An Award-Winning Program

Winneshiek County Conservation has a 50+ year legacy of providing environmental education and outdoor recreation in Winneshiek County. Volunteers play a large role in educational programming, contributing over 1,200 hours in 2024. Thanks to the participation of the public, generosity of our volunteers, and the work of our staff, we offered 1,376 programs reaching 34,728 total contacts in 2024.

The education program has won numerous Excellence in Environmental Education (EE) awards through the Iowa Association of Naturalists (IAN) and the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition (ICEC). These awards recognize incredible contributions to the advancement of environmental literacy in Iowa:

  • 2024 Outstanding Environmental Education Program (3 or more interpreters) for excellence in EE programming by a county conservation board

WCCB educators Larry Reis, Hanna Meyer, & Evan Neubauer hold an award plaque for 2024 Outstanding Environmental Education Program

  • “Exploring Winneshiek County Over Time: A Fourth Grade Geology Unit”: 2021 Chris Holt Youth Environmental Education Award for outstanding environmental education program for youth

Larry Reis, Lilly Jensen, and Birgitta Meade, WCCB staff, hold an award plaque for 2022 Outstanding Environmental Education

  • Larry Reis, Winneshiek County Naturalist of 40+ years: 2015 Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award for lifetime achievement in EE excellence and leadership

Larry Reis holds his 2015 IAN award for Lifetime Achievement

 

  • 2014 Outstanding Environmental Education Program (2 or less interpreters) for excellence in EE programming by a county conservation board

Larry Reis and Lilly Jensen, WCCB staff, hold an award plaque for 2024 Outstanding Environmental Education Program

  • “Driftless Safari”: 2012 “Ding” Darling Environmental Education Award for outstanding EE program which educates the general public
Driftless Safari logo featuring a raccoon in an explorer hat