EVents Summer 2026
Wednesday Summer Evening Paddles at Ada Hayden Heritage Park: Enjoy an evening paddling your canoe, kayak or stand up paddle board with other area paddlers including the Skunk River Paddlers, beginning around 6:30 pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Wednesday evening paddles are at Ada Hayden Heritage Park at 5205 Grand Avenue in Ames and are listed by the Outdoor Alliance as a community service and as a service for one of our partners, the Skunk River Paddlers.
Weekend Paddling at Ada Hayden Heritage Park: Crawdaddy’s, an outdoor and paddling shop new in Ames, just made it easier to get on the water with their lakeside rentals. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11:00 AM — 5:00 PM weather permitting. Ada Hayden Heritage Park is at 5205 Grand Avenue in Ames. More information at Crawdaddy’s.
Tuesday, June 10, at 7 PM: Tom Rosberg will lead the first of four prairie walks at the Ames High/Pohl Prairie Preserve and Todd Burras, Wild Birds Unlimited, will help with birding. Additional Hikes are planned for the second Wednesday of each month in July, August and September. (See [email protected] | Topics)
Tuesday, June 16, Doolittle Prairie Walks beginning at 7 PM: Join Dr. Thomas Rosburg as he leads a prairie walk and see prairie flora change each month. The Prairie walks are open to all and are free.
Long pants, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes are recommended. You may also want sunscreen, bug spray, hat and water. Doolittle Prairie is at 14249 560th Ave., Story City. The summer prairie walks are sponsored by Story County Conservation, Iowa Native Plant Society and are co-listed by the Outdoor Alliance. More information is available at Story County Conservation.
Tuesday, June 16 at 7 PM, on Zoom: Jim Pease will talk about paddling 2200 miles for the DNR's WaterTrails Program. Register here, or catch the recording after it's posted at Watershed Talks - Iowa Izaak Walton League.
Thursday, June 18 from 4-6 pm: Boone and Story Counties hosting REAP Assembly at the ISU Research Park. They want people to come. For more information go to Boone and Story Counties REAP Assembly.Tuesday, July 21, Monthly Doolittle Prairie Walks at 7 PM: See June 16 above for details.
July 18-25, 2026 RAGBRAI: The first and largest statewide bike ride in the country. More information is at RAGBRAI
Friday, July 24 to Saturday August 1, 2026 Rummage Rampage: Rummage Rampage is a community garage sale of donated goods designed to keep reusable items out of the landfill. Rummage Rampage distributes the proceeds to participating nonprofit groups. Outdoor Alliance volunteers help staff the event and raise funds for outdoor recreation, education and conservation in Story County.
The event is held in Campustown’s Intermodal Facility at 129 Hayward Avenue, Ames. Stop by to see if there is something you can rescue from the landfill and support community nonprofits like the Outdoor Alliance that, in turn, support our community.
The hours vary from day to day when you can drop off donated goods and shop; more information is at Rummage Rampage. Rummage Rampage is a partnership with the City of Ames and Iowa State University Office of Sustainability and listed here as a community service.
Tuesday, August 25, Monthly Doolittle Prairie Walks at 7 PM: See June 16 above for details.
Saturday, August 29, 9am-1:30pm: Ada Hayden Heritage Park: Monarch Magic is a free, family-friendly event for all ages taking place at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Participate in many fun activities to learn more about this butterfly and other pollinators! Ada Hayden Heritage Park is at 5205 Grand Ave, Ames.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday, September 15, Monthly Doolittle Prairie Walks at 6 PM: See other details for June 16 and note that this walk begins earlier.
Saturday, September 19, HEART of IOWA NATURE TRAIL BIKE RIDE: Story County Conservation owns and manages this trail and is a sponsor of the trail ride. The biking event is also supported by and benefits two organizations: Outdoor Alliance of Story County and Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Net proceeds will be used by these organizations to support the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail and promotion of bike riding. More information will be posted on websites as details are finalized.
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MONTHLY The Outdoor Alliance Board usually meets on the second Thursday afternoon of the month and are open to the public. If you are interested in attending, sent us an email at [email protected].
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Events in Italics are partner events listed here as a community service.
