2026 Fall EVents
Tuesday, September 15, Monthly Doolittle Prairie Walks at 6 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.
Friday, September 18, 9-11 AM - Native Seed Harvest Hickory Grove Park - Join Outdoor Alliance and Story County Conservation (SCC) in collecting native seed from the SCC Seed Production Plot. The collected seed will be used to establish new prairie plots while saving money for the county. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes/boots, long pants, and dress in layers. Bring a water bottle, favorite gloves, and sun/insect protection. Meeting location is at the Hickory Grove Park Shop, 67141 255th Street, Colo, IA. Sign up here: Outdoor Alliance Seed Harvest at Hickory Grove Park. Contact Madi Nolte ([email protected]) if you need assistance with the signup.
Saturday, September 19, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Wheels & Wings Bike Ride on Heart of Iowa Nature Trail: Join Story County Conservation, the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition for a monarch-themed bike ride celebrating the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail and its connections with communities, conservation, and cycling across southern Story County. Registration is available via Eventbrite. $45 Early Bird - Ends August 31 and $55 Late Registration - Begins September 1. Rolling start from 8 - 9 AM from Main Street in Slater. Funds raised from this event will support the Outdoor Alliance of Story County and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.
Friday, October 2, 2026, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Iowa Trails and Bike Summit at Iowa State University Memorial Union, Ames, IA: Save the date for this year's Iowa Trails and Bike Summit! Join trail and bike enthusiasts and experts from across the state at this annual conference. There will be keynote speakers, informational sessions and networking opportunities.
Speaker information and registration will be available soon. Visit the Iowa Trails Summit site for more details.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Ames EcoFair: This year’s EcoFair will be in the west parking lot of City Hall at 515 Clark Avenue, Ames. The outdoor event highlights the stormwater infrastructure in the west parking lot as well as to display the City's hybrid and electric fleet vehicles. EcoFair 2026 will also have live music from local artists. Various Ames City departments and local organizations will have displays. EcoFair is free and educational, with activities for all ages. For information on having a booth at EcoFair, please contact Layne Fober, Energy Services Coordinator, at 515.239.5177 or email [email protected].
Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5:30 PM – Story County Pheasants Forever Banquet: Join the Story County Pheasants Forever Chapter for their 41st Anniversary Banquet to be held at the Willow Brook Barn, 408 Progress Drive in Colo, IA 50056. Doors Open at 5:30 pm and Dinner by Lidderdale Catering served at 6:30 pm. Events include a live auction, silent auction, and games. Click here for tickets.
LOOKING AHEAD
Save the Date - Many opportunities this Fall to Volunteer to collect native seed for restoration projects:
2027 WINTER EVENTS:
Planning is underway for two winter presentations in January and February at the Ames Public Library. Inviting the January speaker is in progress. On February 16th, Ryan Wiemold, the new Director of Story County Conservation, will lead us across the county on a tour of recent projects, on-going projects and upcoming plans for new projects made possible through the Story County Water and Land Legacy Bond.
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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 for new events by following Outdoor Alliance of Story County on Facebook.
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.
Friday, September 18, 9-11 AM - Native Seed Harvest Hickory Grove Park - Join Outdoor Alliance and Story County Conservation (SCC) in collecting native seed from the SCC Seed Production Plot. The collected seed will be used to establish new prairie plots while saving money for the county. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes/boots, long pants, and dress in layers. Bring a water bottle, favorite gloves, and sun/insect protection. Meeting location is at the Hickory Grove Park Shop, 67141 255th Street, Colo, IA. Sign up here: Outdoor Alliance Seed Harvest at Hickory Grove Park. Contact Madi Nolte ([email protected]) if you need assistance with the signup.
Saturday, September 19, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Wheels & Wings Bike Ride on Heart of Iowa Nature Trail: Join Story County Conservation, the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition for a monarch-themed bike ride celebrating the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail and its connections with communities, conservation, and cycling across southern Story County. Registration is available via Eventbrite. $45 Early Bird - Ends August 31 and $55 Late Registration - Begins September 1. Rolling start from 8 - 9 AM from Main Street in Slater. Funds raised from this event will support the Outdoor Alliance of Story County and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.
Friday, October 2, 2026, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Iowa Trails and Bike Summit at Iowa State University Memorial Union, Ames, IA: Save the date for this year's Iowa Trails and Bike Summit! Join trail and bike enthusiasts and experts from across the state at this annual conference. There will be keynote speakers, informational sessions and networking opportunities.
Speaker information and registration will be available soon. Visit the Iowa Trails Summit site for more details.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Ames EcoFair: This year’s EcoFair will be in the west parking lot of City Hall at 515 Clark Avenue, Ames. The outdoor event highlights the stormwater infrastructure in the west parking lot as well as to display the City's hybrid and electric fleet vehicles. EcoFair 2026 will also have live music from local artists. Various Ames City departments and local organizations will have displays. EcoFair is free and educational, with activities for all ages. For information on having a booth at EcoFair, please contact Layne Fober, Energy Services Coordinator, at 515.239.5177 or email [email protected].
Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5:30 PM – Story County Pheasants Forever Banquet: Join the Story County Pheasants Forever Chapter for their 41st Anniversary Banquet to be held at the Willow Brook Barn, 408 Progress Drive in Colo, IA 50056. Doors Open at 5:30 pm and Dinner by Lidderdale Catering served at 6:30 pm. Events include a live auction, silent auction, and games. Click here for tickets.
LOOKING AHEAD
Save the Date - Many opportunities this Fall to Volunteer to collect native seed for restoration projects:
- Sept. 24: Sunset Prairie Seed Harvest at Ames High Prairie (Ames)
- Sept. 26: Restorative Sounds on the Prairie: A Sound Bath and Prairie Seed Harvest (Elkhart)
- Sept. 30: Sunset Prairie Seed Harvest with Dallas County Conservation (Earlham)
- Oct. 3: Heritage Valley Prairie Seed Harvest (Waukon)
- Oct. 9: Green Pastures Prairie Seed Harvest (Okoboji)
- Oct. 14: Snyder Heritage Farm Prairie Seed Harvest (Elkhart)
- Oct. 15: Indiangrass Hills Prairie Seed Harvest (Williamsburg)
- Oct. 20: Kahler Prairie Seed Harvest ( Iowa City)
- Oct. 27: Indiangrass Hills Prairie Seed Harvest (Williamsburg)
- Nov. 05: Weimerskirk Workday (Bellevue)
2027 WINTER EVENTS:
Planning is underway for two winter presentations in January and February at the Ames Public Library. Inviting the January speaker is in progress. On February 16th, Ryan Wiemold, the new Director of Story County Conservation, will lead us across the county on a tour of recent projects, on-going projects and upcoming plans for new projects made possible through the Story County Water and Land Legacy Bond.
---------
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 for new events by following Outdoor Alliance of Story County on Facebook.
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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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