Conservator
May, 2020
May COVID-19 Updates at Your County Parks
After reviewing guidelines & weighing options Pottawattamie Conservation Parks has set the following closures & restrictions during the month of May.

All RV, tent & backcountry camping will remain closed through May 14th.

The Loess Hills Lodge Exhibit Gallery, playground facilities, all park restrooms, lodge rentals, & cabins will remain closed through May 31st.

Parks & green spaces, including all public trails, remain open for use at this time.

These dates are subject to change or extension during this ever changing time. We recommend checking your favorite park on Facebook or visiting our website at  www.pottcoconservation.com for updates regularly.

We remind people to follow all local, state, & CDC guidelines as well as common trail etiquette regarding COVID-19 precautions. Failure to do so may result in more drastic measures up to & including park closures.
Volunteer During the Third Annual Trails Day
With the Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol
Trails Day 2019 Courtesy of LHNSP

Badger Ridge Trail at Hitchcock Nature Center is one of the most popular & picturesque trails in the entire park. Winding its way through reclaimed prairies this ridge-top trail gives some spectacular views of the Loess Hills but all this traffic leaves its mark on the trail. If you have been on this beautiful trail recently you may have noticed a short section of it has been closed & reseeded leaving a permanent re-routed section in place. 

This amazing trail re-route helps us keep your visit safe & protect our fragile soil all at the same time, but re-routing a trail is tough work & this improvement is all thanks to the efforts of the Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol (LHNSP) & their volunteers! 

If you are interested in learning more about our trail improvement plan, trail construction & design, & volunteering with trail maintenance at Hitchcock Nature Center join the LHNSP during their Third Annual Trails Day   coming up on Saturday May 30th.  

No pre-registration is needed to attend this event.  Volunteer sign-in begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Natural Areas Management office (The Barn) at Hitchcock Nature Center. Volunteers will attend a short program providing information on working with hand tools followed by a quick safety lesson. Following instruction all volunteers will head out to perform maintenance along the Badger Ridge Trail until we return to the Loess Hills Lodge at 1:00 p.m.

All applicable COVID-19 related guidelines will be followed during this event including group size limitation & recommended social distancing. 
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
Show Your Conservation Support During Omaha Gives!
Love your county parks? Want to show your support? Log on to Omaha Gives! 

The annual 24 hour giving holiday on May 20th, 2020 is the perfect way to show your support of Pottawattamie Conservation & the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation.

WHAT IS OMAHA GIVES?
Omaha Gives! Is a one-day online fundraising event organized by the Omaha Community Foundation & the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is being held on May 20th, 2020 with a goal of raising financial support for nonprofits in Douglas, Sarpy, & Pottawattamie Counties. It is a community-wide event to show off the area's spirit of giving, raise awareness about local nonprofits, & celebrate the collective effort it takes to make our community great.

Support environmental education, low impact recreation, & conservation efforts in Pottawattamie County by logging on to  www.omahagives.org  & registering as a user today! Then, on May 20th, log on and donate to the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation. Minimum donation amount is just $1.00 & the more donations we receive the greater our chances are for earning bonus dollars and even winning cash prizes!

Create a personalized Cheer Page to show the world how much you love Pottawattamie Conservation! Cheer Pages share your own story in your own words & make sharing the organization you support fast & fun. Get all the details online at www.omahagives.org. 

Not able to participate on May 20th? No problem! Log on today and schedule your gift in advance.

2020 Summer Camps: Walk on the Wild Side!
With a focus on outdoor skills our 2020 Summer Nature Camp Series is sure to be a "WILD" time! Campers will learn valuable skills at each of our camps, from archery to shelter building, canoeing to plant & animal identification, these are the skills that are going to transform outdoor experiences into outdoor adventures. 

Camps are available for children age 3 through 8th grade so there's something for everyone. 

Refunds will be offered quickly for any camps that are cancelled by Pottawattamie Conservation. 

Kate Simmons, Community Relations Coordinator
Pottawattamie Conservation
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