Our Blog

Turn the Derecho Disaster into Opportunity

October 28, 2020

Eco-minded, Nature Center, News, Restoration

derecho, derecho recovery, disaster, disaster recovery, gardening, homeowner, keystone species, opportunities, plant trees, property, recovery

No Comments

By Director of Education Kelli Kennon-Lane Published October 24, 2020 in the Cedar Rapids Gazette Many property owners in Linn County are seeing the light — literally. With trees and shrubs downed or damaged,…

Fall prescribed burns starting next week

October 21, 2020

Nature Center, News, Restoration, Sustainability

fall burn, prairie burn. land restoration, prairie restoration, prescribed burn

No Comments

Fall prescribed burns on the Nature Center’s property are planned beginning Thursday, October 29 and continuing on the following dates: October 31 and November 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, and…

Introducing The Fresh Air Academy to “Fill the Gap” in Education

October 7, 2020

News, Programs

2020, 2021, education, environmental education, get outside, homeschooling, new program, Outdoor Academy, outdoor learning, outdoor play, school, school year, screen time, virtual learning

No Comments

This fall Indian Creek Nature Center will begin offering a new educational program, The Fresh Air Academy, to area preschoolers through fifth graders to “fill the gap” in education and supplement virtual learning this school…

Finding Beauty in Tragedy — Tree Art Inspired by the Derecho

September 30, 2020

Art, Fundraising, Nature Center, News, Weather

art, beauty in tragedy, derecho, Natural Disaster, prints, recovery, Trees

No Comments

Jamie and Kyle Morrissey will tell you they “aren’t artists.” But the prints piling in their dining room and garage full of tree cookies would suggest otherwise. Since the August 10th derecho, the Morrisseys have…

What makes a tree the “right tree?” — Our take on native trees

September 25, 2020

Eco-minded, Fundraising, Nature Center, News

derecho recovery, ecological restoration, land restoration, native plants, tree sale

No Comments

By Director of Land Stewardship Jean Wiedenheft People keep telling me how great catalpas are, but in my neck of the woods, quite literally, they are not great because they are not native. What constitutes…

The Sunny Side of the Derecho: Ecological Advantages

September 18, 2020

Eco-minded, Nature Center, News, Restoration, Sustainability, Weather

derecho, ecological restoration, ecology, land restoration

No Comments

By Director of Land Stewardship Jean Wiedenheft If you had asked me in July what the biggest problems facing our forests are, I would have said: Lack of sunlight. There are too many trees…

Preschool Trail Trekkers: September At-Home Activities — Insects!

September 9, 2020

Critters, Kids, Nature Center, News, Programs

activities, fall, insects, trail trekkers

No Comments

Our Preschool Trail Trekkers programs offer children and accompanying adults a chance to explore the Nature Center and the outdoors with our Naturalists. To accomodate physical distancing and closures due to storm clean-up, we’ve created…

What about wildlife? The derecho’s impact on animals

September 4, 2020

Critters, News, Weather

derecho, naturalists, recovery, storm, wildlife

No Comments

Q: What happened to wildlife during the storm? A: Generally they would try to take shelter as best they can. Some will be successful, and others sometimes aren’t. One of the main ways wildlife actually…

Plant trees properly with these tips

September 1, 2020

Eco-minded, Nature Center, News, Sustainability

derecho recovery native plants, edible plants, how to plant a tree, plant trees, tree planting

No Comments

Guest Editorial by Mark Fleming, ICNC Volunteer and past member of the Iowa Master Landscape Association There are many decisions that need to be made when planting in your yard. The time you put into…

Planting for Future Generations

August 26, 2020

Eco-minded, Fundraising, Nature Center, News, Restoration, Weather

Derecho 2020, donate, Fundraising, Future, Growth, help needed, Hope, land restoration, Replanting, Storm Recovery, trails, Trees, volunteer, woodland

As we clear away debris and recover our homes and businesses, many are grieving the loss of our natural landscape. Looking out on our properties, now bare of trees that provided shade and beauty, it…

Our Blog

Turn the Derecho Disaster into Opportunity

Fall prescribed burns starting next week

Introducing The Fresh Air Academy to “Fill the Gap” in Education

Finding Beauty in Tragedy — Tree Art Inspired by the Derecho

What makes a tree the “right tree?” — Our take on native trees

The Sunny Side of the Derecho: Ecological Advantages

Preschool Trail Trekkers: September At-Home Activities — Insects!

What about wildlife? The derecho’s impact on animals

Plant trees properly with these tips

Planting for Future Generations

Mission Statement

Contact Us

Get the latest news and events by signing up for our e-newsletter.

Newsletter Signup