Fall Central Park Nature Center Monthly Themes & Educational Programming
Autumn is in the air! The harvest is on! School is back in session, Friday night football games light up the night, and apple orchards and pumpkin patches beckon us. Finding fun educational activities close to home is easier than ever!
Central Park offers a wide range of outdoor fun in addition to camping! Enjoy the autumn views and changing colors as you hike the many scenic trails. Bring your lunch and picnic at a small open-air shelter or picnic tables with a lake view. Kids will enjoy the playground areas and do not miss the Jones County Wild for Reading StoryWalk® Trail, featuring MOON, Earth’s Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty.
Like a view from the water? Bring your kayak before the ice forms and put in at one of three designated zero entry small watercraft lake accesses. Wanna catch a few fall fish? Fishing boats can put in at the modern boat ramp located on the main lakes north shore. No boat? No problem – shoreline access can be found on the lakes north shore Central Park Lake Walk and ADA accessible fishing pier.
When at Central Park make sure to stop in at the Central Park Nature Center. The Nature Center houses a variety of local amphibians and reptiles, as well as exhibits on local plants and animals. Children completing the “Nature Center Challenge” win a small prize and are eligible to win a free camping & watercraft rental certificate. This October, enjoy displays and activities themed around the Moon, with exciting themes lined up for November (Turkey Time) and December (Winter Snow Fun). Nature Center hours during the school year are Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3:30 PM. Closed on Holidays. The center is open when staff are present – to be sure of availability call before coming (563)487-3541.
Several fun events/programs are scheduled this fall at Central Park. Join us for the Healthiest State Annual Statewide Walk on Wednesday, October 2nd at noon at the Central Park Nature Center! Enjoy the beautiful fall scenery as we stroll the scenic trails around Central Park Lake with our Conservation Staff. Head to Central Park at 6:30 PM on Thursday, October 17th for the Full Moon Hike! You will view nature in a new light as we walk the trails by moonlight! Get crafty making Pine Needle Baskets at the Central Park Nature Center on Friday, November 1st from 9 AM – Noon. Join us for a soup supper, provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center, on Thursday, November 14th at 6:30 PM in the Lower Level of the Central Park Nature Center as Kaia and Tyler O’Neill share their adventure to Iceland – the land of fire and ice with us. Do not miss the Holiday Open House events on Wednesdays Dec. 4th, 11th, and 18th from 1-4 PM and Saturday Dec. 21st from 10 AM – 3:30 PM. (Registration is required for some events.)
Visit https://www.jonescountyiowa.gov/conservation/ for more information and links to register on Central Park and all the above-mentioned events and activities. Whether you are camping, hiking, picnicking, fishing, or just out for a Sunday drive, Central Park is a wonderful local destination. Located near Amber and Center Junction, right in the center of Jones County, Central Park is a trip worth taking this season!
