Bag It Movie Comes to Sioux City Orpheum Theatre

Is your life too plastic?

Did you know the average person in the U.S. uses more than 500,000 single-use plastic shopping bags per year?

Bag It has been garnering awards at film festivals across the nation. What started as a documentary about plastic bags evolved into a wholesale investigation into plastics and their effect on our waterways, oceans, and even our bodies. Join the Bag It movement and decide for yourself how plastic your life will be. (From Bag It website)

The Bag It film is coming to Sioux City on:

Saturday, April 28

4:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre

Attend this free viewing of the award-winning documentary. Learn about plastics and how they affect the environment and you.

Attendees will receive a free reusable shopping tote, compliments of the City of Sioux City, Woodbury County Conservation Board and Woodbury County Conservation Foundation. Thanks to the Siouxland Film Festival as well for allowing us to use the Orpheum during their break in film activities.

From the movie Bag It:

“Think about it, why would you make something that you’re going to use for a few minutes out of a material that’s basically going to last forever, and you’re just going to throw it away. What’s up with that?”

– Jeb Berrier

More on Bag It can be found at http://www.bagitmovie.com/index.html

General Registration for Summer Day Camps Begins Tomorrow, April 19th

Stop out and register your child for Summer Day Camps at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. There are still plenty of spots left in most of our popular camps.

Camps are designed for children ages 3-15, with various sessions held throughout the summer.

Cost of camps vary, depending on age of campers & length of camp.

Registration forms and camp schedules can be found online at http://www.woodburyparks.com/summercamp.html.

On a tight budget?

The Woodbury County Conservation Foundation offers a limited number of scholarships to campers wishing to attend camp. Find the scholarship form at http://www.woodburyparks.com/brochures/Scholarship%20App.pdf

At this time we are not able to accept online or telephone reservations for camps.

The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is located at 4500 Sioux River Road, Sioux City. Phone 712-258-0838.

For more information email camps@sioux-city.org.

 

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town!

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town by visiting local attractions during the next month. Vistors are eligible to participate by picking up a Passport at any participating local attraction and receiving a stamp.

Once you have visited ten or more attractions and have your passport stamped, you may enter to win some fantastic prizes.

This is the second year for the Tourist in Your Own Town promotion. But hurry! You need have from now until May 13th to get your Passport stamped.

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is just one of the 16 participating attractions, which includes the Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City Public Library, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Siouxland Historical Railroad, Sioux City Convention Center, Trinity Heights and others.

For more information or to download a copy of the Passport visit http://visitsiouxcity.org/tourist-in-your-own-town/

Kestrel Falcon highlights exhibits at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center – KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Kestrel Falcon highlights exhibits at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Cent – KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports.

The American Kestrel Gets More Media Exposure!

 

Loess Hills Prairie Seminar Marks 35th Year

 

Information about the 2012 Loess Hills Prairie Seminar is now available in the Programs and Services section of the Northwest AEA website at: http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/programs_and_services/loess_hills_prairie_seminar/

The registration form is also available at the website. Registration is due by May 25. Note that if you want to go on the Missouri River Ecology boat tour, you need to indicate your choice of times on the registration form. The tour is limited to fifteen at each of the three sessions. Seats will be filled in order of registration, and waiting lists will also be kept.

Please share the website and seminar information with your colleagues. Feel free to print the poster or mini-poster and help post these in your community or workplace.

The information on the website includes: the detailed program listing the activities that are available for adults, children and families; a list of the facilitators; information about the Silent Auction; a list of our generous sponsors; a letter for K-12 educators explaining the option for License Renewal Credit, which is being offered at a discounted rate; and much more information.

The Great Race Against Shrubs and Shade (G.R.A.S.S.) is a pre-seminar activity offered on Friday, June 1 from 9:00 a.m.-12 p.m.

Whether you are able to attend or not, you are encouraged to donate to the Silent Auction or directly to the seminar. The seminar depends on the Silent Auction and support from our sponsors and individuals in order to keep registration costs low.

