DIXON, IOWA (May 25, 2022) — Trees Forever, Scott County Conservation Board, Scott County Roadsides, and partners are offering the Stewards of the Beautiful Land Series to individuals in Scott and surrounding counties. Stewards of the Beautiful Land is a four-session course, meeting monthly, geared for the outdoor enthusiast who wants to learn more about prairie plants, trees, and forests, and the environments they thrive in, and how to advocate for native landscapes.
"We are pleased to be partnering with the Scott County Conservation Board. We have been offering this innovative series to other counties throughout Iowa the last three years and now it is being offered at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center; which is the perfect outdoor classroom to learn about prairie plant identification, establishment, and management, as well as tree care and more," says Trees Forever Field Coordinator Paige Shafer.
The course is structured with monthly webinars featuring guest presenters which lay the groundwork and knowledge base for where to find native plants on the landscape, the various landforms of Iowa, invasive species identification and management, pollinator habitat enhancement and protection, and more.
Each month will also feature an in-person meeting to learn from one another, walk through the woods, or prairie identifying native plants and trees, and hands-on skills like how to properly plant and care for natives. In-person meetings are 5-7PM at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center.
According to Brian Burkholder, Scott County Roadside Manager, "the Stewards course should be a great way for attendees to learn about the natural landscape around them, and our staff are excited to show off the park, our great roadsides, and the nature center. We even have a prairie planting planned for this fall, so the course has something for everyone."
For more information contact Paige Shafer at pshafer@treesforever.org or via phone at 319-640-2883. Registration is live on the Trees Forever events calendar found at this link https://treesforever.org/event/stewards-of-the-beautiful-land-session-1/.
About Trees Forever
Trees Forever is a non-profit charitable organization headquartered in Marion, Iowa. Its mission — to plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community, and promoting stewardship — is fulfilled through cutting-edge programs and innovative practices. Trained and experienced staff have assisted community leaders and landowners across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and beyond with thousands of planting projects. Each year, on average, Trees Forever works with and engages more than 7,000 volunteers who give generously of their time and talents. To date, they've helped plant more than 3.2 million trees. For more information, visit www.treesforever.org or call 800-369-1269.
