New naturalist position allows County Conservation to offer variety of educational programs

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

Since June of last year, the Allamakee County Conservation Board has been offering educational programs for adults, children and families through the creation of a new position within the County's Conservation Department.
“The possibilities are endless,” says Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist Ross Geerdes about the programs he hopes to offer area residents.
Geerdes started his newly created position in June, and he has kept busy with programs such as snowshoe hikes, a bluebird house and bat house building workshop, and presentations on natural resources at local libraries and schools. In addition to those new educational opportunities, Allamakee County Conservation, which was established in 1989, manages approximately 158 acres of land for public use throughout the county.
Geerdes says some of the future programs he is considering for the public include nature photography, fly fishing and wild edibles. This summer he is planning on holding summer day camps for youth, which will be publicized through local media and which Geerdes also plans on sending flyers about through the schools to all students in the targeted age ranges.
Geerdes was formerly the assistant naturalist with Lee County Conservation in the southeast corner of Iowa and he worked seasonally for Linn County Conservation. He says one of the most popular workshops he held in the past was “10 ways to eat a dandelion, foods such as tacos, ice cream and donuts were prepared using dandelion leaves to add a unique flavor and amazing health benefits. Not many people realize what we commonly call a weed in our own yard is actually very good for you!”
In January, Geerdes organized a snowshoe event held at Yellow River State Forest the night after the full moon, and he says about 26 people attended. There will be another snowshoe hike this Thursday, February 13 near Lansing, details of which can be found in the shaded box accompanying this article.
For anyone who is not able to attend the Fullmoon Snowshoe but would still like to try snowshoeing, snowshoes are available for rent at the Waukon Wellness Center and Main Street Matters in Lansing. The snowshoes were purchased with a grant from the Allamakee County Community Foundation, and they can be rented for just a few dollars a day.
Allamakee County Conservation can be found on Facebook®, where regular updates of events are posted. Information can also be obtained by calling the Allamakee County Conservation Office located in Harpers Ferry at 563-586-2996.
Geerdes said he loves what he does, partially because there is something different every day. “I love introducing people to the outdoors or helping them learn more about it. It’s great to see their faces light up with new discoveries,” he said.