VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS - Polk County Iowa
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UPDATE
Like many of those within our family of volunteers, Polk County Conservation has faced numerous challenges and
changes this past year. From adjusting our scope of work during a global pandemic and how we safely interact
with the public; to welcoming an Assistant Coordinator during the absence of another within our unit; we have all
taken these trials in stride while celebrating many successes together. In the spirit of celebration, we want to
keep you informed of big changes in our department.
Congratulations are in order for Pat Spain as he has accepted a new role as Construction Technician within Polk
County Conservation! We certainly have big boots to fill as we begin our search for his replacement.
We welcome back Melissa Dempsey (formerly Schmeling) into her position as Volunteer Coordinator. She will be
maintaining a restricted schedule for the immediate future but is excited to be back at it!
We will continue operating our volunteer program with limited staff and available hours as our unit returns to full
force in 2021. We thank you for your continued patience and dedication to our mission!
VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
main: conservationvolunteers@polkcountyiowa.gov
Melissa Dempsey Michael French
melissa.dempsey@polkcountyiowa.gov michael.french@polkcountyiowa.gov
515-323-5396 515-323-5328
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM CONTACTS
Jester Park Nature Center Environmental Education
Missy Smith Patti Petersen-Keys
missy.smith@polkcountyiowa.gov patrice.petersen-keys@polkcountyiowa.gov
515-323-5317 515-323-5359
Water Quality Monitoring Jester Park Equestrian Center
Ginny Malcomson Delaney O'Donnell
ginny.malcomson@polkcountyiowa.gov Delaney.O'Donnell@polkcountyiowa.gov
515-323-5370 515-999-2818
Volunteers Needed!
d
ADOPT-A-GARDEN prove
tor Ap
& lina
Pol
PRAIRIE
PRODUCTION PLOTS
NOW RECRUITING! TRAINING BY APPOINTMENT
ADOPT-A-GARDEN LOCATIONS: PRODUCTION PLOT SPECIES:
**subject to change
EASTER LAKE PRAIRIE BLAZING STAR
BROWN'S WOODS GREAT BLUE LOBELIA
FORT DES MOINES CULVERS ROOT
CARNEY MARSH BOTTLEBRUSH SEDGE
HIGH TRESTLE TRAIL OASIS DAVIS' SEDGE
JESTER PARK RUNNING MARSH SEDGE
RIVER PLACE
Native gardens play an important role in our In partnership with the Iowa DNR, Polk
county parks. In addition to being naturally County Conservation will begin utilizing
adapted to local environmental conditions, production plots as a means to produce
these areas also: desirable prairie plant species.
These plots will:
Do not require fertilizers and pesticides
Increase the soil's water capacity & reduce runoff Provide species diversity in native prairie ecosystems
Provide shelter and food for wildlife Save tens of thousands of dollars in seed costs
Promote biodiversity Provide availability to rare, expensive seed
Beautiful and scenic Promote biodiversity
As a volunteer, you will help keep your As a volunteer, you will help plant, weed,
garden healthy and vibrant throughout the trim, and harvest along your plot.
growing season with basic garden duties.
Interested in helping maintain these areas?
Contact conservationvolunteers@polkcountyiowa.gov
VOLUNTEER
Polk County Conservation is proud to bring back Glow Wild in 2021 to benefit
local conservation and outdoor recreation efforts complete with great food,
drinks, and plenty of activities for both kids and adults - tethered hot air
balloon rides, our signature towering bonfire, festival camping, horse-drawn
wagon rides, and more!
*FREE ENTRY TICKET, T-SHIRT, & MEAL FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS*
live music | Suede, Elizabeth Mary & Royce Johns
OPPORTUNITIES
Crafts | Beer Tent | Archery | Parking | Event Greeters & Ticketing
Insect Hunt | Pond Study | Axe Throwing | Nature Center Greeter | Hot Air Ballon Rides
Recruitment is currently taking place. Space is limited.
Contact ConservationVolunteers@polkcountyiowa.gov
UPCOMING
EVENTS
DATES VTO RESTORATION DAYS
BELOW MAY
MAY- AUGUST 2021
- AUGU 2021
10AM-3PM VARIOUS PARKS
Many amazing local companies, organizations,
and schools offer Volunteer Time Off (VTO) as an
added benefit for their workforce. This provides JUL TRAILS END FOURMILE
an excellent opportunity to give those within 24
their ranks a unique way to create a positive CREEK SWEEP
9AM-12PM
impact within their community. If your MALLY'S PARK
organization offers VTO hours, or you find yourself
Strap on your boots or waders and get muddy
with free time during the week, come spend it
with the Conservation team! In an effort to
outside alongside PCC staff with a variety of
improve water quality, we will be sweeping
projects such as habitat restoration, invasive
Fourmile Creek for tires and other debris as well
species removal, and trail maintenance
as clean up litter in and around Mally’s Park.
throughout our park and trail system.
