Opportunities From: United Way of Central Iowa

Join INHF and Story County Conservation for a workday at a current protection project near Cambridge. While it will be some time before the area is open to the public, lending a hand now will provide a jumpstart on its journey to becoming a county park. 

The day's task is not for the lighthearted! We’ll be removing a large number of discarded tires along the Skunk River so they can be appropriately recycled. 

Learn more and register to volunteer at https://www.inhf.org/events/global-recycling-day 

What to expect

Bending, kneeling and lifting will be involved.Tires may be partially buried in the ground, and a variety of hand tools may be needed to dig them out.Terrain can be uneven. Volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and comfort level.Please arrive early to park and check-in.Instructions will be provided onsite.

Needed attire & equipment

Sturdy, closed-toe shoes or hiking bootsLong pants and layers. You may be working around thorny plants so sturdy clothes that can withstand rips (or you don't mind ripping) are encouraged.Work gloves (Leather is best - we'll have some extras if needed)Water bottleFeel free to bring other desired items like a hiking stick, binoculars, field guide and/or camera, if you like!

Other details

The worksite is a short walk from the parking area.Parking is TBD, depending on soil conditions. We will send a detailed email leading up to the event.Please arrive 10 minutes early.You will be asked to acknowledge a liability waiver when you register

 ABOUT THE PROPERTY

The 247-acre Cambridge Tract property is a key puzzle piece in the corridor of protection along the South Skunk River Greenbelt. The area consists of diverse bottomland timber, oxbow wetlands, river frontage, and restorable lands slated for prairie reconstructions. The area will eventually be open for public hunting and other activities, following the completion of the fundraising.

Contact Kayleen Leetch with questions at kleetch@inhf.org

Join the City of Marion, Trees Forever, and INHF at Faulkes Heritage Woods in Marion for an afternoon of removing invasive Japanese barberry from the woodland understory. The natural occurrence of the 2020 derecho devastated the 110 acres of white oaks — a tree that takes generations to grow into the mighty oaks we all admire. The downed trees created canopy gaps that allow barberry to flourish, where it shades out native spring ephemerals and competes with young white oak seedlings — key species needed to rebuild the resilient oak canopy that once kept invasive plants in check. 

We hope you’ll join us as a community to help us ensure that future generations get to once again enjoy a stroll amongst the mighty white oaks. We'll start the afternoon with a half-mile hike to warm up before we get to work. After the restoration work, we'll regroup at Goldfinch Tap+Eatery to celebrate over a hard-earned beverage.

**If weather conditions are unfavorable on April 3, the event will be rescheduled for Friday, April 10, from 1–4 p.m.

ABOUT FAULKES HERITAGE WOODS

Sisters Alice Smith and Elizabeth Barry, along with their nieces, Nancy and Cynthia Thompson, donated a portion of the land value of what is now known as Faulkes Heritage Woods to INHF in 1999. The habitat was named in honor of their grandmother and great-grandmother, Alice Faulkes. Sticking to the family's wishes of increasing awareness around conservation needs, INHF transferred the land to the City of Marion, ensuring it would become the beloved public park it is today — protected in perpetuity through an INHF conservation easement.

This 110-acre wildlife haven has not only provided refuge for woodland creatures and a favorite hiking destination for the Marion community, but has also served as an outdoor classroom for nearby colleges and schools focused on environmental education.

Learn more and register to volunteer at https://www.inhf.org/events/faulkes-heritage-woods-restoration

What to expect:

We’ll be using various hand tools (handsaws or loppers) to manually cut invasive brush so native species can thrive.No experience necessary. Instruction will be provided onsite, but you can view a how-to video ahead of time here.Participants will work to remove plants with thorns.

Make your way to the woods for a spring morning outdoors! Volunteers will hand-pull garlic mustard—one of Iowa’s most invasive plants—from Mathes’ woodlands. Garlic mustard spreads rapidly and displaces native plants and wildflowers, causing serious damage to wooded landscapes if left unchecked. We’ll start the morning pulling garlic mustard and wrap up with a moderately difficult hike while keeping an eye out for spring ephemerals.

What to expect

Volunteers will hand-pull garlic mustardBending and kneeling will be involvedTerrain can be hilly and uneven. Volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and comfort level.No experience necessaryInstructions will be provided onsite, but you can view a how-to video ahead of time here.

Learn more and register to volunteer at https://www.inhf.org/events/mathes-woodland-restoration 

Needed attire & equipment

Sturdy, closed-toe shoes or hiking bootsLong pants and layers. You may be working with thorny plants so sturdy clothes that can withstand rips (or you don't mind ripping) are encouraged.Work gloves (Leather is best - we'll have some extras if needed)Water bottleFeel free to bring other desired items like a hiking stick, binoculars, field guide and/or camera, if you like! 

Other details

Families are welcomePlease arrive 10 minutes early.There will be no restroom on site. The nearest restroom will be in Pella, which is about a 10-minute drive. A moderately challenging walk roughly 100 yards from the meeting location will be required. Mathes does not have a parking area, so participants will park alongside the gravel road (Dakota Drive) near the meeting location.Expect to work on wooded hillsides with moderate slopes.Expect to interact with general woodland plants, including thorny shrubs, as well as occasional logs or fallen trees. Gloves will be provided if desired. You will be asked to acknowledge a liability waiver when you register. 

About Mathes

The Mathes Property encompasses 51 acres with rolling hills of oak/hickory savanna, woodland and a plethora of spring ephemeral wildflowers. The property sits atop a ridge just before dropping into the South Skunk River floodplain north of the property. This natural area sits just a few miles outside the town of Pella and is a refuge for wildlife, including deer, turkey, owls and a number of birds. Mathes came to INHF through a bequest from former landowner, Harold Mathes, in 2010. It is now owned and stewarded by INHF.

Directions

From Pella, head north on Main St. about 1.5 miles. Turn right onto 228th Pl. until the stop sign. Turn left onto 240th Pl. to the first gravel road. Turn left on Dakota Dr. and look for INHF signs.

Contact Kayleen Leetch with questions at kleetch@inhf.org