Connecting with Nature at Family Day

Just over a week ago, Bur Oak Land Trust held its fall Family Day at Belgum Grove, one of the trust’s open to the public lands just four miles west of Hills. The weather was ideal for families to come out and explore the property and participate in activities – and it just happened to coincide this year with Grandparents Day. About 75 parents and kids took part in the activities – from catching and releasing butterflies to learning about stream flow to up-close observation of raptors to hayrack rides!

Nancey Pope and Melody Hines of Iowa City Parks and Rec, were on hand with a fluvial morphological model (otherwise known as a stream table), which simulated how the flow of rivers and altered waterways change landscapes and land formations around them. Using “soil” specially made for use with the model, Juli and Nancey demonstrated how the configuration of waterways affects the land. The model included to-scale versions of buildings, trees, and structures so that scenarios could be created to show more precisely how flooding and the management of water affect the places where we live.

Joan Schnabel, Luke Hart, and Dawn Frary of Raptology brought Gonzo the turkey vulture and Rachel the peregrine falcon and shared information about these fascinating birds. As a chick Gonzo had fallen from a tree and was found in time to be nursed back to health, but because he imprinted on humans, he cannot be released into the wild. Rachel was rescued after being shot. Now the birds accompany Raptology staff to events like Family Day, where the public is taught about the birds’ amazing characteristics and how they contribute to the natural world. Kids loved the chance to meet these birds up close and it was a great opportunity to dispel myths about their habits.

Dan Black and Wayne Petersen, long-time volunteer property stewards for Bur Oak Land Trust’s Belgum Grove, took groups of nature lovers on hayrack rides to the pond at the back of the property. Dan drove the hayrack while Wayne talked about the recreation of the oak savanna and reconstruction of prairie and water control at the site.

This event is an opportunity to encourage and promote the love all of us have for nature and for “kids” of all ages to learn about the many intertwining connections of natural areas and how important it is to conserve them. Thank you to all who participated, and to all of our sponsors who made this event possible. Stay tuned for information about our spring Family Day at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve coming up in 2018!