ICEC 
At Winter Workshop 2020, incoming ExCom Chair Lilly Jensen presents outgoing ExCom Chair Mary Bulger the ‘Geode Award’ for her service. The Geode Award is made and donated by ICEC member Mike Krebill. Thanks for your dedication to ICEC and conservation education in Iowa.
Outdoor experiences in nature increase students’ problem solving abilities and motivation to learn in social studies, science, language arts, and math. Conducting field investigations help students become systems thinkers, learn the skills of scientific inquiry, and understand that science doesn’t only happen in a laboratory or classroom. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies developed … Read moreResources to help with field investigations
Are you or do you know a women that owns farmland? How much input do you / they have into the conservation and farming practices used on the land? Listen to one of our own, Jean Eells, from this report from PBS News Hour as she explains the work she does with women landowners! Well … Read moreA shout out to one of our own!
Iowans, have you heard of the trust fund, Iowa’s water and land legacy, IWILL? Either way, this is an important year to track the Iowa legislature and keep up-to-date on the status of the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust. The 2020 Iowa legislative session began 13 January and Governor Kim Reynolds delivered her Condition … Read moreNatural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund
Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 IAN/ICEC Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education! These awards recognize the best of environmental education in Iowa. This year, we had an incredible group of nominees from across the state, representing outstanding programs and individual contributions in the field of EE. Congratulations to all who were recognized for … Read more2019 IAN/ICEC Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education
Why a school garden? School gardens provide hands-on learning in a wide variety of disciplines including science, math, language arts, and visual arts. Being involved in school gardens gets students active, engaged, and teaches them important life skills such as responsibility. School gardening of fruits and vegetables also positively influences students’ health and nutrition attitudes … Read moreSchool Gardens
Watching birds, feeding birds, and learning about birds is a great way to get students excited! These activities can carry over to family time as well. Feeder birds (song birds) can be attracted to your school through habitat improvement and the addition of bird feeding and watering stations. Citizen science activities like the Great Backyard … Read moreCitizen Science – Great Backyard Bird Count
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an annual event sponsored by Audubon. All Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between December 14 to January 5, inclusive dates, each season. This will be the 120th Christmas Bird Count! This longest running Citizen Science survey in the world provides critical data on population trends. It is organized into … Read moreHelp gather information for bird conservation
Do you like to go fishing and eat fish? If so, then you harvest food from a local aquatic resource. In Iowa. Anglers harvest millions of fish each year for consumptive use. Species harvested include bluegill, bass, crappie, and catfish. Other aquatic animals such as frogs and crayfish are also harvested. Iowa is also home … Read moreWater we eating?
Below are the candidate statements for ICEC’s Executive Committee nominees for the 2020-2022 term. ICEC’s members are asked to review the statements. Vote for up to two candidates in our election by December 31, 2019. Notification of voting will sent directly to current members via the November newsletter and direct email. If you are a … Read moreExCom Candidate Statements 2020
The Iowa Conservation Education Coalition (ICEC) received a STEM Innovation Grant from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council to hold a water game jam! There is no cost to participate. This is the second Game Jam we’re able to hold with these grant funds. Registration is open NOW! What’s a Game Jam? A game jam is … Read moreWater Game Jam 2019-2020
Lead students on a walk through a wooded area, schoolyard, local park, or neighborhood sidewalk to look for signs of fall and investigate why leaves of deciduous trees change color. Point out the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees. Ask students to look for signs that indicate winter is approaching and have them record their … Read moreSigns of Fall