Our History By the Decade
Conservation, Education & Investing in the Future
The 80s were a busy time for the Nature Center:
- In 1980, the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service declared the Nature Center’s trails the Cedar Greenbelt National Recreation Trail.
- In 1982-83, the Nature Center piloted its preschool and second grade programs and established its role as a leader in outdoor education.
- ICNC installed its first stand-alone solar energy system, which charged a series of batteries that generated enough electricity to run the building’s lights but no more.
- Finances were tight in the early 80s. And in response, the Indian Creek Nature Center Charitable Trust was formed. A $10,000 check came from an anonymous donor through the mail and was deposited into the endowment as the start of the Trust’s Assets.
- The first tractor (a Sears lawn tractor and trailer) was purchased using money raised by the Guild. It greatly helped management of lands and trails.
- In 1984, the Nature Center held its first Maple Syrup Festival. About 450 people attended. Two years later the festival expanded from one day only to a weekend event. The Sugarhouse was built in the winter of 1987 and was used for the 1987 festival.
Prairie, Wetlands and Woodlands
An exceptional and unexpected opportunity came to ICNC in 1994 when the Bena family offered to sell their farm to the Nature Center. The resulting transaction increased Nature Center land to 210 acres. BB Stamats’ and Jean O’Donnell’s dream of a nature center for their community materialized into green prairies, teeming wetlands, and protected woodlands that thousands of visitors enjoy each year.
The Paul & Sigrund Lynch Wetland, the site of hundreds of Nature Center programs on wetland flora and fauna, was established in 1999.
More Visitors, More Land
In 2004, ICNC hosted its one-millionth visitor and purchased the Bena Homestead as part of its “Stitching the Bena Farm Back Together” project.
In 2005, ICNC drafted and began implementing a strategic initiative to provide leadership in land protection and restoration. The initiative expands the Nature Center’s work in the community to provide long-term, healthy ecosystems that benefit wildlife, the environment, and future generations.
In 2009 ICNC, in partnership with Metro High School staff and students, constructed and dedicated its Sense of Wonder Trail/Outdoor Classroom, which was certified as a Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom by the National Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation.
Also in 2009, the Nature Center’s trail system expanded with the completion of Wood Duck Way and the Founders’ Trail.
Amazing Space & Etzel Sugar Grove Farm — A New Chapter
Amazing Space
In 40 years, Indian Creek Nature Center increased its annual attendance to over 40,000 individuals per year, including approximately 14,000 children attending programs and school field trips. While a cherished landmark, the Nature Center’s barn building presented many inadequacies that hindered its use as a center for learning and exploration. Lack of accessibility to persons with disabilities, air conditioning, and dedicated classroom space were among the primary obstacles.
To bring the Nature Center into the future, and after much input from stakeholders and the general community, the Amazing Space project was born. The 12,000 square foot building on Nature Center land, and the accompanying campus, addresses the shortcomings of the barn building, while making the Nature Center’s outdoor habitats more accessible. It also leads in building sustainability standards.
The Amazing Space fundraising campaign included $1 million in funds to build the Nature Center’s endowment, ensuring financial sustainability now and into the future. Indian Creek Nature Center is poised to bring the best of nature to the people of Iowa and beyond for many years to come.
Etzel Sugar Grove Farm
The Nature Center received one of the largest gifts in its history in 2016, with the donation of 190-acres of farm from George Etzel. Presented with this incredible gift, the Nature Center’s board and staff knew it was an opportunity to truly impact environmental sustainability in Iowa. By working toward making agriculture more sustainable, ICNC can carry out its mission to create a more sustainable future. Located in rural Marion, Etzel Sugar Grove Farm represents the future of agriculture in Iowa: it’s a place where Indian Creek Nature Center will implement restorative agriculture practices that lead us toward greater sustainability in farming, educating the public on these practices as we work to restore the health of Iowa’s farms, watersheds, and environment.
