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School of the Wild
Dave Murcia and the folks at Scott County Conservation supported the largest district School of the Wild (SOW) program to date. Over the course of 3 weeks, more than 700 6th graders from Davenport Community Schools participated. All students explored wetlands, woodlands, prairies, and outdoor skills at West Lake Park.
School of the Wild is a statewide initiative to increase outdoor learning experiences for elementary and middle school students across Iowa. The University of Iowa’s College of Education, in partnership with Iowa schools, the Department of Natural Resources, County Conservation Boards, and many other local conservation organizations across the state, all work together to bring School of the Wild to students.
School of the Wild strives to provide all students with a meaningful outdoor learning experience that develops a sense of awareness and appreciation for the natural world and, in turn, leads them to act as positive stewards of all things wild.
For more information on SOW and how you can help get a local school started, visit https://wild.education.uiowa.edu/school-wild or contact Gus.Elliott@dnr.iowa.gov.
Back to topNational R3 Symposium - Des Moines
Adam Ohsann, Scott County Conservation, recently had the opportunity to attend the National R3 Symposium on a scholarship from the Iowa DNR and the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, which was held in Des Moines from May 4-6.
“The conference was a great networking tool that provided insights into other states’ and NGO methods on providing outdoor recreation opportunities locally in their communities. It highlighted the importance of introducing youth and adults to the outdoors. Not just for their personal reasons but for wildlife management techniques.” - Adam Ohsann
This year’s symposium featured 56 speakers who shared practical insights, research findings, and field-tested strategies related to recruitment, retention, and reactivation. Sessions explored a wide variety of timely topics, including participation trends and public attitudes, effective program design, shooting sports resources, and strategies for responding to criticism of R3 efforts.
To view the presentation archive, visit: https://cahss.org/news-events-overview/archive/
Back to topBat Acoustic Monitoring - Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed across Iowa in July to help monitor bat populations
affected by White Nose Syndrome using acoustic surveys along road transects
and at stationary sites. Teams of two will drive pre-determined routes at night, set up bat detectors, and record echolocation data, requiring about 11-12 hours over two weeks, a flexible schedule, and comfort with technology and slow night driving. This effort is essential for identifying hotspots of bat activity and understanding disease impacts; training and equipment will be provided.
Contact Stephanie.Shepherd@dnr.iowa.gov if you are interested in assisting with a grid/route.
May 2026 Updates
List items for May 2026 ICCS Updates
Take It Outside State Park Camps offer 5-day adventures in Iowa’s great outdoors—explore, learn, and build outdoor skills. Help us spread the word! Visit the DNR Website for details and registration. Reach out to Anne.Riordan@dnr.iowa.gov to request a flyer to share.
Level 1 camps are for students entering 3rd-6th grade. These camps introduce young adventurers to outdoor basics and spark curiosity about nature. Enrollment is limited to 30 students per camp.
Please help us fill the camp locations listed below.
- George Wyth State Park (Waterloo): June 15-19
- Wapsipinicon State Park (Anamosa): July 6-10
- Palisades-Kepler State Park (Mt Vernon): July 27-31
The following camps are full and no longer taking registrations:
- Walnut Woods State Park (West Des Moines): June 15-19
- Ledges State Park (Madrid): August 3-7
Level 2 camps help pre-teens and early teens deepen their outdoor experience through new challenges and advanced skills - perfect for campers with some know-how or those ready to try something new. These camps are for students entering 5th-8th grade. Enrollment is limited to 30 students per camp.
Please help us fill the camp location listed below.
Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area (Palo): July 13-17
The following camps are full and no longer taking registrations:
- Maquoketa Caves State Park (Maquoketa): June 22-26 -
- Big Creek State Park (Polk City): July 27-31 -
Participants will learn paddling skills, how to identify hazard and river features, tips for teaching different learning styles, and risk management strategies. Instruction time will be one-third classroom and two-thirds on-water in both lake and river environments, solo and tandem.
The schedule for 2026 paddling schools is:
- May 12-13, Canoe School
- June 17-18, Kayak School
- Aug. 5-6, Kayak School
- Sept. 15-16, Canoe School
To register or for more information, go to www.iowadnr.gov/paddling-schools. Get your registration in quickly, these classes fill up fast.
The 2026 IHEA-USA Annual Meeting & Training is June 1–4, 2026. We’re excited to share that IHEA volunteer members can register for virtual attendance at no cost. This is open to all County Conservation staff who are certified hunter education instructors, as Iowa DNR maintains your access to IHEA-USA resources and training opportunities.
To register, visit the IHEA-USA Registration Platform to secure your spot. If you encounter any issues getting registered, contact Jamie.Cook@dnr.iowa.gov for assistance.
The Iowa DNR recently launched a statewide digital campaign promoting the Wild about Iowa Package to support conservation in Iowa. The package includes the habitat fee and a durable, commemorative hard card.
We are looking for a few county partners willing to pilot signage in their parks promoting the habitat fee to support conservation in the state. If you are interested in participating, contact Megan.Wisecup@dnr.iowa.gov for more information.
Resources for public fishing events are now available, including a marketing toolkit, promotional map, planning form, and giveaways.
Counties are encouraged to submit events for Free Fishing Weekend (June 5-7) and throughout the year. Submit events for a chance to win fishing equipment and supplies.
