The Department of Education has an education consultant who provides information about programs related to integrating environmental education into school curricula. Information about environmental education opportunities can be found on the department’s website. The state’s education system also includes fifteen Area Education Agencies (AEA’s) that loan materials and provide training opportunities to educators. The contact for environmental education in most AEA’s is the science consultant.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is responsible for ensuring the proper management and protection of Iowa’s natural resources while actively encouraging public use and enjoyment of these resources in a manner consistent with sound management principles. DNR provides public assistance and educational materials and programs, and is involved in environmental regulation and enforcement. IDNR produces many publications including a bi-monthly magazine, the Iowa Outdoors.

The Environmental Services’ mission includes protecting public safety, well-being, and quality of life by protecting the state’s natural environment from harmful contamination. Environmental Services has four bureaus: Air Quality, Water Quality, Geological Survey and Land Quality, and Energy and Waste Management.

The Air Quality Bureau is responsible for monitoring the quality of ambient outdoor air and issuing permits to potential sources of air pollution. The DNR also protects outdoor air from asbestos contaminants. Educational resources can be found on their web page.

Energy publishes the quarterly Iowa Energy Bulletin, and has publications available on greenhouse gases, how to build energy-wise, wind energy, renewable energy, and more.

Waste Management deals with contaminated sites, household hazardous materials, making businesses waste efficient, recycling and composting, solid waste, underground storage tanks, waste tires, and more. It publishes a variety of booklets, brochures, videos and fact sheets on waste management and recycling.

Iowa Geological Survey includes the IOWATER volunteer water quality monitoring program, and provides information on the natural resources geographic information system (GIS). It has databases, applications, and publications available on water quality, mapping, and earth science.

This volunteer water quality monitoring program includes training, a manual, and equipment for monitoring Iowa waters. Check the web site for a current listing of training opportunities.

Land Quality manages programs that protect Iowa’s land and groundwater resources from contamination. It also has a voluntary cleanup program so participants can clean up contaminated property or take steps to insure threats posed by contamination do not harm human health or the environment. This property may be re-used, so farmland, open-spaces, or natural areas are not developed.

The Water Quality Bureau is responsible for a diverse group of surface and groundwater programs. Field staff help people understand environmental protection programs and laws. They conduct routine inspections of all facilities permitted by the EPD. They also handle public complaints.

The Fisheries Bureau includes six fish hatcheries raising some 130 million fish each year, fifteen teams managing the state’s lakes and rivers, and researchers helping solve fisheries problems identified by resource managers, anglers, and the public. Fisheries mangers are excellent sources of technical information as well as information about possible fishing sites. Many hatcheries have displays and tours of the facilities are available.

The Forestry Bureau manages Iowa’s four major and six smaller state forests, totaling 40,706 acres. It pursues an active land acquisition program with a goal of 250,000 acres by the year 2020. State Forests are managed for a variety of goods and services. Demonstrating good woodland management and providing forest products, wildlife habitat, and a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities is the primary emphasis.

The four major state forests are: Loess Hills State Forest (9,236 acres) in Monona and Harrison Counties, Shimek State Forest (9,209 acres) in Lee and Van Buren Counties, Stephens State Forest (13,092 acres) in Lucas, Monroe, Clark, Appanoose, Davis, and Jasper Counties, and Yellow River State Forest (8,503 acres) in Allamakee County. The smaller units range in size from 34 to 314 acres; Backbone State Forest (Delaware County), White Pine Hollow State Forest (Dubuque County), Holst, Barkley, and Pilot Mound State Forests (Boone County), and Gifford State Forest (Pottawattamie County).

Trees for Kids and Trees for Teens are combination tree planting and education programs. Tree for Kids targets 5th and 6th grades. Trees for Teens targets students in 7th through 12th grades. Goals are to educate students about the values and benefits of trees, make young adults aware of forestry career opportunities, and encourage students to plant landscape-sized trees at their school or other public places. Instructional videos about Iowa’s trees and tree planting have been sent to elementary school libraries.

District Foresters assist landowners with woodland and prairie management.

The State Nursery provides trees and shrubs at minimal cost for reforestation, erosion control, and wildlife plantings. Nursery stock can be ordered for either fall or spring plantings. Many brochures, publications, and posters from the U.S. Forest Service can be ordered through the State Nursery.

Conservation officers are law enforcement officers who protect the fish, wildlife, environment, and citizens of Iowa. They provide public relations materials including programs for classrooms and youth groups. Most counties have one officer; a few have two.

Call your county sheriff or one of the public safety communication centers listed below for the phone number of the conservation officer in your county. CO phone numbers are also listed in the current Iowa Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regulations.

Recreational Safety Officers are conservation officers who spend half their time promoting safe outdoor recreation and providing safety education programs. These programs include: ATV Safety Education, Hunter Education, Boating Safety Education, Snowmobile Safety Education, Fur Harvesting Education, and Bow Hunter Education.

