CENTRAL IOWA SIERRA CLUB WINTER 2005

CENTRAL IOWA SIERRA CLUB SUMMER 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.

TUESDAY, JULY 22: Raccoon River Park
Meet at the Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines off Grand Avenue at 6:30 p.m.— at the fenced dogwalk park, near softball fields. This hike will take approximately 90 minutes on a gravel trail.
Difficulty level: moderate.
Contact George at 515-745-7563 for questions.

TUESDAY, JULY 29: Summerset State Park
Meet at Summerset State Park south of Des Moines at 6:30 p.m. To get to the park, travel five miles south of Des Moines on Highway 69—there is a posted sign pointing east. Meet at the public restroom just inside the park gates. This hike will take approximately 60 minutes on a level trail.
Difficulty level: easy to moderate.
Contact George at 515-745-7563 for questions.

THURSDAY, JULY 31: Hot Air Balloons— Indianola
Join us at 5:00 p.m. for an evening of hot air balloons, kites, bubbles, and disc golf. We will be at Pickard Park (on Hwy 92, 2 miles east of Hwy 65/60, on the south side of the road before you get to the Indianola Balloon Field). Come early to avoid the traffic and get a good spot. Bring a picnic dinner, if you like. For more information, contact Mary Ann at mahynes@crosspaths.net (Subject line: Sierra Club Hot Air Balloons).
http://www.nationalballoonclassic.com/

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5: Chichaqua Bottoms, Sand Hill Prairie
The Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt stretches for almost ten miles along the Skunk River in northeast Polk County. We will hike Chichaqua’s sandy upland hills with reconstructed prairies and native prairie remnants at 6:30 p.m. For the meeting place to carpool, and for questions, contact Ginger at soelbergv@dwx.com or call 515-253-0232.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12: Maffitt Lake
Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the west entrance to Maffitt Lake for a hike through the park and around the lake. As always, boots, water and bug repellent are recommended.
Difficulty level: moderate.
Contact Jane at jrclark@radiks.net or 515-223-5047 for directions.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19: Walnut Creek Trail
Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Q-Trip gas station at the northeast corner of the intersection at SW 63d Street and Railroad Avenue. We’ll walk east toward the Bill Riley Trail for an evening walk through bottomland forest of approximately 90 minutes. Difficulty level: moderate to high difficulty. We’ll travel east and south across the Raccoon River on the bridge and perhaps to a river beach. As always, boots are recommended, as are water and bug repellent. Sorry, no pets on this hike. No need to register, but call George at 515-745-7563 for questions.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20: No Public Program This
Month – See You in September!

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26: Red Feather Prairie
Red Feather Prairie, Saylorville Lake. Meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Saylorville Visitor Center parking lot. We will shuttle cars to the N.W. 90th Place trailhead and then hike back to the visitor center.
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate.
Contact Doug at 515-277-1263 or dra427@mchsi.com .

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.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 TO SUNDAY, AUGUST 10
Enjoy a float down the scenic Raccoon River in Dallas County Lifejacket use is required. Canoe rental and shuttle can be arranged. You must contact Jim at jadriggs@iowalink.com to sign up and for details— reservations required.
Tentative Plan: Raccoon River Watershed Association overnight camping and a paddle trip from Spring Valley to Puckerbrush on the North Raccoon River. We may include the Sweet Corn Festival in Adel and overnight camping and a bonfire on the North Raccoon River. Details are not finalized, but let Jim Riggs (jadriggs@iowalink.com) know if you might be interested.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16: River Run Garbage Grab,
Des Moines River -- Volunteers Needed
Meet at 9:00 a.m. to clean up the Des Moines River and adjacent trails from Saylorville to Yellow Banks County Park. Volunteers can register at www.riverstewards.org for one of seven sections of river. For more information, contact John at john@winninglistings.com or Robin at rbfortney@msn.com. See article on page 3.

Volunteers are also needed to assist the Central Iowa Sierra Club in hosting the Yellow Banks Park access site.
Volunteers will greet and sign in cleanup volunteers, hand out trash bags and gloves, and receive and segregate trash. We have two shifts -- 8:30 to noon and noon to 3:30 -- and we need volunteers for each shift. Contact Jane at jrclark@radiks.net or at 515-223-5047 to volunteer. See article on page 3.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, SEPTEMBER 7
PELICAN FESTIVAL, Jester Park.
Email Phyllis at goodmanph@mchsi.com to volunteer for a shift.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Nature Photography
Anyone interested in Nature Photography events/classes/outings, please contact Mary Ann Hynes at mahynes@crosspaths.net. (Please use Sierra Club Nature Photography in the Subject line.)