CENTRAL IOWA SIERRA CLUB SPRING 2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

PLEASE CALL THE OUTING LEADER IF YOU PLAN TO GO ON ANY OUTINGS.  This helps the outing leader plan and alert you to possible changes.  Everyone, including non-members, is welcome to attend programs and outings. Children are also welcome to attend with their parents or caretakers unless otherwise indicated by the outing leader.  In order to participate in an outing, you (or your parent or guardian if under 18) will need to sign a liability waiver.  To read a copy of the waiver, please see http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/ or call 415-977-5630.  Carpooling on outings is encouraged.  However, it is strictly a private arrangement among participants, and participants assume all risks associated with such travel.  All telephone numbers in this listing are area code 515 unless otherwise indicated.

 

MARCH EVENTS  

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 1: Red Rock Eagle Viewing

Join us for a day of outdoor viewing of Bald Eagles at Red Rock Lake between Pella and Knoxville.  There will be spotting scopes available for good views of eagles below the dam at Howell Station/Horn Bridge and/or around the lake.  There will be displays at the Central College auditorium, a live eagle and presentations and the video called “Listen to the Eagle’s Message” will be shown during the weekend.   Bring binoculars if you have them, dress for conditions and bring hot beverages and snacks.  We’ll plan to leave the Des Moines area at 1 p.m.  Some participants may choose to stay for a 7:30 p.m. concert by Jon Stravers at the Pella Opera House ($15.00 admission).  Contact Jane at jrclark@radiks.net or (515) 223-5047 for more information.

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 2:  Hike at Gateway Park, Ames

From Mortensen Road turn south onto Gateway Hills Park Drive. The parking lot is just past the hockey buildings. The hike begins at 1:30 p.m. Dress for conditions.  More information is at www.schikes.org . Contact Greg at greg@skunkrivercoalition.org.

 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19:   Monthly Program—George Naylor, 7:30 p.m.

Food Sovereignty—farm policy as if people and the environment mattered.

In recent years corn became a topic of concern thanks to the writing of Michael Pollan in the New York Times Magazine and his best-selling book, the Omnivores Dilemma (George Naylor is the featured corn farmer in this book.)   The basic problem with corn and its companion crop, soybeans, is that they required destroying the natural prairie which allows for soil erosion.   The democratic and environmental answer to the undemocratic free market is the concept of Food Sovereignty.  George Naylor has been farming the family farm in Greene County since 1976.  He has been a family farm activist since that time and served on the Excom of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club in the early 1990's.  Monthly programs are held at Grace United Methodist Church, located at 37th and Cottage Grove. Parking is located behind the church--enter through the south double doors and the meeting is in the lower east level of the church. E-mail jrclark@radiks.net or call (515) 223-5047.

 

 

APRIL EVENTS  

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 6:00 p.m.:  Woodcock Watch

We’ll meet behind Lake Terra in Johnston at 6:00 p.m. to walk to an area of timber along the Beaver Creek Greenbelt.  American Woodcocks display when it is nearly too dark to imagine seeing the tiny males in their courtship display.  We should be able to hear the birds making their nasal “peent” and to observe their explosive flight toward the night sky.  Dress for conditions.   Contact Jane at jrclark@radiks.net or (515) 223-5047 to RSVP and for more information.  Difficulty level: easy.

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16—Monthly Program: The Emerald Horizon, by Connie Mutel, 7:30 p.m.

Connie Mutel will give a presentation about her latest book, The Emerald Horizon.  In her book, she focuses on understanding today’s natural environment by understanding yesterday’s changes—she recreates once-wild native communities that existed prior to Euroamerican settlement and gives hope for the future.  Connie Mutel is the author of Fragile Giants: A Natural History of the Loess Hills, and coauthor or coeditor of other natural history books.  Monthly programs are held at Grace United Methodist Church, located at 37th and Cottage Grove. Parking is located behind the church--enter through the south double doors and the meeting is in the lower east level of the church. E-mail jrclark@radiks.net or call (515) 223-5047.

