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Below, take a moment to meet Pottawattamie Conservation volunteer, Connie.
Connie has spent the last 6 years sharing her time, talents, and work ethic with Pottawattamie Conservation. Whether it's volunteering at our annual Maple Tree Tapping event at Botna Bend Park, answering park visitors' questions and providing trail recommendations, creating materials for educational programs, processing park entry fees and reservations, and so much more, Connie brings a special energy and passion to her work.
Our staff knows to have extra projects at the ready when Connie's on the schedule because she accomplishes tasks quickly and wants to make as big a difference as she can!
Not many individuals are familiar with the global significance of southwestern Iowa's loess soil, but Connie sure is! Both Hitchcock Nature Center and Mt. Crescent Ski Area are nestled in the Loess Hills landform that was formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. Found only along the western edge of Iowa and in the Yellow River Region in China, the hills are home to some of the only remnant (untouched by human hands) prairie in the state.
Connie has also learned how important native plants are for ecosystems and wildlife.
"It's so important to have native plants so that our native critters have the best environment in which to live and flourish. There are many little ways in which we can all help by planting native plants, including beautiful wildflowers, in our own yards."
Now that you have a better idea of how generous and hardworking she is, it shouldn’t surprise you that Connie was an elementary school teacher for 30 years. She has also donated more than 14 gallons of blood, read over 500 books, and only has a few more states to check off before she has visited all 50!
Volunteers like Connie make a huge difference for our small organization by keeping our parks beautiful, providing a great experience for visitors, and supporting local conservation efforts that protect wildlife, pollinators, and us humans, too! Her dedication, along with all of our other amazing volunteers, allows us to reach more people about the importance of natural spaces and be good stewards of the land. We truly couldn't do it without our passionate volunteers and can't thank Connie enough for everything she's done to support our work.
Thank you for everything, Connie!
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We are always looking for new faces to help us keep Pottawattamie Conservation parks beautiful and educate the public. Whether you prefer outdoors or indoors, our volunteer opportunities provide impactful ways for you to make a difference, connect with nature and support our community.
Regular volunteers have the option of setting their own schedule and are rewarded with educational opportunities and other benefits. Volunteers also receive an annual park permit and a discount on gift shop merchandise as a thank you for their efforts.
For more information on volunteer opportunities or to schedule a private volunteer project please contact Dana Kruse, Volunteer and Facilities Coordinator at (712) 545-3283 or email him at dana.kruse@pottcounty-ia.gov.