A difficult year — Global Pandemic & Derecho
Like the rest of the world, Indian Creek Nature Center faced an unprecedented year in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in the Nature Center’s history, in March of 2020, the building was closed to the public and programs were halted temporarily as infections of the deadly virus spiked. Thankfully, we were able to continue a number of programs virtually and implement safety procedures for our community. We were able to slowly and cautiously reopen and continue to provide nature-based learning and recreation opportunities to our community.
However, the Nature Center was struck by tragedy once again in August of 2020, when a catastrophic storm ripped through the community on August 10. With sustained winds of over 100 miles per hour, the derecho devastated our beloved woodlands, destroying well over half of the Nature Center’s tree canopy.
Creekside Forest School
After a tumultuous prior year, ICNC launched Creekside Forest School in September 2021. CFS is a nature-based, independent preschool program for children three to five years old. Children spend more than 70% of their day outdoors learning in the context of nature. In addition to kindergarten readiness, Creekside Forest School teaches positive peer play behaviors and “learning to learn” skills that increase success in future school experiences.
Indian Creek Exhibit
After more than five years of planning, careful crafting and, finally, installation, Indian Creek Nature Center’s long-awaited Indian Creek Exhibit opened for public viewing in March of 2021. The exhibit was planned as part of the design of Amazing Space prior to the building’s construction in 2016. The exhibit brings fresh energy to the exhibit hall, as well as a new educational and inspirational experience to the community.
ESGF Organic Certification
In April 2021, the Midwest Organic Services Association certified that the eggs and produce from Etzel Sugar Grove Farm are organic. Organic certification is a commitment to the future of agriculture and would not have been achieved without the support of countless volunteers, staff, and corporate sponsors including Frontier Co-Op, United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), and Trees Forever.
50th Anniversary
Indian Creek Nature Center honored the past, celebrated the future and enjoyed the present throughout 2023, the 50th anniversary of the organization’s founding. In January, a “birthday party” was hosted at Amazing Space where the students from Creekside Forest School led a crowded auditorium in a rendition of Happy Birthday.
The year saw a boost in support for the Nature Center’s endowment, a year-long blog series highlighted many of the people, places and events that transformed the organization of the years, and the Nature Center hosted it’s first BioBlitz where more than 90 citizen scientists made over 4,300 observations on our grounds and trails.
The year culminated in October with an outdoor celebration featuring live music, speeches, an auction, catered food, and more than 200 of the Nature Center’s closest friends who came together to honor where we’ve been and celebrate where we’re going.
Historic Trail Improvements
Blue Bridge
When the 146-year-old “Blue Bridge” that crossed Indian Creek needed to be replaced to serve modern service vehicles, Linn County and Indian Creek Nature Center coordinated on a plan to keep the historic bridge out of the landfill and unto the Nature Center grounds.
In September 2023, crews from Linn County successfully moved the bridge known as the “Gateway to the Nature Center” from nearby Bertram Road to a new home on Indian Creek Nature Center’s trail system. In May 2025, the community gathered to celebrate the start of the bridge’s new life as a beautiful addition to the Nature Center that connects two restored prairies and is enjoyed by countless visitors.
Věčný Woods
Věčný Woods, a 55-acre parcel of land managed by Indian Creek Nature Center, opened in December of 2024. Visitors can enjoy a two-and-a-half-acre tallgrass prairie that was seeded in 2022 and 1.7 miles of hiking trails through pristine woodlands and rolling hills that are protected from development thanks to a collaboration among Indian Creek Nature Center donors, staff and volunteers that has been years in the making.
The name Věčný means eternal in the Czech language, which is perfect because the Nature Center plans to protect this land into eternity.
We turned 50!
Indian Creek Nature Center was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1973, making it the first nonprofit nature center in Iowa.
Throughout 2023, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with special events, recognizing our donors and sharing your stories.
50 Stories for 50 Years
sponsored by New Leader Manufacturing
During 2023, we shared weekly stories from many of the people who have contributed to our mission over the past five decades.