 

EARTH WEEK EVENTS

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 20: Yellow Banks Park—Oak Savanna Prairie Restoration

Meet at 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot near the ranger’s office/workshop at Yellow Banks Polk County Park to participate in the restoration of one of Iowa’s rarest ecosystems.  We will be continuing to clear invasive brush and finish around 3:30 p.m.  Refreshments will be provided.  Wear long pants and shirts, heavy work shoes or boots, and work gloves. Some tools will be provided, but please bring loppers and hand saws if you have them.  Contact Penny at pennyt@dwx.com or (515) 262-1224 to sign up.  Difficulty level: moderate

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 6:30 p.m.: Margo Frankel Woods State Park

Celebrate Earth Day with a walk in Margo Frankel Woods State Park to see spring wildflowers. Meet at 6:30 p.m. Contact Jo at (515) 276-6359 or johudson@qwest.net to sign up and for directions.  Difficulty level: easy to moderate.

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 24: Spring Wildflower Hike

Soper's Mills in Story County--Meet at 7 p.m. at 170th St. on the southeast side of the river. More information is at www.schikes.org .  Contact Greg at greg@skunkrivercoalition.org.

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 26—Garlic Mustard Event

Help us pull this invasive plant that crowds out native plants of the forest floor. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the trailhead parking area for the Bill Riley Bike Trail, south of Grand Avenue on 45th Street in Des Moines. We will work until 12:00; come for an hour or all morning. There will be volunteers to show you what the plant looks like and where to work. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. We will have bags. Contact Jo at johudson@qwest.net or (515) 276-6359 for information. Difficulty level: moderate.

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 27:  Hike at Ahquabi in Warren County

Meet at noon by Petco at Southridge Mall and drive to Ahquabi State Park south of Indianola.  Hike approximately two hours.  Bring water and a snack/lunch to eat afterwards if desired. Return to Des Moines around 5 p.m.  Contact Jackie at (515) 577-0375 to let her know you're coming.   Difficulty level: easy to moderate.  

 

  MAY EVENTS

 

 SATURDAY, MAY 3: Day Hike Ledges State Park

Join us for a hike in Ledges State Park in Boone County.  We’ll gather in the Des Moines area at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Cracker Barrel just west of the Interstate on University Avenue (in Clive).  Then we’ll meet our hike host, Ryan Hanson, at 9:45 a.m. in the Ledges at the shelter house inside the east (main) entrance to the park.  We’ll hike trails in the morning, have lunch around noon, and continue to explore the park the rest of the day.  Ryan lives near the Ledges and he’s familiar with the history of the area and many of the woodland plants.  Early May should be a great time in this park for spring wildflowers.  Wear shoes or boots suitable for hiking, bring water and lunch.  Contact Jane at jrclark@radiks.net or (515) 223-5047 to sign up or get directions.  Difficulty level: moderate to difficult.

 

TUESDAY, MAY 6: Tuesday Weekly Hikes Begin

 Sierra Club Tuesday Evening Hikes resume on May 6 and run through August 26.  They are held at a different location each week around the Greater Des Moines Area, begin at 6:30 p.m., and end around 8 p.m. This is a great way to get to know hiking areas you may have never visited, or to revisit old favorite trails.  For all hikes, please contact the hike leader to sign up each week so you can get directions and be notified if there is any change in plans. You may request to be placed on an email list to automatically be notified of each week’s hike and any changes. Difficulty level is easy to moderate on most hikes. Hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes are recommended, as are light weight long pants and mosquito repellent. Bring rain gear whenever the weather suggests a chance of rain.

 

TUESDAY, May 6, 6:30 p.m.

Hike at Margo Frankel Woods State Park. Many of the hikes in May will focus on areas with spring wildflowers.  Contact Ginger to sign up and get directions at soelbergv@dwx.com or (515) 253-0232.  Difficulty level: moderate.

 

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1 p.m.

Trestle to Trestle Trail Bike Ride:  Meet at 1:00 p.m. at VanDee's Ice Cream Shop in Johnston (5915 Merle Hay Road)  and we'll explore this new trail which runs along the old InterUrban train line south from Johnston, crossing Beaver Creek on a Trestle Bridge.   After a ride of about 4 miles, we will cross the Des Moines River on another Trestle bridge to hook up to the Neal Smith Trail.     We'll ride for an hour or two, ending up back at the ice cream shop.   Contact Ginger at 253-0232 or soelbergv@dwx.com for details. 

 

TUESDAY, MAY 13: Weekly Evening Hike  6:30 p.m.

 Bird walk at Walnut Woods State Park.  This walk will focus on spring migrant birds so bring binoculars if you have them.  Contact Jane to sign up and get directions at jrclark@radiks.net or (515) 223-5047.  Difficulty level: easy.

 

TUESDAY, MAY 20: Weekly Evening Hike  6:30 p.m.

