Free Earth Day Family Activities – Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Earth Day Celebration

Celebrate Earth Day by participating in free family-friendly activities hosted at the Neal Smith National Wildlife visitor center on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The following activities will be available from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

• Crafts and coloring tables
• Elk antler and bison horn ring toss, includes prizes
• Plant milkweed seeds in a peat pot to take home
• Iowa Public Radio outreach table
• Free Wildlife stickers
• Purchase lunch from one of the food trucks
• Enjoy lunch at the indoor/outdoor eating area
• Enjoy a walk along one of the trails, including a 1/2 mile wheelchair accessible trail – loaner manual and electric wheelchairs are available
• Take a drive along the 5-mile Prairie Wildlife Drive to look for bison & elk
• Borrow loaner binoculars at the visitor center to view wildlife
• Enjoy the indoor exhibits and use the Explorer Sheets
• View a 15-minute introductory movie about the tallgrass prairie
• Shop at the Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Nature Store

Spring Wildflower Walk, Saturday, April 22 at 9:00 am

Take a guided walk with a naturalist along the ½ mile Oak Savanna Trail loop to look for and learn about spring ephemeral wildflowers to celebrate Earth Day. These unique wildflowers have a short aboveground presence. They bloom, sets seed, and die back before the trees above grow leaves that block sunlight. Participants will receive a handout that displays the common spring wildflowers and free loaner binoculars will be available. The surface of the trail is gravel, and it has gradual inclines. Contact [email protected] or call 515-994-3400 to register.

For additional information about the listed Earth Day activities, please email [email protected] or call 515-994-3400.