Environmental Education Opportunities For Students
The Osborne Center offers a wide variety of programs to students from preschool to high school. All programs offered to students who live within Clayton County are free of charge; out-of-county students will be charged $1 per student. On-site field trips to the Osborne Center are offered throughout the year. Any school district interested in a field trip is encouraged to call and ask for more information.
Some of the programs offered at the Osborne Center include archery, native wildlife exhibit tours, canoeing, nature walks, scavenger hunts, and track detectives. For a more detailed list of programs offered, please call the nature center and ask for Brian or Abbey 563-245-1516.
Hunter Education Classes 
The Clayton County Conservation Board offers two Hunter Education Classes each year. Classes are held in June and in August. The classroom portion is held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday night, along with four hours on Saturday at the range. Students are required to attend all sessions each day.
A group of dedicated volunteer Hunter Education Instructors teach students about a wide range of hunting related topics. On Saturday, the class is held on the outdoor range where students are able to participate in hands-on activities. This includes live fire of a .22, 20 gauge, black powder and archery. Instruction is also given on casing and uncasing a firearm, map reading, zones of fire, fence crossing and shoot and don’t shoot situations.
Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. To attend a class go to www.iowadnr.gov/training and search for a class at the bottom of the page or call the Osborne Office at 563-245-1516. Dates for 2012 classes have not yet been set.
Junior Naturalist Program
The Junior Naturalist Program (JNP) is held during the summer at the Osborne Conservation Center. The Center is located 5 miles south of Elkader on state Highway 13.
The program is offered only to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students attending Clayton County Schools or schools serving Clayton County students.
The JNP is an overnight camp program that focuses on exploring nature and the environment. Activities are led by naturalists at the Osborne Center, local resource specialists and sportsmen.
Clayton County Junior Naturalist Brochure
Iowa Junior Naturalist Program
This is an opportunity for children ages 6-12 to experience (and share with adults) such diverse programs as environmental education, outdoor recreation, natural resources, conservation and historical interpretation.
REQUIREMENTS:
AGE: Participants should be between the ages of 6 and 12 years old.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS: Attend three public programs offered by county conservation boards, Iowa DNR State Park Units, local libraries, nature centers, YMCA camps, 4-H or any other programs with a nature theme.
INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES: Complete two independent activities such as reading a nature book, fishing, hunting, camping, bike riding along a nature trail, hiking, etc.
AWARDS: Upon completion of the above requirements, participants will receive a certificate of achievement and a colorful embroidered Iowa Junior Naturalist patch. Participants can collect them all.
For more information contact the Osborne Center at 563-245-1516.
Monthly Public Programs
The Clayton County Conservation Board offers monthly public programs throughout the year. These programs are usually free of charge unless listed otherwise. The following programs will be offered over the upcoming months. For more information about these activities please look over the newsletter, The Clayton County Oracle.
Bluebird Box Workshop
Saturday, March 3rd, 1 pm
Reservations Required
Fee: $5; maximum cost per family: $10
Build a bluebird house and then learn how to care for the bluebirds that will soon be living in it. Please remember to bring a hammer!
All participants will take their completed birdhouses home.
Older Wiser Livelier Souls
O.W.L.S.
Looking for an excuse to get out of the house, make some new friends, enjoy a good meal and learn about the exciting world of nature? Join us for O.W.L.S. the third Thursday of each month.
Third Thursday of each month, March-November
Program with optional lunch; Program is $1 and lunch is $6
Reservations Required
The O.W.L.S. program will return in March; check back for next year's programs.