For more information, please contact Gloria Kistner at Northwest AEA at 712/222-6080, 800/352-9040, extension 6080, Iowa Only or gkistner@nwaea.org or contact Dianne Blankenship at bennaid@hotmail.com.

Watch the Critters Eat Their Lunch

It’s Feed the Animals day at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

Stop out today, Thursday, April 12 at 4:30 p.m. to watch the kestrel, snakes, turtles & salamanders eat their lunch.

Pictured at right is the corn snake, which is a constrictor that eats rodents such as mice. 

Learn about cool adaptations of these animals as well.

If you miss today’s event, the next Animal Feeding program will be on Thursday, May 10 at 4:30 p.m.

Count Down to Summer Day Camp Registration

Our very popular Summer Day Camps are right around the corner!

Woodbury County Conservation Foundation members have early registration beginning this Thursday, April 12.

But it’s not too late to join and become a WCCF member. Memberships begin at $20 and will give you benefits to register early.  Membership forms are found at http://www.woodburyparks.com/membership.html

Regular Summer Day Camp registration will begin Thursday, April 19. You may register in person at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center or by mailing your registration forms.

You can send in your registration for camps anytime. Registration forms can be found at http://www.woodburyparks.com/summercamp.html

Sorry, at this time we do not take on-line registrations or phone registrations.

If you have questions contact camps@sioux-city.org

Thanks!

 

Vote to Name the American Kestrel

          

These are the finalists in our naming the Kestrel. You may also vote in person at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center by entering your vote with a donation to the respective name jar. All funds raised will go toward the Raptor Enclosure fund.

Thank you!

Exhibits Celebrate One Year!

One year ago we hosted our Grand Opening of the Exploring Fragile Giants exhibit renovation. We’ve had a successful year with a 15% increase in visitors. The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is open Tues. – Sat. from 9am – 5pm and Sundays from 1-5pm. If you’ve not had a chance to visit yet, or haven’t done so in awhile, make plans to do so soon!

New projects on the horizon include the outdoor Raptor Enclosure and the Nature Explore Classroom/Outdoor Playscape. These outdoor additions will enhance our programs and allow visitors more opportunities to explore and learn about our natural world.

Summer Day Camp Registration Information Available!

The Woodbury County Conservation Board announces its popular summer daycamp schedule.  Our camps are designed to encourage hands-on learning through outdoor explorations, hiking, activities, games, and more. These programs are led by the naturalist staff and trained volunteers and include camps for ages 3-15 year olds. The number of campers is limited to ensure a fun experience. There will be several weeks of camp sessions, including 5-day; 3-day; 2-day and 1-day camps. They are held at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. The cost of day camps includes a T-shirt, refreshments and supplies for all campers.  Those children in daylong camps must bring their own bag lunch.  All campers provide their own transportation to and from theNatureCenteror camp site.

                Registration will begin Thursday, April 12 for Woodbury County Conservation Foundation Members and Non-Member registration starts Thursday, April 19. Check our website for details and a camp registration form at http://www.woodburyparks.com/summercamp.html.  Registration cannot be completed over the phone. Registration must include the registration form, camper information form and requisite deposit or the full payment of camp. Please do not mail registration forms early; we will accept them starting with a postmark date of April 10th. Each child can be registered for one camp only and you may only register your own children, grandchildren or family unit. Email Theresa Kruid at camps@sioux-city.org or call 712-258-0838.

                The summer day camp program is co-sponsored by the Woodbury County Conservation Foundation (WCCF) and registrants can receive a $5.00 discount off their total camp fees if they join the Foundation with a $35 donation or more. Scholarships are also available thanks to the WCCF. Contact Theresa Kruid at 712-258-0838 or camps@sioux-city.org for a scholarship application. For more information or to receive a registration forms for our camps call 712-258-0838 or check our website at http://www.woodburyparks.com/membership.html.  Spaces are limited, so register soon!