2023 EVents
SPECIAL NOTICE Due to the ongoing Covid 19 virus, please be respectful of special needs even as more of the public is vaccinated. For more information concerning active practices you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, please visit the Center for Disease Control’s website here. Thanking you in advance for your understanding.
2023 WINTER EVENTS Taking a hike is a great way to start the new year, shake off cabin fever and get exercise. Yes, 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 or a walking stick, cleats for your shoes or even snowshoes can be useful depending on conditions. Wearing orange outer clothes is a good idea since some public lands are also hunting areas.
Besides the winter hikes, there are also two winter presentations: Mike Cox, Story County Conservation Director, will talk about recent, current, and upcoming projects; and, Jim Pease will take us across Iowa and down its rivers highlighting the plants and animals along the way. Both presentations are at the Ames Public Library, have a Zoom option and are co-sponsored by the Ames Public Library and Story County Conservation.
Winter Hikes Thursdays 1:30 - 3:30 in January The hikes are a great way to get out and explore public lands with others. Unless otherwise notified, the hikes go on as long as the weather or other conditions are safe and the roads are open. Please leave your dog warm at home for these winter hikes. All hikes end with a "picnic" of shared food.
The winter hikes are co-sponsored with Story County Conservation and led by an Outdoor Alliance of Story County volunteer.
Hike - Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Ronald "Dick" Jordan Family Wildlife Area. We will meet in the parking area on the NE side of the South Skunk River bridge at 56091 265th Street, Ames IA 50010.
Hike - Thursday, January 12, 2023 at E18 Greenbelt Trail. We will meet in the parking area on the south side of E 18 and west of I 35 at 56342 130th St., Story City before you get to the river from the interstate.
Presentation - Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023 7:00 pm at Ames Public Library Mike Cox, Story County Conservation Director, will update us about some of the many parks, trails, and other projects recently completed as well as current and anticipated projects.
A Zoom link will be posted on the Library's Event Calendar at: https:// www.amespubliclibrary.org/event/winter-presentation-outdoor-alliance-story-county. This presentation is sponsored by the Ames Public Library, Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and Story County Conservation.
Hike - Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Soper's Mill. We will meet on the SW side of the river at 56364 170th Street, Ames, 50010. It is the side of the river closes to Highway 69 and is the lane to the boat launch on the river.
Hike - Thursday, January 26, 2023 at McFarland Park. We will meet at the west end of the parking lot at 56461 180th St., Ames, 50010. The park remains open even though the trail around the lake is closed.
Presentation - Tuesday, January February 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Ames Public Library Jim Pease will present Paddling for Plants and Critters, stories of his paddles on over 2,200 miles of Iowa rivers in the last eight years. Jim has travelled to many wild places all over the world, but Iowa rivers have always been his home. He'll share his enthusiasm for that home with us.
Jim is the most recent recipient of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundations Hagie Award for his many contributions to conservation, education, and outdoor recreation over the years. A Zoom link will be posted on the Library's Event Calendar at: https:// www.amespubliclibrary.org/event/annual-meeting-outdoor-alliance-story-county. This presentation is sponsored by the Ames Public Library, Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and Story County Conservation.
Jim’s presentation will be followed by a short break and the annual meeting.
LOOKING AHEAD
Ames Reads Leopold - Sunday March 19, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Ames Public Library Join Neil Hamilton and other guest readers as we explore the conservation and land ethic writings of Aldo Leopold. His most famous work, A Sand County Almanac, published in 1949, is still relevance and afavorite of naturalists and writers alike. Readers will share essays from this book, his other books and from other like-minded writers.
Ames Reads Leopold is a community wide event will be in the Farwell T. Brown Auditorium on the first floor of the Ames Public Library at 515 Douglas Avenue. The readings and program are sponsored by the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, Story County Conservation and Ames Public Library, Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, Iowa State University (ISU) Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Environment, ISU Bioethics Program, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Office of Sustainability/Live Green! Initiative, ISU Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Student Association.
Spring Wildflower Walk, Thursday April 27, 2023 at Robinson at 1:30 pm Join us as we explore the spring ephemerals that bloom before the trees and other plants leaf out and block much of the sunlight on the ground. We will meet in the parking area at Robison Wildlife Acres, 29490 632nd Ave., Nevada. The wildflower walk is led by Outdoor Alliance of Story County volunteers and is cosponsored with Story County Conservation. The hike will begin at 1:30 from the parking area.
EVENT UPDATES Other events are posted on this web page as the year unfolds and plans finalize. If you would like to receive information about upcoming events, send us an email at info@oasco.org with your contact information. And no, we won't be flooding your inbox with emails; currently, a quarterly update is sent and sometimes a few other emails are sent too. Your information will be used by Outdoor Alliance of Story County and will never be sold to others.
OTHER EVENTS: Story County Conservation sponsors other events not listed above that you might be interested in as well. The Outdoor Alliance also partners with Prairie Rivers of Iowa and the Skunk River Paddlers. Links to these and other local, regional, statewide and national outdoor groups are on our website.
MEMBERSHIP Outdoor Alliance Membership is on a calendar basis and if you are a member, its renewal time, or, if you are not a member, a good way to start the new year is to become a supporting member by going to our Donation page. Your donations allow us to assist Story County Conservation and our other partners make the investments in the community 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. Outdoor Alliance of Story County P.O. Box 1863 Ames, IA 50010.
BOARD MEETINGS The Outdoor Alliance board generally schedules a meeting on the second Thursday of the month at the Ames Public Library for 5:15. Sometimes there is a last minute change, so let us know if you are interested in attending.
PHOTO CREDITS The winter photo was taken earlier this winter near Cambridge by C. Hall. The winter hikers photos was taken by C. Barrowcliff this January at the Ronald “Dick” Jordan Family Wildlife Area.
