Exploring Community: Land, Water, People Midwest Environmental Education Conference July 26-29, 2021 Luther College – Decorah, Iowa ICEC is excited to welcome educators from across the Midwest to beautiful Decorah, Iowa, for the 2021 Midwest Environmental Education Conference! Join us for nearly 70 concurrent and field sessions, keynote speakers, special evening events, networking, and a … Read more
There are a wide variety and number of amphibians and reptiles that make Iowa their home. People are often surprised to learn of the variety of amphibians and reptiles we have in Iowa. Many of these animals are secretive and come out only at night and may not be easily observable. “Herps” is the name … Read more
It is that magical time of year again when baby wildlife are born and hatched. We often stumble upon these cute critters when we are outside enjoying nature. If you find baby wildlife, they should be observed only and not handled or “rescued.” They may appear to be alone, but more than likely the mother … Read more
Exploring Community: Land, Water, People Midwest Environmental Education Conference July 26-29, 2021 Luther College – Decorah, Iowa ICEC is excited to welcome educators from across the Midwest to beautiful Decorah, Iowa, for the 2021 Midwest Environmental Education Conference! Join us for nearly 70 concurrent and field sessions, keynote speakers, special evening events, networking, and a … Read more
ICEC just concluded Soil Game Jam! Early 2021, Iowa student teams in grades 3-8 were challenged to develop games that focused on learning about soil. Teams were encouraged to incorporate field investigation data and observations and online data resources into their game idea. Game development on a specific topic helps inspire curiosity, creativity, collaboration, optimism, … Read more
More than 97% of the animal species on Earth are invertebrates. Invertebrates are small animals that do not have backbones. There are many types of invertebrates, from fluid-filled jellyfish, and squishy earthworms to hard shelled insects like beetles, and eight-legged arachnids. This fascinating and diverse group of animals spans the globe – invertebrates live on … Read more
Annually, ICEC and the Iowa Soil Conservation Awards Program, presents two awards to outstanding teachers who are creating awareness of soil conservation and water quality in their classrooms. The Iowa Soil Conservation Awards Program, co-sponsored by the Iowa State Soil Conservation Committee (SSCC) and the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI), is presented to two educators … Read more
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Association of Naturalists have released of a new 10-part article series called Iowa’s Nature that explores the ecological and biological diversity of our state! Over 35 different authors from across Iowa and from many different professional backgrounds contributed to this project. Each of the ten publications … Read more
There are many issues involved when we are deciding how to utilize the land and our natural resources. How do we decide where to build new housing developments? How do we decide where to set aside land for wildlife and recreation? Figuring out how best to use the resources that we have for the greatest … Read more
For many Iowa animals, the stark landscape – bare trees and a bright white groundcover – makes them stand out more in the winter, which is good news for those who enjoy watching wildlife. However, for a few Iowa critters, winter is a time for them to blend in with the scenery. Jackrabbits They may … Read more
Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 IAN-ICEC Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education! These awards recognize the best of environmental education in Iowa. As always, we had an incredible group of nominees from across the state, representing outstanding programs and individual contributions in the field of conservation and environmental education. Congratulations to all who … Read more
Equity and Inclusion in Environmental Education – Virtual Winter Learning Series Click here for full Virtual Winter Learning Series Schedule and Registration Join ICEC in the complicated, sometimes uncomfortable, ultimately joyful work of making Iowa’s conservation education community more inclusive and welcoming to all. Self-guided readings, modules, and on-demand webinars lay a foundation for understanding. … Read more