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EVENT UPDATES Other events are posted here as plans are finalized. If you would like to receive information about upcoming events, send us an email at [email protected] or check events on our webpage at oasco.org.
Weekend Paddling at Ada Hayden Heritage Park: Crawdaddy’s, an outdoor and paddling shop new in Ames, just made it easier to get on the water with their lakeside rentals. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11:00 AM — 5:00 PM weather permitting. Ada Hayden Heritage Park is at 5205 Grand Avenue in Ames. More information at Crawdaddy’s.
Tuesday, June 10, at 7 PM: Tom Rosberg will lead the first of four prairie walks at the Ames High/Pohl Prairie Preserve and Todd Burras, Wild Birds Unlimited, will help with birding. Additional Hikes are planned for the second Wednesday of each month in July, August and September. (See [email protected] | Topics)
Tuesday, June 16, Doolittle Prairie Walks beginning at 7 PM: Join Dr. Thomas Rosburg as he leads a prairie walk and see prairie flora change each month. The Prairie walks are open to all and are free.
Long pants, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes are recommended. You may also want sunscreen, bug spray, hat and water. Doolittle Prairie is at 14249 560th Ave., Story City. The summer prairie walks are sponsored by Story County Conservation, Iowa Native Plant Society and are co-listed by the Outdoor Alliance. More information is available at Story County Conservation.
Tuesday, June 16 at 7 PM, on Zoom: Jim Pease will talk about paddling 2200 miles for the DNR's WaterTrails Program. Register here, or catch the recording after it's posted at Watershed Talks - Iowa Izaak Walton League.
Thursday, June 18 from 4-6 pm: Boone and Story Counties hosting REAP Assembly at the ISU Research Park. They want people to come. For more information go to Boone and Story Counties REAP Assembly.Tuesday, July 21, Monthly Doolittle Prairie Walks at 7 PM: See June 16 above for details.
July 18-25, 2026 RAGBRAI: The first and largest statewide bike ride in the country. More information is at RAGBRAI
Friday, July 24 to Saturday August 1, 2026 Rummage Rampage: Rummage Rampage is a community garage sale of donated goods designed to keep reusable items out of the landfill. Rummage Rampage distributes the proceeds to participating nonprofit groups. Outdoor Alliance volunteers help staff the event and raise funds for outdoor recreation, education and conservation in Story County.
The event is held in Campustown’s Intermodal Facility at 129 Hayward Avenue, Ames. Stop by to see if there is something you can rescue from the landfill and support community nonprofits like the Outdoor Alliance that, in turn, support our community.
The hours vary from day to day when you can drop off donated goods and shop; more information is at Rummage Rampage. Rummage Rampage is a partnership with the City of Ames and Iowa State University Office of Sustainability and listed here as a community service.
Tuesday, August 25, Monthly Doolittle Prairie Walks at 7 PM: See June 16 above for details.
Saturday, August 29, 9am-1:30pm: Ada Hayden Heritage Park: Monarch Magic is a free, family-friendly event for all ages taking place at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Participate in many fun activities to learn more about this butterfly and other pollinators! Ada Hayden Heritage Park is at 5205 Grand Ave, Ames.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday, September 15, Monthly Doolittle Prairie Walks at 6 PM: See other details for June 16 and note that this walk begins earlier.
Saturday, September 19, HEART of IOWA NATURE TRAIL BIKE RIDE: Story County Conservation owns and manages this trail and is a sponsor of the trail ride. The biking event is also supported by and benefits two organizations: Outdoor Alliance of Story County and Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Net proceeds will be used by these organizations to support the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail and promotion of bike riding. More information will be posted on websites as details are finalized.
---------
MONTHLY The Outdoor Alliance Board usually meets on the second Thursday afternoon of the month and are open to the public. If you are interested in attending, sent us an email at [email protected].
---------
Events in Italics are partner events listed here as a community service.
---------
EVENT UPDATES Other events are posted here as plans are finalized. If you would like to receive information about upcoming events, send us an email at [email protected] or check events on our webpage at oasco.org.
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Our Mission is enhancing outdoor recreation, education and conservation in Story County.
The Outdoor Alliance of Story County is a 501(c)3 non-profit. |
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