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Departments | Conservation | In the News | Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board Wins Award - January 25, 2007

Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board Wins Award

 

The Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board (CGCCB) has won Iowa's Outstanding County Conservation Board Environmental Education Program Award for 2006. This award recognizes a county conservation board for excellence in environmental education programming.

 

This award is co-sponsored by two state organizations; the Iowa Association of Naturalists (IAN) and the Iowa Conservation Education Council (ICEC). Both groups are composed of professionals dedicated to promoting high quality conservaton and environmental education in the state.

 

According to chair woman Heidi Anderson, the awards committee was impressed by the variety of programs and opportunities the CGCCB offers to school children and the general public.

 

Anderson said the committee was particularly impressed with the CGCCB's relationship with the Lime Creek Nature Center Foundation and the resulting ability to offer high quality environmental education opportunities.

 

Environmental education has been a priority of the CGCCB for many years, according to Todd Von Ehwegen, Natural Resource Manager - Environmental Education for the agency.

 

"We were one of the first counties in Iowa to hire a full time naturalist in 1979," Von Ehwegen said.

 

In 1981, the Lime Creek Nature Center Foundation (LCNCF) was established to raise funds for a nature center, forming a very successful partnership with the CGCCB, and by the fall of 1984 the Lime Creek Nature Center was completed and opened to the public.

 

Construction of the center was funded entirely by private donations, and the LCNCF continues to fund environmental education programming with grants, donations, and memberships to Lime Creek.

 

The CGCCB, with LCNCF financial support, provides an average of 225 programs and field trips to 10,000 citizens annually. Public conservation programs of various topics are offered to a wide variety of audiences, including families, adults, youth, seniors and toddlers. Programming is available to area civic organizations.

 

Educational classroom programs and field trips are provided to schools throughout Cerro Gordo County. A variety of resource materials are made available to teachers including water quality models, learning trunks, and a teacher's newsletter.

 

The Lime Creek Nature Center houses a variety of animal mounts and hands-on displays in a facility that is visited by thousands annually.

 

"We have always strived to provide a well-rounded program for the citizens of Cerro Gordo County," Von Ehwegen said. "To be recognized by fellow professionals in the field is truly an honor for the CGCCB, LCNCF, and our environmental education program."

 

The award will be presented to the CGCCB at the Spring Iowa Association of Naturalists Workshop on Thursday, March 15, at the Hurstville Interpretive Center in Jackson County

Cerro Gordo County Conservation Office