Central Park Nature Center December and January Theme - SNOW FUN!
The cold weather is finally here along with that four letter word - SNOW!
Winter is a fun season to visit Central Park - SNOW or no SNOW! Miles of hiking trails await the hardy hiker. Families will enjoy the Jones County Wild for Reading StoryWalk® Trail, featuring Once Upon a Winter Day, by Liza Woodruff. Have fun learning how to read animal tracks and sign in the snow. Snowshoes are available at the Nature Center for check-out 8 AM - 3 PM, most weekdays. ( A 4-6 inch snow pack is needed at Central Park for snowshoes to be checked out.)
As the lake and ponds freeze up and ice conditions become safe winter fishing beacons to those who won't let the cold stop their fishing fun! At Central Park Lake you could catch largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie, and channel catfish. Click here to visit the Iowa DNR website for ice safety recommendations and Iowa fishing rules and regulations.
The Central Park Nature Center December and January theme this year is SNOW FUN! Educational displays, crafts, and come and go activities will be available in the Nature Center. Several Holiday Open Houses will include yummy cookies and hot chocolate provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center. Holiday Open house dates are: Wednesdays (1 - 4 PM) - Dec. 4, 11, and 18th and Saturday (10 AM - 3:30 PM), December 21st. Get artsy and enter the winter coloring contests! Make a craft to take home. Make a snow sculpture. See if you can complete the Central Park Digital Scavenger Hunt to win a prize!
In January join the Jones County Naturalist for one of our guided snowshoe hikes and scavenger hunts on Wednesdays, January 15th and 22nd at 2:30 PM. Learn how to read animal tracks and sign while snowshoeing or hiking the trails of Central Park! Cocoa and cookies will be served following the hikes. Register for the guided snowshoe events at https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Jones.aspx
The Nature Center is open when staff are present Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 3:30 PM. Please Note: To be sure of daily staff availability call the Nature Center at (563)487-3541. The Nature Center will be closed for the Holidays on December 24th, 25th, and January 1st.
