Webster County Conservation
2012 Public Outdoor Events

Click Here for a printable version of this schedule

*All programs are free unless otherwise noted.

crosscountry skiingCross Country Ski & Snowshoe Rental Information

January

January 28     Cross Country Skiing

9:00am-11:00am - at Dolliver Park
Enjoy winter's crisp air and great way to exercise in Iowa's outdoor parks. Equipment use is free.

January 31      Evening Skiing & Snowshoeing

5:00pm-7:00pm - at Kennedy Park Reception Center
On Tuesday evenings, wind down from work, bring family or friends, enjoy Iowa winter, and ski into the twilight sky around Kennedy Park.

February

February 4     Cross Country Skiing

9:00am-11:00am - at Dolliver Park
Enjoy winter's crisp air and great way to exercise. Equipment use is free.

February 7, 14, 21, 28     Evening Skiing & Snowshoeing

5:00pm-7:00pm - at Kennedy Park Reception Center
On Tuesday evenings, wind down from work, bring family or friends, enjoy Iowa winter, and ski into the twilight sky around Kennedy Park.

February 11     Cross Country Skiing

9:00am-11:00am - at Brushy Creek
Enjoy winter's crisp air and great way to exercise. Equipment use is free.

February 27, 28, March 1   Hunter Safety

5:30—9 pm  at Kennedy Park’s Heun shelter
Register online at www.iowadnr.gov/training; then stop at Keith's Outdoors in Fort Dodge to get the HS manual.

March

March 17      Bald Eagle Workshop

10:00-4:30   at Kennedy Park Heun shelter
Help the DNR Wildlife Diversity Program with documenting eagle nests. $10 registration fee covers materials, meal, etc.

March 17      Geo-cache Hide & Seek

5:30-7:30pm   at Kennedy Park Heun shelter
Learn how to goe-cache and enjoy a new outdoor activity. We'll provide the GPS units or bring your own.

March 24      Trout Stocking/Clinic

1:00-3:00pm   Moorland Pond
Join the DNR and WCC staff for an afternoon of catching tagged fish and winning prizes.

March 31     Hy-Vee Half Marathon

FD to Kennedy Park
Challenge yourself to a half marathon from FD to Kennedy Park or run a 5K at the park. Kids activities will be provided at the park also.

April

April 14     Spring Park Festival (Earth Day Celebration)

9:00am-noon Cache In Trash Out at Brushy Creek
10:00am-noon Garlic Mustard Pulling at Brushy Creek
3:00pm-4:00pm Nest Box Building at Kennedy Park
5:00pm-7:00pm Maple Syrup Festival at Kennedy Park
7:30pm Prairie Night Burn at Kennedy Park

Dress for day-long exploration and hands-on activities.  This day is family-oriented fun for all ages.  Free will donation taken for pancake meal at the maple syrup festival.

April 15     Campground Opens

May

May 4      Night Paddling

8:30pm   at Brushy Creek, south boat ramp
Canoes with lights will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Lights required on vessels you bring.

May 12     Duane Bill's Fishing Derby

1:00pm-4:00pm  at Kennedy Park
Bring the family for fishing fun and prizes.  Fisheries biologist will have live fish for identification.

May 17     Plant Some Shade

Time TBA   at Kennedy Park
Pick up day for pre-ordered trees for Mid-American Energy customers.  See www.midamericanenergy.com  

June

June 2     Fishing Derby

10:00am-noon  at Brushy Creek fish pier
For beginners with a parent. Meet at fish pier point. Equipment, bait, and lunch provided.

June 2     Night Paddling

9:00pm   at Brushy Creek, south boat ramp
Canoes with lights will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Lights required on vessels you bring.

June 2 & 3     Archery Shoot

8 am—3 pm   at Kennedy Park
Join the Webster Co. Bowhunters & Archery Assoc. for 3-D marksmanship on the Badger Lake Trail.  $12/shooter.

June 9    Women in the Outdoors

8 am—4:30 pm    at Brushy Creek PRC
For women wanting to learn outdoor skills.  Fee covers meals, drinks, & supplies.  Cost is $30

June 16   Paddling Class

9:am-4:00pm   at Kennedy Park
Join certified instructor, Clark Fletcher, in a course on canoeing basics.  Bring a water bottle.  Cost TBA.

June 30         Prairie Hike

10:00 am Brushy Creek PRC
Meet at Root Cellar Prairie and join prairie biologist, Bill Johnson, for a bit of prairie history and plant ID.

July

July 3     Night Paddling

9:00pm   at Brushy Creek, south boat ramp
Canoes with lights will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Lights required on vessels you bring.

July 13    Water Trails Dedication/Paddle the Lizard

10:00am   route to be determined
Call for reservations.

July 14     River Trash Bash

8:00pm    route to be determined
Get your friends together, make up a team of 2. Reserve a canoe with us or bring your own for some dirty fun in the sun cleaning the Des Moines River.

July 14    Summer Park Festival

5:00-10:00pm  at Kennedy Park
Join us for some fun canoeing, kayaking, fishing demonstrations, astronomy, and a movie overlooking the lake.

July 21 & 22     Archery Shoot

8 am—3 pm at Kennedy Park
Join the Webster Co. Bowhunters & Archery Assoc. for 3-D marksmanship on the Badger Lake Trail.  $12/shooter.

July 27, 28, 29   Dragon Boat Bash

Time TBA   at Badger Lake, Kennedy Park
Sponsored by Daybreak Rotary

August

August 1   Night Paddling

9:00pm   at Brushy Creek, south boat ramp
Canoes with lights will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Lights required on vessels you bring.

August 13, 14, 16   Hunter Safety

5:30—9 pm  at Kennedy Park’s Heun shelter
Register online at www.iowadnr.gov/training; then stop at Keith's Outdoors in Fort Dodge to get the HS manual.

August 18 & 19     3-D Archery Shoot

8 am—3 pm         at Kennedy Park
Join the Webster Co. Bowhunters & Archery Assoc. for 3-D marksmanship on the Badger Lake Trail.  $12 / shooter

August 25  Adventure Race

8:00 am    Fort Dodge area
Join a friendly “eco-challenge” as participants bike to Kennedy Park, run and kayak around Badger Lake.

August 25   Butterfly Tagging

1:00 pm    at Brushy Creek PRC
Join wildlife biologists for an afternoon of fun tagging monarch butterflies and learning about winged beauties.

August 31   Night Paddling

8:00pm   at Brushy Creek, south boat ramp
Canoes with lights will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Lights required on vessels you bring.

 

September

September 9          Skillet Creek Hike

2:00 pm   Skillet Creek Indian Mounds-Dayton
See this beautiful area and learn about the wealth of history in these hills.

 

(Fall)        Community Tree Steward Program

Dates, Times, & Locations to be determined

October

October 13   Fall Park Festival

Time TBA     at Kennedy Park
Join us and practice outdoor skills such as bb gun shooting, archery, atlatl throwing, animal calls, canoeing, kayaking, geo-caching, etc.

October 15   Kennedy Park Campground CLOSES

November

November 8    Friends Banquet

5:00 pm    at Kennedy Park’s Heun shelter
Enjoy the friendship and similar concerns for the environment at the annual banquet for the Friends of Webster County Conservation.

November 17    Archeology Workshop

5:00 pm    at Kennedy Park’s Heun shelter
Show and tell your interesting finds such as spear points, axe heads, scrapers, etc. Learn the basics on logging you treasurers for future generations.

December

December TBA Lights At Kennedy

at Kennedy Park campground
Drive thru the Kennedy Park campground and enjoy Sertoma-sponsored lighting displays.