Our Blog

City Chick

October 10, 2013

Nature Center board president Rebecca Mumaw was the driving force behind the passage of the ordinance allowing backyard chickens in Cedar Rapids. She and CR-CLUC (Citizens for the Legalization of Urban Chickens) have since helped…

Why Join the Nature Center?

September 30, 2013

Eco-minded, Nature Center, News, Other

We have a new member special going on right now at the Nature Center – first-time members who join now get BONUS membership months! Our usual membership cycle is March through February each year, but…

Why local honey?

September 16, 2013

Eco-minded, Honey Fest, Nature Center, News, Other, Programs

Fresh, comb honey When people stop into the Creekside Shop, we are often asked, “What’s the big deal about local honey? How is it different than what I can buy at the grocery store?” Aside…

Beekeepers Wind Down Their Season

September 10, 2013

Calendar, Critters, Events, Honey Fest, Nature Center, News, Other

Jean shares her observations as honey season winds down Goldenrod The goldenrod is one of the first fall flowers to begin blooming, and it marks the end of the honey season for beekeepers. We’ve been…

Where’s Old Henry?

August 23, 2013

Eco-minded, Hit the Trails, Nature Center, News, Other, Restoration

We’re asked this so often, Jan decided to update everyone on Old Henry: It took 20 kids to get around Old Henry in 1984 A frequent question posed to Nature Center staff is, “Is Old…

Tired of Tires

August 20, 2013

Eco-minded, Hit the Trails, Nature Center, News, Other, Restoration

Land Steward Jean Wiedenheft is tired of pulling old tires out of Indian Creek! Here we go again. Back in June of 2009, Project AWARE volunteers removed 103 tires from the waterways in this area,…

Our Bees LOVE Joe Pye

August 8, 2013

Critters, Eco-minded, Flowers, Hit the Trails, Nature Center, News

Land steward Jean Wiedenheft loves to take photos of “her” bees on our flowers around the grounds and the bees have been going crazy for the Joe Pye weed out back. It’s really not a…

We Love Volunteers

August 1, 2013

Nature Center, News

Office Manager, Dana Wood, works with many of our volunteers, particularly the ladies in the Guild. She shares our feelings about our volunteers… Members of the Guild get ready for Nature’s Noel. Volunteers are the…

Going Buggy

July 22, 2013

Critters, Eco-minded, Hit the Trails, Nature Center, News, Other

Naturalist Jennifer Rupp shares news of a new discovery on the grounds! “Goin’ Buggy” isn’t just the theme of one of our preschool summer camps this year; it is a part of EVERY summer camp…

He’s a Fungi!

July 9, 2013

Eco-minded, Hit the Trails, Nature Center, News, Other

Summer intern Annie Stark has observed an abundance of mushrooms sprouting around the grounds. Here are a couple of the more interesting specimens. Being an intern at the nature center has allowed me to discover…