Collaboration & Partnerships
Winneshiek County Conservation collaborates with many other local agencies and organizations in Northeast Iowa to provide high-quality natural areas and educational programs to the public. If you represent a local organization that is interested in collaborating with us, please contact us here.
Winneshiek County Conservation offers public programs and school visits in partnership with local schools, colleges, libraries, civic organizations, and more.
Collaborations with the Iowa Association of Naturalists
As members of the Iowa Association of Naturalists (IAN), Winneshiek County Conservation education staff work with other environmental educators throughout the state to bring Winneshiek County residents and visitors high-quality learning experiences. An IAN collaboration that took place from 2019-2021, the Common Ground Audio Library offers dozens of audio files from Iowa residents who share stories of their experiences with Iowa's natural resources. Several of these stories are told by Winneshiek County residents. Click here to listen.
The Iowa Junior Naturalist Program is a wonderful opportunity for children 6-18 years old to share outdoor learning and experiences with adults. This program is offered each calendar year and encourages youth and adults to attend environmental education programs and embark on independent outdoor activities together. Participants will receive a Iowa Junior Naturalist Sticker and Certificate of Achievement upon completion.
Download the Iowa Junior Naturalist Record Sheet to get started on your Junior Naturalist adventure!
The Iowa Junior Naturalist Program is provided in partnership with the Iowa Association of Naturalists. Visit https://www.iowanaturalists.org/memberservices/junior-naturalists to learn more.
Each year, the Iowa Association of Naturalists and Iowa Conservation Education Coalition award several honors to environmental education programs that have demonstrated success in various ways. Winneshiek County Conservation has received several awards that can be viewed here: https://www.winneshiekwild.com/awards
To learn more about these awards, visit https://www.iowanaturalists.org/committees/ian-icec-awards-committee.
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen science is scientific research conducted, in whole or part, by nonprofessional scientists, who often volunteers. Projects are often coordinated by professional scientific researchers or organizations. The data collected in citizen science programs is used in scientific research and studies across the world.
The Iowa Butterfly Survey Network (IBSN) is a citizen science program coordinated by Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University and dedicated to tracking populations of butterflies in Iowa. Winneshiek County Conservation is a Hub Leader for IBSN, serving as a local contact for area volunteers, conducting trainings, and offering additional assistance as needed.
Of the 122 species of butterflies believed to live in Iowa, more than one-fourth are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern, making their long-term survival in Iowa questionable. By collecting butterfly population data, conservationists, scientists, and individuals can learn more about how and why butterfly populations are changing and what can be done to protect Iowa's butterflies.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer monitor with IBSN must attend a training to learn the appropriate survey and documentation techniques. As a hub leader, Winneshiek County Conservation offers those trainings.
Please read the IBSN Volunteer Monitor Guidelines to get a better feel of what IBSN volunteers do.
You may also attend trainings hosted at Reiman Gardens in Ames or by any other hub leader in the state. Check the IBSN website for information on those trainings.
Other Citizen Science Projects
- Monitor water quality with the Iowa DNR Watershed Improvement Program
- Submit a Stream Selfie
- Grow strawberries & marigolds with Growing for Citizen Science Program
- Monitor bird nests, frogs & toads, or bats with the Iowa DNR Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Program
- Count cranes with the Annual Midwest Crane Count
- Track your bumblebee sightings with Bumble Bee Watch
- Clean up litter and add to global data on littering with the Litterati
- Record sounds for the Sound Around Town project
