Tama County offers Junior Naturalist Program
The Iowa Junior Naturalist Program promotes awareness of natural and cultural resources of Iowa by rewarding children for engaging in educational programming and self-directed activities. Ran through the Iowa Association of Naturalists, this program is offered state-wide each calendar year for children ages 6 to 18. Children who choose to participate in this program must attend three different programs and complete two independent activities in a 12-month period for a reward.
Programs may include guided hikes, birdwatching events, library story times, or any other public nature-related program. Tama County Conservation currently offers monthly story times at the Toledo Library, homeschool programs at Otter Creek Lake, and a wide range of summer camps that would help to fulfill this requirement. Nature-related programs through 4-H, local libraries, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, museums, and more may be used to satisfy this requirement. Independent activities may include camping, hiking, reading an educational book, fishing, watching a documentary, or any other nature-related activity. For participant 13-18 years old, one of these activities must be a formal volunteer commitment totaling 1 or more hours.
Participants must record their completion of programs and activities and describe what they learned using a report form. When all requirements are completed, participants will receive an official Iowa Junior Naturalist patch or sticker and certificate of achievement. Report forms are available at the Tama County Nature Center. Please email Naturalist Raina at rgenaw@tamacounty.org with any questions.
