Friends of Johnson County Conservation

Friends of Johnson County Conservation The Friends of Johnson County Conservation is an organization to support and encourage all the wonderful things Johnson County [Iowa] Conservation does.

The mission of the Friends of Johnson County Conservation is to support the educational and conservation functions of the Johnson County Conservation Board. Our organization will achieve this goal by finding ways to support and promote the Conservation staff and programs. The Johnson County Conservation staff does a wonderful job. We believe the Friends will be able to provide financial assistance

as a philanthropic partner and by encouraging volunteers. We are a 501(c)3 tax deductible organization.

11/15/2025

Thrilling news to start your Friday: the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History has been awarded a Save America’s Treasures grant to preserve the historic Laysan Island Cyclorama. With this grant, funding for the conservation project is now approximately 80% complete!

Save America’s Treasures provides funding to protect nationally significant historic properties and collections. The program will fund $750,000 toward the museum’s ongoing restoration efforts of the cyclorama, including crucial conservation work such as updated professional assessments of the mural, specimens, and exhibition materials; cleaning and repair of the mural, mounts, and foreground elements damaged by time, dust, and environmental stress; and improvements to environmental controls and building systems to ensure long-term preservation.

“The Laysan Island Cyclorama is a national treasure that blends science, art, and environmental history in a way that is each breathtaking, historically significant, and deeply relevant today,” says Pentacrest Museums Director Liz Crooks.

Today, the cyclorama continues to educate and inspire audiences, offering a rare immersive view of an ecosystem forever changed by human activity. Its restoration will ensure that the UI Museum of Natural History can continue to use this exhibition to teach lessons of museology, biology, environmental stewardship, resilience, and interconnectedness. Read more at https://pentacrestmuseums.uiowa.edu/news/2025/10/university-iowa-museum-natural-history-awarded-prestigious-save-americas-treasures. 🩵

09/13/2024

The 2008 Johnson County Conservation Bond helped protect and enhance 1,176 acres of sensitive habitat and purchase land for ecological restoration and new wildlife habitat. It help construct 9.2 miles of hard surface trails connecting communities and providing residents with places to care for their mental and physical health. The $20 million dollar investment made by Johnson County voters through the 2008 Conservation Bond was matched with $17 million in grants, donations, and revenues. Projects completed with the Conservation Bond spurred economic opportunities in Johnson County communities. Visitors purchased gas, food, and drinks. They spent money at food and beverage establishments and at hotels for overnight visits. They purchased outdoor equipment and supplies for their new outdoor endeavors.

This November on the back of the ballot, Johnson County voters will have an opportunity to continue protecting our land, our water, and our future.

Learn about the 2008 Conservation Bond accomplishments and more about the Conservation Bond on the 2024 Ballot at www.ourlandwaterfuture.org

The choice is yours.

Help us ‘fill the bus’! We need your help removing transportation barriers so that local kids can attend free nature fie...
02/27/2024

Help us ‘fill the bus’!

We need your help removing transportation barriers so that local kids can attend free nature field trips with Johnson County Conservation.

We're working to raise $2,000 to provide bus scholarships to local schools. Funds will go from us to the schools themselves to cover the transportation costs of attending a field trip at Kent Park, Cangleska Wakan, or another JCC park. While the field trips are free, bussing costs are expensive, and are a barrier for some schools to attend these experiences.

Nature field trips like these are so important for kids. They immerse kids in forests, prairies, streams, and wetlands. They help kids to understand these ecosystems better. They encourage kids to be explorers and to get muddy and wet! They foster a love and appreciation for animals. And they get kids off screens, active, and in fresh air.

If you would like to donate, you can do so through our PayPal donation link:
http://tinyurl.com/FJCCBusScholarship

If you'd prefer, you can donate by check. Make the check out to the Friends of Johnson County Conservation and write "Bus Scholarship" in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to: Friends of Johnson County Conservation, 2048 Hwy 6 NW, Oxford, IA 52322.

Thank you for helping us to 'fill the bus!'

02/15/2024

THIS SATURDAY at 3:30pm, join UAY, and for a screening of two ground-breaking documentary shorts, BLACKWATERS + INWARD. Following the screenings, UAY's Engagement Director, Tony Branch, will be part of a panel discussion to address the diversity gap in outdoor and recreational activities.

"Pay what you can" proceeds from the event will be shared with UAY's SPARK Program to help cover the costs of the group's summer camping adventures.
Share our Facebook event and invite your friends! + INWARD
Get TICKETS or learn more about the film here:

https://tickets.icfilmscene.org/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=842844~4635cd47-f165-4de0-b43c-56acafd02482&fbclid=IwAR0eRKJspVScMdNkbwtlrZEK6lJb1zXOHeMP6Lm7CqXsWUAHubdMBb80sn8

06/21/2022

We have many openings for tomorrow's O.W.L.S. Hike! The hike, which is designed for folks 65 years or older, starts at 9:00 AM and will wrap up around 10:00 AM. We'll start at the Valley View Parking Area in Kent Park, and hike a 1.5 mile loop through gorgeous prairie. The weather tomorrow morning is looking great, with temps around 76F.

If you'd like to sign up at this point, please send an email to [email protected].

06/14/2022

We're pumped to be partnering with United Action for Youth to be hosting a FREE three day backpacking trip to Yellow River State Forest on August 10-12! This trip is designed to help diversify the outdoor world, and we'd love to get young people signed up who haven't felt like they belong out backpacking (psst, you do!!!). 9th-12th graders are eligible to register. Please help us spread the word, so we can get more young folks who've been underrepresented in nature out on the trail!

Interested youth can sign up at: https://hipaa.jotform.com/221424920827151

06/08/2022

We are in great need of volunteer CEC Hosts!

Hosts help to keep the Conservation Education Center open during the 10:00-2:00 weekends visitor hours in the summer. Visitors, kids especially, love to run around in the Discovery Room exploring animal pelts, playing with the camping tent and campfire, and learning about Iowa's native animals through the live reptiles and bird watching station. Hosts also help to check out the new Adventure Backpacks so that parents and kids can explore in depth with them.

Hosts can serve as many or as few days they wish - every little bit helps! :D

Hosts can be any adult over 21, from parents bringing their young kiddos with for a fun day of adventure in the CEC to retired individuals looking for ways to give back. This is a great position for social butterflies looking to chat with others in the community and welcome them into the CEC.

Interested volunteers can contact [email protected].

Address

2048 Highway 6 NW
Oxford, IA
52322

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