Come and go per your desired hours.
EASTER LAKE
July 14 & 23 AUG GLOW WILD
28
CHICHAQUA
August 6, 11, & 20
3:30-10PM JESTER PARK NATURE CENTER
Volunteers are an important part of making this
DATES GARDEN STEWARDSHIP event a success!
BELOW SERIES
TIMES
VARY VARIOUS PARKS As a volunteer, you will receive one free Glow
Wild event ticket, volunteer t-shirt, and meal
Across our county park system, PCC has multiple ticket for the evening. Opportunities to assist
rain gardens, native plantings, and pollinator staff at event stations include: balloon rides,
gardens. These gardens serve as excellent nature crafts, beer tents, parking, greeting &
examples of the native plants we can use in our ticketing, and a variety of educational activities
parks, cities, and our own backyards to benefit such as insect hunts, archery, axe throwing, pond
pollinators, wildlife, and local water quality. study, and bouldering.
Join us for this multi-week garden series in our No experience necessary. Training will be
county parks to learn more about native plants. provided upon arrival at the event.
Both classroom and field experiences are
planned to help you learn more about native
plants and how to care for them in landscape
settings. Each week will focus on different plants
and needs to give you a variety of educational
experiences. It is not necessary to attend each
weekly event, but we believe the best way to
AUG SUNSET SEED HARVEST
learn about native plant gardening is to get your
31
hands dirty! Dinner provided on Jul 13 & Aug 11. 6-8PM CHICHAQUA
JESTER Join us for an evening on the Chichaqua prairie
July 13 @ 6-8:30 pm as we harvest seed by the light of the setting sun.
July 20 & 27 @ 6:30-8:30 pm Seed harvesting is both a relaxing and rewarding
volunteer experience. It provides a wonderful
EASTER LAKE introduction to the beauty of the tallgrass prairie
August 11 @ 6-8:30 pm ecosystem and is a valuable way to contribute to
August 25 @ 6:30-8:30 pm land restoration efforts in Polk County.
FORT DES MOINES
August 18 @ 6:30-8:30 pmJUN 1 - BUTTERFLY SURVEY
AUG 8
VARIOUS PARKS
Are you interested in hiking and identifying some
of Iowa's butterflies? PCC is partnering with the
MAY - AUGUST 2021
Iowa Butterfly Survey Network to monitor
butterflies in our county parks. Existing routes
are currently available throughout the county.
The 2021 monitoring season runs from June 1st
through August 8th with a focus on identifying
25+ species. Please contact
ConservationVolunteers@polkcountyiowa.gov
EVENTS INFO
if you are interested in being a part of this No experience necessary and all equipment is
program. provided for the listed events. Dress for the
weather. Wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe
shoes, work gloves, and bring a refillable water
bottle. All ages welcome to any public event.
JUL- PRAIRIE SEED HARVEST &
AUG PRODUCTION PLOTS
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR EACH EVENT
CHICHAQUA * due the day prior
Help us gather seed from some of our early Detailed meeting locations, workday information,
blooming prairie species. We utilize harvested and equipment will be provided to those
seed to restore the land back into the prairie that registered. To register for these events, visit the
it once was, and we need your help! Events Calendar tab at leadingyououtdoors.org
and select the Sign Up option on your preferred
Come and go per your desired hours. event, or scan the QR code below.
You may also download the Eventbrite app to
any smart device to easily manage your volunteer
YEAR- WATER QUALITY event registrations.
ROUND MONITORING
COUNTY-WIDE
Help PCC monitor the health and cleanliness of
our waterways. PCC is pairing up interested
volunteers with existing field monitors to assist in
biweekly field monitoring to assess watershed
quality in Polk County. Regular monitoring works
to detect changes to water quality in the future.
Interested? Contact Ginny at
ginny.malcomson@polkcountyiowa.gov
YEAR- MINI GARBAGE GRAB
ROUND
ALL COUNTY PARKS CONTACT
ConservationVolunteers@polkcountyiowa.gov
if you are registering for a group, have questions
Help keep county parks clean! Located at Jester regarding these events, or would like to schedule
Park, Easter Lake, Thomas Mitchell, and a your own event.
Chichaqua we have mini volunteer stations
stocked with garbage grabbers and trash bags Stewardship opportunities exist outside of
that you can borrow to remove any trash you scheduled events. Contact us today for a
encounter at the parks. Please keep track of your complete list of opportunities that are available
volunteer hours by filling out the clipboard in a solitary or small group environment
within the mini volunteer station and/or email according to your interests and availability.
the volunteer coordinators.You can also read
