Calendar

Date Time Event Location

November 4 10:30 a.m. O.W.L.S.: Climate Change McFarland Park

November 8 5:30 p.m. November 9 4:30 p.m. November 11 Story County Conservation Board Meeting McFarland Park Nature Play: Leaves SCC Offices Closed McFarland Park

November 17 3:00 p.m.

National Hiking Day Hike November 25 - 26 SCC Offices Closed December 2 10:30 a.m. O.W.L.S.: The Brenton Arboretum Skunk River Greenbelt

McFarland Park

December 6 5:30 p.m. December 12 1:00 p.m. December 17 6:30 p.m. December 24 - 27 December 31 Story County Conservation Board Meeting McFarland Park Geocache Elf Hunt McFarland Park

Luminary Walk SCC Offices Closed SCC Offices Closed McFarland Park

January 1 - February 6 Story County Polar Play Countywide!

January 6 January 6 10:30 a.m. O.W.L.S.: STAR 1 1:30 p.m. Winter Hike McFarland Park Anderson Access

January 11 5:30 p.m. Story County Conservation Board Meeting McFarland Park

January 13 1:30 p.m. January 20 1:30 p.m. January 25 7:00 p.m.

Winter Hike Winter Hike Environmental Literature Club Meeting January 27 10:00 a.m. Explore Your Outdoors: Animal Tracks January 27 1:30 p.m. Winter Hike West Peterson Park Heart of Iowa Nature Trail TBD McFarland Park McFarland Park

January 27 4:30 p.m. February 22 7:00 p.m. March 29 7:00 p.m. Explore Your Outdoors: Animal Tracks Environmental Literature Club Meeting Environmental Literature Club Meeting McFarland Park TBD TBD

Need to locate one of our parks or areas? You can view individual maps and 911 addresses online. www.storycountyconservation.org

I first met Heather Hucka when she was as a seasonal naturalist for SCC in summer 2005. During that short three-month time, I saw a lot of potential. In January of 2006, I convinced Heather to return to Ames for a seven-month position. As luck would have it, we had a permanent position open that August and Heather joined SCC full-time.

During her time here she has taught thousands of programs, but most notably are the many caving and backpacking trips that ignited the spark for exploration and appreciation of wilderness in so many youth, and her guest teaching at ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Management interpretation classes as a “prairie woman.” She was recognized by the National Association for Interpretation as the 2017 Master Front-Line Interpreter. And now it’s time for us to say goodbye and congratulations. Heather has joined Cerro Gordo County as their Conservation Education Manager. This new chapter in her life allows her to move back home and care for the family property that is so dear to her. Next time you’re driving up I-35, plan some extra time in your trip to stop by the Lime Creek Nature Center and say hi to Heather. I will.

~ Jerry Keys, Environmental Education Coordinator