Join us for 25 ways to
celebrate our great outdoors

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Cathy Engstrom/INHF

How do you celebrate 25 years, dozens of conservation initiatives, more than 76,000 acres of protected land and thousands of people who made it possible? And how do you make that celebration not only fun-but also an opportunity to educate and inspire?

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation's board and staff answered those questions with the "25 ways to celebrate Iowa's great outdoors" campaign-a collection of 25 outdoor events that we're cosponsoring throughout our anniversary year. Each event is held on land that INHF protected or expanded and is hosted by the organizations that continue to own, manage and/or promote those sites today. These events are listed and numbered in your INHF calendar or on our website.

Here's how you can make the most of the celebration:
Go-and make a memory: This year, treat yourself to an "only in Iowa" experience: hawk-watching along the forested bluffs of the Mississippi River flyway (Event #20), hiking in the Loess Hills (#7 & 11) or biking by the light of the stars and luminaries (#16) . If you can't attend the anniversary event itself, go another time. Most of these events are held annually, and the sites are lovely in any season.

Expand your mind: Whether you're seeking immersion experiences like the Loess Hills Seminar (Event #7) and Okoboji's Adult Nature Weekend (#15) or quick activities like the prairie rescue (#3) and woodland wildflower hike (#5), you'll get hands-on learning alongside experienced naturalists.

Savor the legacy: Without INHF's members and partners, Hitchcock Nature Area (Event #22) would now be a landfill, Vincent Bluff (#11) could be sprouting houses instead of prairie flowers and Iowa's nature trails (#8, 14, 16 & 17) might not exist at all.

Share the heritage: How will future generations be inspired to protect our natural heritage if they've never experienced its richness? INHF is publicizing each event, but there's no substitute for a personal invitation from you-to the children in your life, friends, neighbors, even local policy-makers.

Thanks to our founders' vision and 25 years of effort, the first generation of "those who follow" can walk (or bike or paddle) on their legacy-and dream of the legacies we'll pass on. See you there!

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.