TIP is a non-profit corporation that provides rewards to people who report information on law violations that result in citations. TIP also sponsors educational materials and programming relating to wildlife laws. The toll-free TIP number is monitored 24-hours a day. Report fish and wildlife violations to TIP with as much information as possible including: description of the possible violator, vehicle, license number, and time and place of the violation.

Recreation opportunities abound in Iowa State Parks and Recreation Areas. From hiking to historical sites and bird-watching to bicycling, each park offers a unique attraction. Most are excellent sites for field trips. Call the park for more details on each area.

The Iowa State Preserves System identifies and preserves, for this and future generations, portions of our natural pre-historical and historical heritage and maintains preserved lands, as nearly as possible, in their natural condition. Ninety parcels have been dedicated into the Preserves System (9,000 acres). Individuals, private conservation groups, cities, counties, or the state own the sites. Preserves are managed according to plans developed cooperatively by the owner, the Preserves Board, the preserve manager, and IDNR staff.

The Adopt-A-Program organizes concerned citizens dedicated to the stewardship of Iowa’s streams, parks, prairies, forests, or other natural areas. It was developed to stimulate public awareness of our natural resources and to encourage environmental action to protect and enhance these resources. Adopt-A-Program  is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in natural resource conservation.

The Wildlife Bureau includes 20 management units and three research stations, each staffed by biologists and technicians. Wildlife biologists manage public lands, assist private landowners with habitat improvement projects, and provide information about wildlife populations on public lands. Wildlife management areas encompass over a quarter million acres for outdoor recreation.

The Wildlife Diversity Program is responsible for the 400 species of wildlife not hunted or trapped in the state. Activities included peregrine falcon, osprey, otter, and trumpeter swan restoration; Bald Eagle Appreciation Days; kestrel box program; research on nongame species; population surveys; and the Breeding Bird Atlas. Frog and Toad, Peregrine Falcon, Colonial Water Bird, and Raptor Nesting surveys are completed using volunteers. Several publications, posters, and handouts are available for student use. Slide shows and videos are available for loan.

Research biologists conduct research on wildlife populations, coordinate wildlife reintroduction and restoration efforts, collect biological data, make hunting season recommendations, and band waterfowl.

Management biologists are responsible for on the ground management work on state-owned lands within the 20 management units. IDNR also has management biologists working on wildlife damage problems and with private landowners within the Mississippi River area.

The Communications Bureau encompasses several education and information programs and materials including the Iowa Outdoors, Aquatic Education Program, and Springbrook Conservation Education Center.

The Iowa Outdoors is the official publication of the IDNR. The bi-monthly magazine includes information about all aspects of Iowa’s natural resources.

The Aquatic Education Program is an effort of the DNR Fisheries bureau designed to improve public understanding of aquatic resources and their environment.

The EnviroScape™ is a desktop model, developed by the Terrene Institute to demonstrate point and nonpoint sources and prevention of pollution in a watershed. The EnviroScape includes a user’s guide for the demonstration facilitator. Cocoa, cooking oil, and powdered drink mixes represent pollutants. The model allows the presenter to show a series of events that may take years to occur in a natural setting. Models are available for loan from over 60 locations in Iowa.

The Stream Table shows how sediment, vegetation, and flowing water interact in a dynamic stream system. The portable model can be used to provide an interactive, hands-on demonstration for participants of all ages. It helps learners understand ambiguous terms such as “watershed” and “nonpoint source pollution.” Models are available for loan at 23 locations.

This teaching module incorporates physical education, health, biology, and home economics into a comprehensive program that focuses on fishing. Teaching aids include videos, posters, a CD-ROM, and free loan rods and reels. Materials are available at no cost through workshops, seminars, and individual training sessions.

This program for schools and communities offers a positive alternative to experimenting with drugs. Through fishing and aquatic education activities for grades K-12, students build self-esteem, life skills, civic responsibility, and improve family and community relationships. They also become caretakers of the environment. Materials include an instructor’s manual and parent’s guide distributed with the Fish Iowa! materials.

Projects WILD, WILD Aquatic, and Learning Tree are K-12 multidisciplinary programs provided to educators free of charge through pre-service methods classes and in-service workshops throughout the state. Most workshops are provided through teaching methods classes, but in-service workshops can be requested for a minimum of 15 educators and/or youth leaders. A nominal registration fee may be charged to cover facilitator expenses.

This guide, intended for 5-12 grade educators, helps students translate interest in wildlife and environmental concerns into environmental action projects. Contact the WILD/WILD Aquatic/PLT coordinator for single copies.

The primary purpose of the center is to work with student groups. Staff are available on-site to work with visitors. Located on the east side of Springbrook State Park, the center can be used by reservation only. Please check with the center for pricing and availability.

Keepers of the Land provides support for successful volunteer programs, and develops new opportunities for volunteers to help conserve, protect, and enhance our natural resources. Opportunities to volunteer are listed on the web site.