COMMUNITY: Outdoor opportunities for youths

Editor's note: Rick Hollis of rural North Liberty, is past president and newsletter editor for the Iowa City Bird Club.

By Rick Holls, community contributor

Recently I have had the pleasure of working with two grass roots organizations that focus on getting youngsters outdoors.

Three events were scheduled, but only one was held. The other two were postponed or canceled - you know what this spring's weather was like.

Rivercall's first scheduled event this year with Twain Elementary was held. In small groups we walked around River Junction. We would listen and look for birds. Whenever we found a bird, I would talk about it and show them a picture in a field guide. I used both the Young Birder's Guide to Birds of North America and Iowa Birds.

Rivercall was started four years ago by Chris Vinsonhaler, a local storyteller, who got a group of friends together. Many of the initial volunteers came from Trinity Episcopal Church and the Noon Rotary Club, both from Iowa City, and local employees from the Iowa DNR soon joined.

The program involves taking fourth-graders from Twain and Hills elementary schools to River Junction, a small Johnson County park on the Iowa River near Lone Tree. Youngsters learn about river water quality measurements, bug and aquatic life and what it means for the river, and river ecology.

This year they added birding.

There is storytelling, some re-enactment of early settlers, workshops, investigating the old cemetery, learning about the environmental issues with plastic bags and decorating canvas bags.

The other two youth opportunities were through Take A Kid Outdoors and Iowa Young Biders.

TAKO was founded in Fayette County in 2006 and now also operates in Johnson County. It provides immersive outdoor experiences to children and people of all ages.

Iowa Young Birders was founded in 2011 as organization through which young birders from around the state can meet new friends, share observations and learn more about birds and birding places throughout the state. IYB has multiple field trips around the state.

For more on these two clubs, go to www.takeakidoutdoors.org and www.iowayoungbirders.org/