Half an hour east of Des Moines, the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge offers a look into Iowa's prairie past - and here, present - complete with roaming bison and elk, native wildflowers, grasses and sedges. But it hasn’t always been this way.
Posts by Katy Heggen
Read More on A Wild Idea
Bridge Along the Ridge (Posted November 29, 2021)
It’s easy to lose yourself in the Loess Hills of western Iowa. The wind whipping up the ridgelines, the rhythmic...
Homeward Bound (Posted July 27, 2021)
Eastern Iowa native Tyler Baird built his career against the backdrop of the country’s most stunning national parks. But it’s...
Seasons of Change (Posted July 26, 2021)
Located on 60 acres spread across Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center (Prairiewoods) feels both urban and...
A More Scenic Route (Posted May 26, 2021)
From the Loess Hills to the Great River Road, the Covered Bridges to the Glacial Trail, Iowa is home to...
INHF to Host Spring Prairie Hike (Posted March 25, 2021)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Joe Jayjack, communications director, jjayjack@inhf.org or 515-288-1846 ext. 19 Pasque on the Prairie INHF to host...
Converging Trails (Posted February 18, 2021)
This story is part of an ongoing series, Lay of the Land, that seeks to explore the different ways people...
Sowing Something Meaningful (Posted February 9, 2021)
A short drive from Ames, Mike and Linda Meetz's reconstructed and remnant prairie and wetlands are a sight to behold....
Big heart on the Little Sioux River (Posted December 23, 2020)
The best turkey Karen Nelson ever fixed was cooked on a wood-fueled stove in a cozy cabin on the Little...
Lay of the Land (Posted November 27, 2020)
Wildness. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot of conversations about conservation, including those at INHF. A desire...
Gaining Ground (Posted August 18, 2020)
Park and trail usage has increased exponentially across the country in recent months as people continue to look for safe...
All Things Considered (Posted August 17, 2020)
When Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) purchased the 1,011-acre former Central Iowa 4-H camp near Madrid late last September, for...