EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Environmental Education Opportunities For Students
FIELD TRIPS:
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 $2 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 Kenny or Abbey 563-245-1516.
CLASSROOM PROGRAMS:
Our naturalists also visit school classrooms within the county. These free programs allow teachers to provide supplemental learning opportunities to their students. Clayton County Conservation’s naturalists lead these programs to provide an opportunity to delve deeper into local ecology and science, and to enhance what is being learned in the classroom.
Classroom Naturalist Programs are very popular with all county schools, so it's important to schedule early, before our calendar is filled. Classroom Naturalist Programs are scheduled from November through March, but if a teacher needs a special program in October or April, let us know and exceptions can be made for seasonal programs by request.
Hunter Education Classes
The Clayton County Conservation Board offers two Hunter Education Classes each year:
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An Internet Field Day Course will be held June 6, 2026. To attend internet field day, students must complete the online course work. Once you've completed the online portion, print off the field day voucher and bring it with you to class.
June 6 Registration
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A Full Classroom Course is held on Aug. 10, 12, 14, & 15, 2026. Students are required to attend all class sessions. 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.
August Registration
To register for hunter education classes in other locations go to IOWA DNR
Motor Mill Summer
Day Camps
Motor Mill Pioneers Day Camp
June 25, 2026 - 9am-3pm
Ages 6-12
Join Clayton County Conservation for a fun filled day exploring the Motor Mill Historic Site. Kids will get chance to experience pioneer life at Motor Mill through hands-on experiences such as butter making, flour grinding, hauling water, cooking over a fire, fishing with a cane pole and more. This camp will include a variety of fun and educational group activities and games that will take participants back in time to the 1870’s.
Motor Mill STEAM Camp
July 30, 2026 - 9am-3pm
Ages 6-12
Join Clayton County Conservation for a fun filled day exploring historic Motor Mill as we discover the connections between science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and art with nature. This camp will include a variety of fun and educational group activities and games related to S.T.E.A.M. topics with an emphasis on earths different elements. Camp participants will be dropped off and picked up at Motor Mill Historic Site.
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Motor Mill camp participants will be dropped off and picked up at Motor Mill Historic Site. Campers will need to bring a sack lunch, water bottle, sunscreen/bug spray, & appropriate footwear. Numbers are limited so register early.
Osborne Summer
day camps &
story hours
Outdoors Made Easy Day Camp
June 11, 2026 - 9am-2pm
Ages 8-12
This camp will introduce campers to the basics of enjoying the outdoors, from leave-no-trace principles to archery, fishing, foraging, and fire-starting. This camp will take place at the Osborne Pond.
Living Like an Animal Day Camp
July 9, 2026 - 9am-2pm
Ages 8-12
This day camp will explore all things Iowa Wildlife. Get up and close with the critters in the nature center, tour the wildlife exhibit, explore the Volga River, and the surrounding forests & grasslands in search of Iowa's native wildlife.
Nature Kids Story Hour
10-11am
Ages 3-6
Call to register - 563-245-1516
Nature Kids are for our younger nature enthusiasts. We have a variety of themes for each story hour. Kids will get to listen to a story and do a fun activity or craft.
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Seeds to Plants - June 12
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Reptiles - June 26
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Rocks & Fossils - July 10
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Caterpillar to Butterfly - July 24
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Woodland Friends - Aug 14
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. See the Upcoming Events page for more information.
