1)  Canoe the Upper Iowa River.  If you think Iowa is nothing but a flat land of corn and soybeans, think again!  Enjoy a four-hour float down the breathtakingly beautiful Upper Iowa River, and soak in the spectacular scenery of Iowa’s bluff country.  Led by Nate Hoogeveen, expert canoeist and author of Paddling Iowa.  95 mile drive to canoe float starting point. 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Cost $40 per person. 

2) Bicycle Riding  Ride along the beautiful Sakatah Singing Hills Minnesota State Trail.  This trail is a 39-mile multiple use trail from Faribault to Mankato which has been developed on an abandoned railroad grade.  The trail lies in the transition zone between what was once the Big Woods and the vast Prairies.  Remnants of these plant communities can still be found scattered throughout what is now cultivated land.  Get on your bike at the I-35 trailhead and ride to the lunch rendezvous.  Continue riding in the afternoon to the pick-up point.  This will be a medium intensity ride of about 26 miles total.  There is plenty to see and many places to rest along the trail. Leave at 7 a.m.  About 80 miles to trailhead. Cost $40/person, including bike and helmet and box lunch.  

3)  Water Quality Projects See how the “Winds of Change” are making waves in Iowa’s water quality efforts.  Enjoy a diner cruise on Clear Lake on the Lady of the Lake, an old-time paddle wheel boat, and learn about the CLEAR Project, the lake’s water quality program.  Take part in some “hands-on” water testing activities, compliments of IOWATER, Iowa’s unique statewide volunteer water monitoring program.  Clear Lake is 20 minutes from Mason City. Leave at 8:30 am. Cost: $40/person.

4) Farming for the Future: Sustainable Agriculture: This trip will be highlighted by a visit to Paul Willis’s Niman Ranch, where free-ranging pigs are fed a natural diet and never given antibiotics or hormones.  Enjoy a lunch of Niman ham sandwiches, followed by a visit to several other farms that practice sustainable agriculture.  All farms are within one hour of Mason City. Leave at 9 am.  Cost $25/person. 

5) Iowa Nature Centers Environmental Education has had to change over the past few years due to changes in school requirements.  Visit some area nature centers to learn how they have adapted to meet the current needs of teachers.  You will begin at Lime Creek Nature Center in Mason City, continue to Twin Ponds Nature Center about 50 miles southeast, then on to Fontana Park Nature Center in Buchanan County and Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Waterloo and then back to NIACC.  Leave at 8:30 a.m. Cost: $20.  Box lunch.

6) Landscapes of Iowa Full Day - Iowa is said to have one of the most altered landscapes in the U.S.  As you visit some local areas, enjoy a native prairie and learn how it differs from a restored prairie.  See how Iowa is integrating native vegetation into roadsides.  Learn about wetland protection areas and why they are so important for wildlife trying to adapt to the changing landscape.  These areas are all within 45 minutes of Mason City.  Leave 8:30 a.m. Cost: $20 Box lunch.

7) Wild Edibles Mike Krebill and Sam Thayer will lead a foraging caravan to Lime Creek Conservation Area to hike, search for goodies, and return to Lime Creek Nature Center to cook and eat. We’ll spend about 70% of our time in the field and 30% in the kitchen/classroom. The day will involve identification, collection, processing and storage techniques, tasting, questions, opportunities to share, ideas for experiences with kids, and a handout with recipes and references.  Sam’s book – Forager’s Harvest – should be published by conference time, and we expect him to bring copies to sell. Join us for a great day in the field with knowledgeable, experienced foragers!  Dress for the weather! Bring a notebook, water bottle, sunscreen, & insect repellent if necessary.  Cameras & tape recorders are fine. Lunch included. While we won’t be eating all wild food, we will incorporate foraged plants into the meal.
Leave 8:15 a.m.  Cost: $20; Lunch included.

 8)  Alternative Energy - See just exactly how the “Winds of Change” are being harnessed, as well as solar, geothermal, and hydro-power as you visit a Mason City business, Spatial Designs, that operates totally off the grid.  We’ll also visit a wind farm (45 minutes from Mason City), a high school that produces it's own energy, and a progressive city light and power plant.  Longest travel segment: about 1 hour.  Leave at 8 am. $20/person. Box lunch. 

For more information contact Carol Schutte, 641-422-4319 or schutcar@niacc.edu
The Midwest Environmental Education Conference 2005
North Iowa Area Community College
500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401