Conservation Crew youth needed

     The Jones County Conservation Department is still looking for a few more interested area youth to join our 2019 Jones County Youth Conservation Crew. Youth ages 12-19 are encouraged to participate.

     The Youth Conservation Crew will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays on June 11, 13, 18, and 20 at the Central Park Nature Center, from 9 a.m. to noon. Youth are welcome to participate on all four days or as many as their summer schedules will allow. Members are also welcome and encouraged to attend additional volunteer opportunities through the conservation department throughout the year.

     Each day, participants will join in leadership activities, educational conservation and ecology opportunities, and hands on service learning. Youth will be engaged in important conservation and park projects while working as a team, gaining self-esteem, and learning social responsibility and respect for the environment.

     Crew members will be provided work gloves, water and snacks, and a crew member t-shirt. Members should dress to get dirty and be prepared to do physical hands-on conservation work. Equipment needed for projects will be provided on site.

     Projects crew members will be involved in this year will include:

     • Monitoring and collecting data on the Central Park bluebird houses.

     • Learning about purple martins and assisting with monitoring Central Parks martin colony.

     • Clearing invasive brush and small sapling trees from prairie areas at Central Park.

     • Assisting with planting milkweed plants for monarch habitat around the newly restored lakeshore.

     • Assistance with weeding and care of the Nature Centers native landscaping area and butterfly garden.

     • Monitoring Central Park’s monarch caterpillar population and milkweed plantings.

     • Clearing vines and small saplings from park trails.

     • Participating in the annual bumble bee digital survey.

     • Assisting with creating short informational video clips on Natural Resource topics at Central Park.

     Youth participating will gain skills to last a lifetime, friendships, natural resource knowledge and abilities, and a stronger connection to the environment. Hours of service may also be used for community service hours at local schools and listed on a resume.

     Please contact Michele at 319-481-7987 or naturalist@co.jones.ia.us for more information or to register as a crew member. Please pre-register by 4 p.m. May 31. Space is limited.