2023 WINTER EVENTS Taking a hike is a great way to start the new year, shake off cabin fever and get exercise. Yes, 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 or a walking stick, cleats for your shoes or even snowshoes can be useful depending on conditions. Wearing orange outer clothes is a good idea since some public lands are also hunting areas.
Besides the winter hikes, there are also two winter presentations: Mike Cox, Story County Conservation Director, will talk about recent, current, and upcoming projects; and, Jim Pease will take us across Iowa and down its rivers highlighting the plants and animals along the way. Both presentations are at the Ames Public Library, have a Zoom option and are co-sponsored by the Ames Public Library and Story County Conservation.
Winter Hikes Thursdays 1:30 - 3:30 in January The hikes are a great way to get out and explore public lands with others. Unless otherwise notified, the hikes go on as long as the weather or other conditions are safe and the roads are open. Please leave your dog warm at home for these winter hikes. All hikes end with a "picnic" of shared food.
The winter hikes are co-sponsored with Story County Conservation and led by an Outdoor Alliance of Story County volunteer.
Hike - Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Ronald "Dick" Jordan Family Wildlife Area. We will meet in the parking area on the NE side of the South Skunk River bridge at 56091 265th Street, Ames IA 50010.
Hike - Thursday, January 12, 2023 at E18 Greenbelt Trail. We will meet in the parking area on the south side of E 18 and west of I 35 at 56342 130th St., Story City before you get to the river from the interstate.
Presentation - Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023 7:00 pm at Ames Public Library Mike Cox, Story County Conservation Director, will update us about some of the many parks, trails, and other projects recently completed as well as current and anticipated projects.
A Zoom link will be posted on the Library's Event Calendar at: https:// www.amespubliclibrary.org/event/winter-presentation-outdoor-alliance-story-county. This presentation is sponsored by the Ames Public Library, Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and Story County Conservation.
Hike - Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Soper's Mill. We will meet on the SW side of the river at 56364 170th Street, Ames, 50010. It is the side of the river closes to Highway 69 and is the lane to the boat launch on the river.
Hike - Thursday, January 26, 2023 at McFarland Park. We will meet at the west end of the parking lot at 56461 180th St., Ames, 50010. The park remains open even though the trail around the lake is closed.
Presentation - Tuesday, January February 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Ames Public Library Jim Pease will present Paddling for Plants and Critters, stories of his paddles on over 2,200 miles of Iowa rivers in the last eight years. Jim has travelled to many wild places all over the world, but Iowa rivers have always been his home. He'll share his enthusiasm for that home with us.
Jim is the most recent recipient of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundations Hagie Award for his many contributions to conservation, education, and outdoor recreation over the years. A Zoom link will be posted on the Library's Event Calendar at: https:// www.amespubliclibrary.org/event/annual-meeting-outdoor-alliance-story-county. This presentation is sponsored by the Ames Public Library, Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and Story County Conservation.
Jim’s presentation will be followed by a short break and the annual meeting.
LOOKING AHEAD
Ames Reads Leopold - Sunday March 19, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Ames Public Library Join Neil Hamilton and other guest readers as we explore the conservation and land ethic writings of Aldo Leopold. His most famous work, A Sand County Almanac, published in 1949, is still relevance and afavorite of naturalists and writers alike. Readers will share essays from this book, his other books and from other like-minded writers.
Ames Reads Leopold is a community wide event will be in the Farwell T. Brown Auditorium on the first floor of the Ames Public Library at 515 Douglas Avenue. The readings and program are sponsored by the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, Story County Conservation and Ames Public Library, Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, Iowa State University (ISU) Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Environment, ISU Bioethics Program, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Office of Sustainability/Live Green! Initiative, ISU Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Student Association.
Spring Wildflower Walk, Thursday April 27, 2023 at Robinson at 1:30 pm Join us as we explore the spring ephemerals that bloom before the trees and other plants leaf out and block much of the sunlight on the ground. We will meet in the parking area at Robison Wildlife Acres, 29490 632nd Ave., Nevada. The wildflower walk is led by Outdoor Alliance of Story County volunteers and is cosponsored with Story County Conservation. The hike will begin at 1:30 from the parking area.
EVENT UPDATES Other events are posted on this web page as the year unfolds and plans finalize. If you would like to receive information about upcoming events, send us an email at info@oasco.org with your contact information. And no, we won't be flooding your inbox with emails; currently, a quarterly update is sent and sometimes a few other emails are sent too. Your information will be used by Outdoor Alliance of Story County and will never be sold to others.
OTHER EVENTS: Story County Conservation sponsors other events not listed above that you might be interested in as well. The Outdoor Alliance also partners with Prairie Rivers of Iowa and the Skunk River Paddlers. Links to these and other local, regional, statewide and national outdoor groups are on our website.
MEMBERSHIP Outdoor Alliance Membership is on a calendar basis and if you are a member, its renewal time, or, if you are not a member, a good way to start the new year is to become a supporting member by going to our Donation page. Your donations allow us to assist Story County Conservation and our other partners make the investments in the community 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. Outdoor Alliance of Story County P.O. Box 1863 Ames, IA 50010.
BOARD MEETINGS The Outdoor Alliance board generally schedules a meeting on the second Thursday of the month at the Ames Public Library for 5:15. Sometimes there is a last minute change, so let us know if you are interested in attending.
PHOTO CREDITS The winter photo was taken earlier this winter near Cambridge by C. Hall. The winter hikers photos was taken by C. Barrowcliff this January at the Ronald “Dick” Jordan Family Wildlife Area.
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Enhancing outdoor recreation, education and conservation in Story County. Outdoor Alliance of Story County P.O. Box 1863 Ames, IA 50010 Info@oasco.org |
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