• Osborne Heritage Days

    Osborne Heritage Days
    Osborne Nature Center 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA, United States

    Clayton County Conservation’s 49th Annual Osborne Heritage Days will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 12th and 13th, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day.  Travel back in time to experience some of the sights, sounds, smells and activities of early pioneers during this family fun event. Heritage Days is held in the […]

  • O.W.L.S. Iowa Dairy Center Tour

    Osborne Nature Center 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA, United States

    Join the O.W.L.S. as we tour the Iowa Dairy Center located south of Calmar on HWY-150. We will be doing a guided tour of the Iowa Dairy Museum along with walking through the various other facilities on the site. We will be viewing the state-of-the-art robotic milking facility that was added to the farm in […]

  • Music Under the Moon

    Motor Mill Elkader, United States

    “Music Under the Moon at Motor Mill" Thursday, October 17th 5:30 – 8:00 PM Motor Mill Historic Site   Mark your calendars for Motor Mill’s “Music Under the Moon” event on Thursday, October 17th from 5:30-8:00 PM at Motor Mill. This event is a collaboration between Clayton County Conservation, Turkey River Cabin Concerts, and the […]

  • Pony Hollow 5K and 15K Trail Runs

    Elkader City Park Shelter House 707 South High Street, Elkader, Iowa, United States

      Pony Hollow 5K & 15K Trail Runs Saturday, Oct 26th, 9:00 AM Pony Hollow Trail Elkader Registration Required Come join Clayton County Conservation for the 6th annual Pony Hollow 15k Trail Run and 2nd annual 5k run/walk! This mostly flat, lime-chipped course with scenic autumn views makes this a truly unique event. Male and […]

  • OWLS: American Dream: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace

    Osborne Nature Center 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA, United States

    The Clayton County Conservation Board and the Older, Wiser, Livelier, Souls program has received funding from Humanities Iowa, a private, non-profit, to host a presentation called “American Dreamer: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace ” presented by Tom Milligan. This presentation will be held at the Osborne Conservation Center on Thursday, November 21st […]

  • Motor Mill Inn and Bridge Lighting

    Motor Mill Elkader, United States

    Celebrate the start of this holiday season at the Motor Mill Historic Site! In addition to the traditional lighting of the Motor Mill Bridge, the Inn will also feature Christmas decor this year. As you step into the Inn you will get to experience Christmas from two different time periods. The Pioneer Parlor will take […]

  • Owl Prowl

    Osborne Nature Center 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA, United States

    Owl Prowl Friday, January 31, 5:30pm Osborne Nature Center Reservations Required   Come out to Osborne Park on Friday, January 31st at 5:30pm to learn about these secretive nocturnal animals.  Visitors will learn about all the things that make owls so amazing before heading out to the forest to look and listen along Osborne’s trails […]

  • O.W.L.S. Silos and Smokestacks Grand Tour

    Osborne Nature Center 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA, United States

    Older, Wiser, Livelier, Souls  Silos and Smokestacks Grand Tour–Grout Museum/Sullivan Brothers Veterans Museum  Thursday, March 20th  Reservations Required    Join Older, Wiser, Livelier, Souls for the 2025 season beginning on Thursday, March 20th. This year’s theme is a grand tour of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. March’s destination will be a visit to […]

  • Syrup Tapping Demo

    Elkader City Park Shelter House 707 South High Street, Elkader, Iowa, United States

    Syrup Tapping Demo Pony Hollow Trail Saturday, March 22nd, 10:00 AM Reservations Required   Come and learn how to tap trees and make syrup with local producer Ben Hoksch of Front Yard Sugar, and enjoy a short nature hike on the second day of spring! Ben is an accomplished forager, with over a decade of […]

  • Jamaican Garden Tour

    Osborne Nature Center 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA, United States

    Jamaican Garden Tour Osborne Auditorium Thursday, April 10, 10:00 AM   Join Clayton County Conservation Director, Jenna Van Meeteren, for a Jamaican Garden Tour presentation at the Osborne Welcome Center on Thursday, April 10 beginning at 10am. Participants will observe a short slideshow of flora observed from a recent trip to Whitehouse Jamaica and learn […]

  • Pasque Flower Hike

    Motor Mill Elkader, United States

    Pasque Flower Hike Motor Mill Historic Site Friday, April 18, 5:00 PM   The Pasque flower is one of the earliest blooming wildflowers in Iowa, and a welcome sign that a new growing season is underway. While relatively common in remnant prairies, this beautiful little flower is rarely seen in Clayton County due to a […]

  • Birds, Blooms, and Mushrooms

    Osborne Nature Center 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA, United States

    Birds, Blooms, and Mushrooms An Earth Day Hike Tuesday, April 22nd, 5:30 pm Join Naturalist Abbey for a nature hike on April 22nd at 5:30 pm. This great way to celebrate Earth Day will get you closer to nature by taking in the beauty of spring walking through the Osborne Forest. We will look for […]