Fayette County Conservation

08/28/2026

🦋 Thank You for Joining Us for Monarch Tagging! 🦋

A big THANK YOU to everyone who joined us last night at Ralph Houg Conservation Education Farm outside West Union for our monarch tagging event! We had a great time catching, tagging, and releasing these amazing butterflies. We appreciate everyone who came out to learn, participate, and support monarch conservation.

🌻 Want to join us for another tagging opportunity?

Our next monarch tagging event will be:

📍 Beeghly Trail – Fayette, Iowa
📅 Thursday, September 3, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM

Details are posted on our events page. Hope to see you there!

Learn more about monarch research and conservation at www.monarchwatch.org

08/21/2026

🌿 Thank you to everyone who joined us for our August Third Thursday Hike at Beeghly Trail! We had a fantastic evening exploring the trail, taking in the prairie and wetlands, and enjoying the beautiful Fayette County landscape. 🥾🌾

And did you notice the butterfly nets in any of the pictures? We’re gearing up for monarch tagging season! First chance is Thursday, August 27 at 6:00pm. 🦋Details are on our events page!

Thanks for making another Third Thursday Hike a great one! Our last public hike will be at Echo Valley State Park on Thursday, October 15; details coming soon! 🌿

08/19/2026

🦋 Monarch Tagging at Ralph Houg Conservation Education Farm, outside West Union, IA! 🦋

Join us on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM for an evening of monarch tagging. We’ll be carefully catching, tagging and releasing monarch butterflies.

Why tag monarchs? Monarch tagging helps scientists track their journey and provide information about migration routes, survival, and where monarchs spend the winter. Learn more about monarch research and conservation at www.monarchwatch.org

Wear comfortable shoes that may get muddy and we’ll provide the butterfly nets and tags!

08/13/2026

🌿 Join us for our August Third Thursday Hike! 🌿

On Thursday, August 20, at 6:00 p.m., we’ll explore the Beeghly Trail in Fayette! A leisurely stroll that will take us along a paved bike trail and a mowed trail so we can visit the scenic outlook, wetlands, and all the while being surrounded by beautiful prairie.

📍 Entrance point (limited parking): 15491 Jade Rd., Fayette, Iowa
🚗 Want to carpool? Meet us at the Fayette Baseball Fields: 114 N. Main St., Fayette, Iowa

Come enjoy a relaxing evening outdoors and take in the beauty of this special Fayette County landscape! We hope to see you there!

08/12/2026

One of the best meteor showers of the year is happening tonight! The Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks August 12–13.

Meteor showers happen when Earth crosses the orbital path of a comet and plows through the debris it has left behind. These tiny bits of rock and dust can be smaller than a grain of sand, but they travel incredibly fast. When they collide with Earth's atmosphere, friction heats the particles and surrounding gases, causing them to glow briefly before burning up.

The best way to view is to find a dark spot, give your eyes time to adjust, look up, and enjoy the show!

The Perseid meteor shower peaks in mid-August, and is considered the best meteor shower of the year.

08/10/2026

☀️Last Splash of Summer Kayaking on Gilbertson Pond!☀️

📅 Wednesday, August 12
🕛 Noon–3:00 PM
📍 22580 A Avenue, Elgin, IA

We'll provide kayaks, paddles, and life jackets. Parent supervision requested for kids under 10. Prefer your own equipment? Feel free to bring your own kayak.

Kayaks are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If others are waiting, please limit your paddle to 30 minutes so everyone has a chance to get on the water. If no one is waiting, you're welcome to stay out and enjoy the pond as long as you'd like.

Gather your family and friends, soak up the last days of summer, and make some memories on the water. We hope to see you there! ☀️

08/04/2026

Discover One of Iowa's Hidden Natural Treasures! 🌿✨

Fens are among Iowa's rarest ecosystems. They are unique wetlands nourished by mineral-rich groundwater that support an incredible variety of rare plants, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. It's a place unlike any other!

Join us for this special once-a-year opportunity to explore the Kauten Fen alongside knowledgeable guides:
🌱 The Kauten Family
🌱 State Ecologist John Pearson
🌱 Heather Gamm, Fayette County Conservation

Come experience the beauty of this remarkable landscape and learn why these fragile habitats are so important.

For more information, contact Heather at 563-608-0242 or email [email protected]

08/03/2026

🌿 Gouldsburg Park Exploration & Dragonfly Study 🌿

📅 Date: August 10, 2026
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Gouldsburg Park, 18649 Sunset Road, Hawkeye, Iowa

Join us for an evening of discovery at Gouldsburg Park!

We'll meet at the picnic shelter to learn some fascinating facts about dragonflies before heading out on a short walk through the woods. Our adventure will take us to the river, where we'll search for dragonflies in their various life stages and discover other wildlife along the way. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, optional to bring or wear waterproof shoes or other footwear you don't mind getting wet if you'd like to explore along the river's edge.

This family-friendly program is a great opportunity to learn about these incredible insects and experience the natural beauty of Gouldsburg Campground. We hope to see you there!

07/29/2026

Update: Items have been picked up.
Several lost items were found north of Gouldsburg Campground around July 13, including:

Keys
A cell phone
Other personal items

If you think one of these items may be yours, please send us a Facebook message or call 563-427-3323 with a description of your lost item to help us verify ownership.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post—you might help reunite someone with their belongings!

07/20/2026

We had to make a tough decision for our BBQ in the park that was scheduled for today. Based on radar predictions we are due for more rain at the time of the BBQ and have decided to postpone the BBQ until next week. We will be having the BBQ on Monday. July 27th. We will have the same great food, music and activities on the 27th. Please share!

UPDATE - with the just announced tornado watch until 10pm I think we made the right call for everyone's safety.