Posts in tag Acorn crew

Have you ever seen Iowa’s biggest native mammal, the bison? They can be hard to find even though they’re so big. If you visit one of Iowa’s bison herds this year, play this “I Spy” game with your friends and family to spot some of the ways bison keep prairies healthy. If you’re playing along at home, don’t worry! You can still spot parts of Iowa’s native prairies and imagine how a bison would help a prairie grow in your yard.

Spring in Iowa is alive with colors! Birds migrate back and flowers begin to bloom. There’s even fish, bugs, butterflies and colorful tree blooms to find. You have a whole rainbow of colors to explore in Iowa. When you’re walking through your neighborhood, out at the playground or visiting your county and state parks, you can look out for some of these rainbow birds and flowers.

Each spring brings back birds we haven’t seen since they left Iowa last fall. April – May is a great time to watch your backyard, your favorite park or the playground at school for the return of our feathered friends.

Did you know that out of approximately 250 owl species found worldwide, there are only 9 that call Iowa home?

Beavers are talented engineers — try this experiment to see how hard they work!

You probably know about constellations, but do you know how to find them?

Without leaves, trees can all start to look like the same big stick stuck in the ground. They aren’t all the same, though. Telling trees apart, especially without leaves, is a skill you can learn!

Fall is its own kind of fun: leaves changing colors, pumpkins, apple cider and giant leaf piles to jump into. Once we’re done with our fun, sometimes we bag those leaves up and take them away. But did you know that it’s a good idea to leave the leaves? Here are some good things fallen leaves can do for nature.

As the days grow shorter and time spent indoors increases, many INHF staff members turn to the cozy comfort of a good book. Whether you're hunting for a captivating read for your own free time or need a great story to share with the kids in your life, we've gathered a list of our all-time favorites—perfect for fall, winter, or any season!

This fall, INHF predicts many happy squirrels, turkeys, deer… and KIDS! This is because many nut-bearing trees across the state are experiencing a mast crop of nuts.With the abundance of nuts, what better time to collect and explore them! With your family or on your own, try these activities the next time you find yourself in proximity to nuts.

Summer may be ending, but there are still many ways to discover Iowa’s outdoors after the temperature turns cool. Geocaching is a family-friendly activity that can be enjoyed wherever you are, regardless of season.

Iowa has its own native rockstars that make a summer appearance! Learn more about the sounds of crickets, katydids and cicadas before you head outdoors to hear them.