Urban hike from Gray's Lake Boat Rental (below the south side parking lot.) We will walk from there to Court Avenue via the bike path and loop back. About 4 miles total and about 2 hours (may include a dinner stop if group wants).. Contact Phyllis to sign up and get directions at goodmanph@mchsi.com or 274.4319.  Difficulty level: easy to moderate

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21: Des Moines Public Program—7:30 p.m.

John Wenck:  The Des Moines River

John Wenck’s interest in nature and the health of Iowa’s rivers was spawned from a short trip on the Des Moines River in a kayak, October 2004.  His program will include a video of the 2007 Des Moines River Cleanup and a presentation about Tacitus Hussey (1834-1919), a Des Moines pioneer and lover of the outdoors who wrote a detailed narrative of a weeklong paddling trip he and a friend took from Humboldt to Des Moines in the 1890s.  John hopes that more people will be able to experience the beauty of Iowa’s rivers and realize the need to restore and protect them.  Monthly programs are held at Grace United Methodist Church, located at 37th and Cottage Grove and begin at 7:30 p.m. Call Jane at (515) 223-5047 or email at  jrclark@radiks.net for information.

 

TUESDAY, MAY 27: Weekly Evening Hike, 6:30 p.m.

This week’s locations are Easter Lake County Park and Ewing Park.  Contact Peggy Brown at peggybrowndm@yahoo.com or (515) 285-6864 to sign up and get directions.  See the May 6 general hike announcement for additional information.  Difficulty level: easy to moderate.

   

ALSO OF INTEREST AND LOOKING AHEAD

 

    The following events are not sponsored by the Sierra Club but are listed because they might be of interest to members.  The conduct of these events is the sole responsibility of the other organizations sponsoring them.

 

Iowa Rivers Revival: April 4-6th:  Iowa Rivers Revival is presenting its 3rd Annual Conference – Rediscovering Our Rivers: Greenbelts, Habitats, Clean Water and Fun.  The conference will be held on the Iowa River, in scenic Iowa Falls April 4 - 6th 2008.  Iowa Rivers Revival is an Iowa organization working with Iowans to restore and protect our rivers and greenbelts for health, recreation, tourism and conservation ethics through education and advocacy– promoting a vision of clean, free-flowing rivers – teeming with life, surrounded by diverse landscapes and connecting vibrant communities.  Conference details will be available at this link:  http://www.iowarivers.org/AnnualConference/tabid/59/Default.aspx . To RSVP for the conference, for exhibit space, or for questions, email roz.lehman@mchsi.com

 
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 30-JUNE 1:  LOESS HILLS PRAIRIE SEMINAR:  Gather at the Loess Hills Preserve near Onawa for a weekend of exploring and learning about the Loess Hills and this unique Iowa treasure through a series of expert-led seminars on a wide variety of environmental topics and walks.  Sponsored by Western Hills Area Education Agency.  Primitive camping at the seminar site or stay in nearby motels.  Meals provided.  Cost: $25 (motel extra). Check www.aea12.k12.ia.us/services/loesshillsseminar/ or call 712-274-6080 for registration. Contact Ginger at (515)253-0232  soelbergv@dwx.com  for questions or carpooling.

 

Story County and vicinity hikes

For more information about Story County hikes, contact Greg at vitol_g@yahoo.com  or www.schikes.org  or  515-663-9251.  The emphasis is on getting outdoors, exploring and enjoying local public areas primarily in Story County.  Hikes may vary from good exercise to a social stroll and are usually no more than two hours if we keep moving. We may go off of the path and bushwhack to explore new routes or to explore things like rivers and sandbars or to view wildlife. These hikes are snow, rain or shine, so it is best to come prepared for any weather.

Special Note: Participants on trips listed on this schedule will accept responsibility and liability for their own preparedness and safety.

Footwear—Many hikes take us off of trails where we may walk through wet areas or snow. For warmth, stability, and protection, comfortable walking boots are recommended.

Clothing—Watch the weather predictions. Dress accordingly and wear layers in colder weather so that you can add or subtract layers to keep you comfortable without being too warm.

Food and Drinks—Snacks are helpful for longer walks, especially during cold weather. There will not be drinking water available so you need to bring your own beverage of choice. Also bring something to hold your goods so that both hands are free to hold branches or catch your balance.  *If you bring a dog, be sure it doesn’t bother others and keep it close or retrievable.  Many of the areas require dogs to be leashed.