foliage to Davenport, Iowa - click here to learn more