Discovery Packs, Park Packs, Adventure Packs...Whatever you call them, Exploration Packs are a growing trend in nature centers, parks, and communities across the nation as a way to get children, families, and individuals out exploring nature on their own. Discovery Packs are filled with tools, activities, and tips on what to do or look for, but allow for users to be guided and directed by their own curiosity.
The Winneshiek County Conservation Board surveyed a number of organizations with Discovery Packs, asking them to provide their best advice for hosting a set of packs. Here, we've compiled their responses, including pack content lists, supplier suggestions, activity guides, and general tips. We hope you find it helpful as you develop your own Discovery Packs.
The Winneshiek County Conservation Board wishes to thank all other organizations and individuals who assisted with this project and the Iowa DNR's Resource Enhancement and Protection - Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP) for its support.

Pack Themes and Contents
Click on each of the themes below to access pack content suggestions, printable handouts, and activity suggestions. If you have additional information you'd like to see added, please feel free to contact us. All files are .pdf unless otherwise noted.
- Backyard Exploration Nature Discovery Pack Contents
- Make Your Own Discovery Pack
- Sensory Bingo
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Treasure Hunt Scrapbook
- Winneshiek County Science Scavenger Hunt
- Playing through the Seasons
- Dike 14 Nature Preserve Discovery Pack
- High Point State Park Discovery Pack
- Bird Pack Contents
- Polk County Bird Pack
- Polk County Bird ID Checklist
- Bluebird House Plan
- Bald Eagles In Iowa (Iowa DNR)
- Migration Sensation
- Bird Feeding Guides:
- Coloring Pages
- Activities
- Insects & Spiders Pack Contents
- Polk County Insect Pack
- Jackson County Insect Pack
- Insect Order Turtox Key
- Worm Walk
- Activities
- Coloring Pages
- Mammals Pack Contents
- Polk County Mammals Pack
- Polk County Mammals Pack Journal
- Activities
- Coloring Pages
- Night & Astronomy Pack Contents
- Polk County Night Pack
- Night Finger Play And Songs
- Bat Bones Comparison
- Make A Big Dipper
- Activities
- Coloring Pages
- Prairie Pack Contents
- Polk County Prairie Pack
- Top 10 Favorite Activities At Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
- Traditional Uses Of Buffalo
- Root Systems Of Prairie Plants
- Activities Related To Prairie Storms
- Happy Prairie Lesson
- Prairie Math Lesson
- Prairie Mobile Lesson
- Quick Freeze Prairie Dogs Lesson
- Activities
- Coloring Pages
- Reptiles & Amphibians Pack Contents
- Activities
- Coloring Pages
Forms
Marketing Tips
The following suggestions are compiled from responses to a survey distributed via the IAN (Iowa Association of Naturalists) listserv, as well as from the final reports of organizations that received funding from the Iowa DNR's REAP-CEP for their pack programs.
- Local newspaper, radio, and tv outlets
- Area Education Associations (AEAs)
- Newsletters of Friends of County Conservation Boards, nature centers, or other non-profits
- School or district newsletters
- Nature centers
- Campgrounds or park kiosks
- Community, family, or multicultural centers
- Libraries
- Parks and Recreation departments
- Fairs or expos
- At teacher meetings
- After public or school programming
- Homeschool networks
- 4-H clubs
- Boy/Girl Scout troops
- Childcare centers
- Community action or assistance organizations
- Local courthouses, gyms, or shopping centers
1-Sheet Field Guides
These field guides were developed to highlight species that novice outdoor explorers are likely to see on an excursion in Northeast Iowa. They are included in Winneshiek County's Discovery Packs in place of some traditional field guides to make the packs as light as possible and to maximize the potential for positive identification by young users. The guides are adjusted to target either beginner (early childhood and elementary) or intermediate (upper elementary and middle) users, and there are some individual animal profile sheets included as well.
Below are .pdf files of the field guides, which were originally created in Microsoft Publisher. Unfortunately, we are unable to load .pub files onto the website. If you would like .pub files that you can adapt to your own region, please contact us and we will send them to you directly.
- Amphibians
- Birds
- Butterflies
- Dragonflies & Damselflies
- Fossils
- Problem Plants
- Small Mammals
- Spring Wildflowers
- Summer Wildflowers