The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be encouraging all its visitors to "Take It Outside" for Non-Stop Fun at the 2010 Iowa State Fair.
Visitors will see quite a few new attractions both inside and outside of the DNR's pavilion, located at the west end of the State Fair Grand Concourse.
"We have many more interactive displays and hands-on activities in our building and courtyard this year," says Julie Sparks, with the Iowa DNR. "We really want to help people find non-stop fun in the outdoors."
Inside the pavilion, visitors will be able to build a tent, identify animal tracks, touch live reptiles and amphibians, make a leaf rubbing and shoot a bow.
"We are anticipating a lot of interest in our new archery range," says Sparks. Anyone 9 years old and older can try their hand at using a bow and arrow. The range will be enclosed within the DNR building and will have certified staff instructing and supervising the activity.
The DNR is hoping to draw quite a crowd on Extreme Sunday, the last day of the fair, to help build 1,000 bluebird houses on the Grand Concourse. DNR staff with volunteers from the Wild Turkey Federation will help kids build birdhouse to take home. The "extreme" event will begin at 11 a.m. and is free of charge.
As always, conservation officers will be on hand to answer questions, the Nature Store will have licenses, the Iowa Outdoors magazine, t-shirts and other items for sale and the historic aquarium, focal point of the pavilion, will be filled with Iowa fish.
Outside the west gates of the building is a pond full of waterfowl and turtles, focal point of the courtyard. The courtyard also features a full-size replica of a bald eagles nest, recently renovated prairie, a water fountain, picnic tables, benches and plenty of shade.
A brand new mobile education exhibit along the north fence helps visitors learn how to make simple, everyday behavior changes inside their homes to help protect and improve the environment outside.
Ogden sculptor David Williamson will again turn "trash into treasure" in the DNR's courtyard. Williamson uses metal trash collected from the DNR's annual river clean up event, Project AWARE, to create sculptures and most recently to create new gates for the DNR pavillion. Two of five gates are installed on the west side of the building, and construction on a third will begin during Williamson's courtyard demonstrations on the weekends.
Presentations are given daily on the courtyard stage, including live animal talks, cooking demonstrations, and a chance to meet and visit with the DNR Director, Richard Leopold, each Friday at noon. This year the DNR will be "tweeting" the stage schedule reminders to its followers on Twitter.
The DNR building at the fair will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the fair. For more information and a full courtyard stage schedule, visit www.iowadnr.gov .
Follow Us: www.twitter.com/iowadnr
Visitors will see quite a few new attractions both inside and outside of the DNR's pavilion, located at the west end of the State Fair Grand Concourse.
"We have many more interactive displays and hands-on activities in our building and courtyard this year," says Julie Sparks, with the Iowa DNR. "We really want to help people find non-stop fun in the outdoors."
Inside the pavilion, visitors will be able to build a tent, identify animal tracks, touch live reptiles and amphibians, make a leaf rubbing and shoot a bow.
"We are anticipating a lot of interest in our new archery range," says Sparks. Anyone 9 years old and older can try their hand at using a bow and arrow. The range will be enclosed within the DNR building and will have certified staff instructing and supervising the activity.
The DNR is hoping to draw quite a crowd on Extreme Sunday, the last day of the fair, to help build 1,000 bluebird houses on the Grand Concourse. DNR staff with volunteers from the Wild Turkey Federation will help kids build birdhouse to take home. The "extreme" event will begin at 11 a.m. and is free of charge.
As always, conservation officers will be on hand to answer questions, the Nature Store will have licenses, the Iowa Outdoors magazine, t-shirts and other items for sale and the historic aquarium, focal point of the pavilion, will be filled with Iowa fish.
Outside the west gates of the building is a pond full of waterfowl and turtles, focal point of the courtyard. The courtyard also features a full-size replica of a bald eagles nest, recently renovated prairie, a water fountain, picnic tables, benches and plenty of shade.
A brand new mobile education exhibit along the north fence helps visitors learn how to make simple, everyday behavior changes inside their homes to help protect and improve the environment outside.
Ogden sculptor David Williamson will again turn "trash into treasure" in the DNR's courtyard. Williamson uses metal trash collected from the DNR's annual river clean up event, Project AWARE, to create sculptures and most recently to create new gates for the DNR pavillion. Two of five gates are installed on the west side of the building, and construction on a third will begin during Williamson's courtyard demonstrations on the weekends.
Presentations are given daily on the courtyard stage, including live animal talks, cooking demonstrations, and a chance to meet and visit with the DNR Director, Richard Leopold, each Friday at noon. This year the DNR will be "tweeting" the stage schedule reminders to its followers on Twitter.
The DNR building at the fair will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the fair. For more information and a full courtyard stage schedule, visit www.iowadnr.gov .
Follow Us: www.twitter.com/iowadnr
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