Give Green – Holiday Gift Catalog
The holidays, or anytime, really is the perfect opportunity to show how much you care by giving a gift that brings people together and creates memories. GIVE AN EXPERIENCE Gift Certificates can be purchased for specific activities or for a specific dollar amount by contacting the friendly guest services staff at 712-790-8221 or guestinfo@whiterockconservancy.org. Click here to see a few [...]
National Service Enterprise Certification
Whiterock Conservancy was recently certified as Service Enterprise organization! A Service Enterprise fundamentally leverages volunteers and their skills across all levels of the organization to successfully deliver on its social mission. Less than 15% of organizations nationwide are characterized as Service Enterprises. “Because of our large land base, Whiterock Conservancy constantly has opportunities to creatively approach conservation and agricultural issues [...]
Meet Penny Perkins – Conservation Lands Director
I’m excited to be a part of the Whiterock Conservancy where native ecological systems, family friendly outdoor recreation, and sustainable agriculture merge with a team of enthusiastic people. My passion for ecological rehabilitation and restoration began in 1993. I was a volunteer with the Illinois Nature Conservancy rehabilitating native tall-grass prairies, hill prairies, oak-hickory savannas, and Illinois River floodplain biological [...]
Open Position: Part-time housekeeper
We are seeking a part-time housekeeper. 20-25 hours per/week with a flexible schedule. Contact Karla at 712-790-8221 x1 or guestinfo@whiterockconservancy.org for more information.
Bees and Burns
This summer at Whiterock Conservancy I have been conducting a study on bee populations to assess effects of the timing of prescribed burns on the bee community. Bees are important pollinators for many flowering species in the prairies and savannas of the Middle Raccoon River Valley. This study will give us a greater understanding on how land management activities affect [...]
Burn or Browse? Coaxing Grass from Shrubs in Savannas
A savanna landscape is a mix of trees, native grasses and flowering plants where more than 70% of sunshine reaches the grassy layer. To keep the canopy open enough for these ground plants and young oaks to grow takes both burning and browsing—with a little grazing too. Herbivores historically roamed Iowa freely and used rivers for a water source. These [...]