INHF 25th Anniversary Event #24
Halloween Hike

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This festive hike around the Grimes Farm is not a trick, but a real treat! Meet costumed animals and discover what they have to say about their lives and habitat in a "Dr. Doolittle" themed event that's fun for the whole family.

Date: This event was held Saturday, October 16, 2004 Site: Nature Center at Grimes Farm in Marshalltown Winner of INHF door prize: Tanya Mathern Partner: Marshall County Conservation Board at (641) 754-5490 or mccb@co.marshall.ia.us

Event details
What better way to spend a crisp October night than by taking a walk to learn about nature? Hikers make several informative stops where they meet costumed animal characters. In keeping with tonight's "Dr. Doolittle" theme, you'll get to talk to the animals and learn about their lives. This event is not scary, but revolves around an environmental theme. Please dress for the weather!

Groups led by volunteer guides will depart from the Nature Center starting at 6 p.m.. Each hike lasts about 45 minutes, and new groups go out about every 10 minutes. At the end of each hike, participants are encouraged to stick around the Nature Center to enjoy some hot apple cider and view the many habitat dioramas, the interactive soil column and other displays.

This event is also a great opportunity to see Grimes Farm, the nature center Marshall County opened only a year ago. Some displays are still under construction, but look for displays on woodland and prairie habitats, hands-on discovery table, a variety of stuffed/mounted animals and more.

Due to high demand, you MUST pre-register for this event. Registration opens October 1. Call 641-752-5490 or e-mail mccb@co.marshall.ia.us to make your reservations for this fun-filled, family event!

The story behind this place
The Grimes Farm is a tribute to landowners dedicated to land stewardship and environmental education--and to a community able and willing to carry that dedication into the future.

Since 1964, Mildred and Leonard Grimes have planted thousands of trees on their land, transforming the 320+ acres once plagued with erosion problems into a model conservation area. They generously shared their work with the public, first by hosting visitors and, since the 1980s, by allowing the Marshall County Conservation Board to bring students and adults to the farm for hikes and programs.

In the early 1990s, the Grimes family began working through the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to perpetuate this farm's use as a model of conservation and a site for learning. They donated the farm to INHF (in several transactions over several years) to eventually be owned and used by MCCB for demonstration and education.

A new conservation education center was completed on the farm in Fall 2003 with space for classrooms and exhibits, a library of reference works, a volunteer/reception area and offices for the Marshall County Conservation Board (MCCB). Many generous contributions from the community, plus years of effort by MCCB and the Grimes family, made this nature center possible.

Partner Information
The Marshall County Conservation Board has more than 1,200 acres of land on 26 locations for camping, picnicking, fishing, canoeing, hiking, along with bicycle trails, forest areas and native prairies. Some areas are designated wildlife refuge and others are open for public hunting. Two MCCB naturalists conduct environmental education programs for school groups and the general public. In 2002 they made contacts with more than 6,300 people at 136 programs. The MCCB also publishes Seasons, a quarterly newsletter, as well as brochures about specific areas.

Site Map
http://www.grimesfarm.com/bigmap.html

Driving Directions
http://www.grimesfarm.com/directions.html

Visitor Info
Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce
(641) 753-6645
info@marshalltown.org

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