Harrison County Conservation Board, Iowa

05/13/2026

Hi everyone this is Connie Betts-I just wanted to share with you that I'm resigning as Naturalist due to personal issues. Everyone here with staff is great, I just need some extended time off. Please remember that your county employees do their best. I thank everyone that has attended programs and events-you've made my job very special!

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05/11/2026

Every weekend the Willow Lake Nature Center is open we’ll have something fun for kids and families to do-coloring pages, crafts, and more! Thanks to everyone that visits!

05/10/2026

We've only been open since noon, but we've had so many people visit the Willow Lake Nature Center to explore the exhibit hall, plant some flower seeds for mom, get worms to go fishing, and get a FREE fishing pole thanks to Chris Amato and friends! We're here until 4 pm!

05/10/2026

Did you know we have ice, firewood, and worms for sale at the Willow Lake Nature Center? Make your campground/cabin stay even better!

05/10/2026

It's Mother's Day and the Willow Lake Nature Center is open from 12-4 pm today-stop by and explore the exhibit hall and make a little seed planter for Mom!

05/08/2026

Harrison County Conservation Board received a King Foundation grant to extend the roof over King cabin at Willow Lake as it was our only cabin without a cover. Special thanks to the King Foundation to make this project possible and Don Bernard from Modale for doing the construction.

05/08/2026

Staff has the campgrounds at Willow Lake and Schaben Park all mowed and beautified for the weekend-there’s plenty of sites available, so have a great weekend!

05/08/2026

Help us increase our followers on our other page for the Willow Lake Nature Center-please share!

https://www.facebook.com/willowlakenaturecenter/

Learn about water, watersheds, wildlife, and habitats at the Willow Lake Nature Center!

05/08/2026

It’s a beautiful Friday morning at Willow Lake. Get out and enjoy all your Harrison County parks!

05/07/2026

CAMPGROUND UPDATE: It looks like it's going to be a pretty good Mother's Day weekend with rain on Saturday forecasted to stay to the south of us. There's plenty of sites open at the Willow Lake Recreation Area and Schaben Park. The Willow Lake Nature Center will also be open on Sunday from 12-4 pm. Children can decorate and plant some flower seeds for mom-must be accompanied by an adult-no cost, no registration!

05/07/2026

A rare white buffalo was born a week ago at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City. It has some brown color to it, so they're not sure if will change as it grows up. The refuge is a great place to visit where you can drive through to see bison, elk and other prairie wildlife. The visitor center was damaged in a storm a couple years ago and is expected to open in the fall of 2028.