July 2 from 7-9pm Family Dusk Hike: Meet at the E.B. Lyons Nature Center to get a peek into the night time world of the park! We will be hiking the nature center loop trail. All ages welcome!

July 3 at 9am Canoeing: The public is welcome to join us on Catfish Creek for a free morning of canoeing for all ages. Meet at the Canoe launch Parking Area. This program is first come, first served, no reservations will be taken.

July 3 from 1:30-2:30pm Animals Around Us: Come meet the animals that live at the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center. You will see Turtles, frogs, a Salamander, and Snakes.

July 6 10-10:45am Preschool Hour: Bring your little one out to E.B. Lyons nature Center for a fun, Educational program. Each session will feature a different theme and will focus on a variety of topics dealing with nature.  Ages 2-4 with adult

We need volunteers to help with the rebuilding of the wildlife blind. We will work on Friday and Saturday 9-4. We long pants, sturdy shoes and bring a cordless drill if  you have one. Refreshments provided. Stay all day or come for a half day. Questions? Call Jennifer, the volunteer coordinator at 563-590-9868 or park […]

July 10 at 1pm Canoeing: A free afternoon of relaxing discovery on Catfish Creek for all ages. Meet at the Canoe Launch Parking Area. This program is first come, first served, no reservations will be taken.

We need volunteers to help with the rebuilding of the wildlife blind. We will work on Friday and Saturday 9-4. We long pants, sturdy shoes and bring a cordless drill if  you have one. Refreshments provided. Stay all day or come for a half day. There is also sign up to bring a snack if […]

July 12 at 1pm Butterfly Count: Come and help us with our annual butterfly count in the park. Learn how to identify butterflies you may see here and then we will help count butterflies throughout Mines of Spain. We will be starting at E.B. Lyons Nature Center.

July 13 at 1pm Geology Hunters: Did you know Iowa was once under an ocean? Come out to Horseshoe Bluff and join us as we search for evidence of this underwater world!

July 14 from 10-11am Backyard Butterflies and Feeder Making: Do you know what kinds of butterflies could be living in your backyard? Find out what kinds you may spot and how you can attract them to your yard. We will be making butterfly feeders for you to take home and try out!

July 16 from  1-3pm Fishing at Catfish: Enjoy an afternoon of fishing on Catfish Creek. Whether you are experienced or just beginning join the park naturalist to learn some tips and tricks. Fishing poles will be available for use on a first come, first served basis or you may bring your own. Fishing bait will be […]

Smart Survival: Could you survive in the wilderness? Learn basic outdoor survival techniques and test your skills in getting clean water, building a fire, constructing a shelter, and finding food. Ages 9-16

July 21 at 1pm Kayaking: Want to learn to kayak? Come out to Catfish Creek and join a Naturalist on the water. Ages 12 & up, parent supervision required.  All kayaking programs are first come, first served, and will be instructional.

What is a wetland? Who lives there? What do wetlands do? Answer these questions and more in a hands on session of exploration.  Please wear older clothes as we will be outdoors the entire time. Please meet at Horseshoe Bluff Parking Lot. 11346 Mines of Spain Rd.

Chainsaws? Car Alarms? Animals can make some really cool sounds! Join us at the E. B. Lyons Nature Center to discover some of the coolest sounding animals on Earth, and maybe learn how to make some of these sounds for yourself.

July 26 from 1-3pm Dream Catcher Making: Ever wish your bad dreams away? The Lakota people used dream catchers to catch bad dreams and melt them away with sunlight. Make one of your own at our workshop, and learn more about this culture and the origins of this useful device.