2024 WINTER EVENTS: Besides the annual January winter walks, there are also two winter presentations: The Birds and Wildlife of Ada Hayden Heritage Park by Wolfgang Oesterreich; and, Dan Haug on Story County’s rivers and creeks. Both presentations are at the Ames Public Library at 515 Douglas Avenue, will have a Zoom option and are co-sponsored by the Ames Public Library and Story County Conservation. These events are free, open to the public and do not require registration.
The Iowa Prairie Network will also host its Winter Seminar in Ames this year. Presentations, a silent auction, conservation exhibits, and food for purchase or donation are part of this annual event.The event is open to the public and does not require pre-preregistration. Look for more details on the web at Iowa Prairie Network.
The first quarter of 2024 will wrap up with the annual Ames Reads Leopold where we celebrate and reflect on the land ethic of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists.
WINTER WALKS: Shake off the holidays with a walk in a park. It can be cold and windy; icy and wet conditions should be expected too. Layering with wicking clothes, wearing a wind and water resistant jacket, gloves and hat, and using ski poles, a walking stick, cleats for your shoes or even snowshoes can be useful depending on conditions. Wearing orange outer clothing is a good idea since some public lands are also hunting areas.
We’ll walk as long as the weather or other conditions are safe, and the roads are open. We may however, wrap things up earlier than 3:30 PM under harsh conditions. All walks end with a "picnic" of whatever the walkers bring. The walks are open to the public, free and do not require registration. The winter walks are co-sponsored with Story County Conservation and are led by an Outdoor Alliance of Story County volunteer.
Thursday, January 4, 2024 Winter Walk: Anderson Access - The address is 56743 150th Street, Story City. We will meet at the parking lot on the Northeast side of the river. All walks and departures are from the meeting area and begin at 1:30 PM.
Thursday, January 11, 2024 Winter Walk: Peterson Park West - The address is 55310 180th Street, Ames, 50010. We will meet at the west edge of the parking lot near the woods. All walks and departures are from the meeting area and begin at 1:30 PM.
Thursday, January 18, 2024 Winter Walk: Heart of Iowa Trail Cambridge - We will meet where the trail crosses S Main Avenue, Cambridge, across from the grain bins. Park on the east side of the road only. All walks and departures are from the meeting area and begin at 1:30 PM.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Library Presentation: Story County’s Waterways by Dan Haug. Dan is a Water Quality Specialist at Prairie Rivers of Iowa and will speak on watersheds, water and water monitoring. The presentation is at 7 pm at the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue in the Farrell T Brown Room.
Thursday, January 25, 2024 Winter Walk: McFarland Park - 56461 180th St., Ames. Park in the southwest area of the parking lot. All walks and departures are from the meeting area and begin at 1:30 PM.
Saturday, February 24th, 2024 Iowa Prairie Network Winter Seminar: A day long series of presentations, conservation displays and a silent auction will be held at Ames High School, 1801 Ridgewood Ave, Ames. Details will be posted as they are finalized at Iowa Prairie Network.The Outdoor Alliance is a sponsor of this event led by Iowa Prairie Network as part of our commitment to support others that are also enhancing outdoor recreation, education and conservation.
Thursday, February 29th, 2024 Library Presentation: The Birds of Ada Hayden Heritage Park by Wolfgang Oesterreich. Wolfgang’s passion is made tangible for all of us after his years of observing, photographing and recording birds and other animals. He rides his trike at Ada Hayden daily and records the wildlife he sees. The presentation is at 7 pm at the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue in the Farrell T Brown Auditorium. After the February presentation, there will be a break, followed by the annual meeting.
Saturday, March 23, 2024 Ames Reads Leopold: Join our guests as they read selections from the land ethic writings of Aldo Leopold. His most famous work, A Sand County Almanac, published in 1949, continues to be relevant today. Readers share essays from this book, his other books and from other conservation writers. The readings will be from 1:30-4:00 p.m. at the Farwell T. Brown Auditorium on the first floor of the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue. - - - LOOKING AHEAD: The Outdoor Alliance will host three spring wildflower walks starting in late April and in early May.
EVENT UPDATES: Other events are posted on our website under EVENTS as details are finalized. If you would like to receive a update about upcoming events, send us an email at info@oasco.org with your contact information. Your information will be used by Outdoor Alliance of Story County and will never be sold to others. Links to other local, regional, statewide and national outdoor groups events are on our website under EVENTS.
MEMBERSHIP: The Outdoor Alliance Membership is on a calendar basis and can be join or renew on our website at under DONATE. Your membership donation allows us to assist Story County Conservation and our other partners make the investments that make the community a place we would want to live, work and enjoy the outdoors.
OUTDOOR ALLIANCE: The Outdoor Alliance of Story County is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our focus is enhancing outdoor recreation, education and conservation in Story County.