DES MOINES, Iowa ? The Nature Conservancy in Iowa is currently accepting applications for the annual $3,500 scholarship and internship awarded by the Anna Beal Trust. The Conservancy will grant 10 scholarships and internships to undergraduates attending an Iowa college or university. The 11-week field internship will take place from May 26 to August 10. Application, cover letter and references must be submitted by February 27, 2009.

The internship is a unique experience for undergraduates who are conservation minded and would like the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of environmental issues as well as receive financial assistance. If accepted, interns serve as crew members.

The crew, supervised by Conservancy staff, will be introduced to savanna restoration, exotic-species removal, preserve management practices, preserve design, natural resource protection, and conservation science methods.

Recipients will travel extensively throughout Iowa, mostly on Conservancy-owned property, and learn about the beauty of Iowa's tallgrass prairie, deciduous forest and wetland ecosystems. Crew members will be responsible for a variety of hands-on work functions, such as species identification, management techniques, fence repairing, fire line construction, fuel loading reduction and prescribe fire participation.

Crew members must be willing to live a rustic lifestyle and work in adverse weather conditions. Living in close quarters with crew members provides the opportunity to learn about fellow crew members and establish life-long friendships. During the week, crew members will camp in tents without electricity. The Conservancy will provide food stored in coolers and cooked on portable range camp stoves. Each crew member is expected to share in the cooking and cleaning duties.

Interns make significant contributions toward preservation by working eight-hour days with an hour for lunch. Crew members must have a strong work ethic and be able to work closely as a team as well as be self-motivated and be able to work individually and productively.

"The learning experience is extensive," says Scott Moats, the Conservancy's Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve manager and former Anna Beal intern, "and many internship recipients are successful in acquiring careers in the conservation field after completing their internship."

The Anna Beal Trust was founded in 1974 by Ed and Anna Beal, who farmed in Black Hawk County and wished to provide educational opportunities for deserving Iowa students. The proceeds of the Trust were designated to help Iowa college students, who without financial assistance could not obtain a college education.

If you are interested in obtaining more information about the Anna Beal Trust scholarship or would like to receive an application, please visit The Nature Conservancy in Iowa's web page at www.nature.org/iowa or call the office at 515-244-5044.

DAVENPORT, Iowa - February 16, 2009 - One of the most popular Scott County Family Y group fitness classes is picking up the pace all in an effort to help area families in need. The West Family YMCA, a branch of the Scott County Family Y, will hold a SPIN-A-DAY AWAY event on Saturday, March 7.

This biking event will span 8 hours and will offer participants a variety of cycles including uprights, recumbent, air dynes and spinners along with music that begs your legs to pedal all while having tons of fun, all benefiting Quad City area children and families who are seeking quality childcare, mentoring and health and fitness programming. "Cycling is the hottest aerobic class in town," says Sherry Emerick, West Family YMCA Executive Director. "Participants come from all walks of life but have the same common goal - getting into the best shape they can. They do it with determination and energy like no one has ever seen so what better way to raise some much needed monies than by harnessing this energy and putting a whole new spin on the a traditional fundraiser."

SPIN-A-DAY AWAY biking fundraiser costs $25 per hour or $150 per bike for the day. Individuals and teams are encouraged to sign-up. The event pushes off at 8am on Saturday, March 7, at the West Family YMCA, 3503 West Locust Street, Davenport. Each hour will offer a different musical theme in addition to door prizes, giveaways, healthy snacks and drinks and party favors. Every dollar raised goes directly to the Scott County Family Y's Partner with Youth/Kids to Camp Annual Campaign. Currently there are more than 10,000 area children who are seeking quality childcare, mentoring and health and fitness programming. In addition, more than 2,500 youth, families and seniors are in need of financial assistance to become YMCA members. Participation in this event will help ensure that no one is turned away due to their inability to pay.

The West Family YMCA is a branch of the Scott County Family Y. For more information about this event or to make a reservation, call (563) 386-4414 or for more information about the programs and services offered through the Scott County Family Y, visit www.scottcountyfamilyy.org.

The Quad City Youth Prelude Strings will give their first public performance in Augustana College's Centennial Hall on Sunday, February 22, at 3 p.m. as part of the Quad City Youth String Ensemble's nineteenth Annual Concert. The performance will take place at Augustana College's Centennial Hall and features music by Mussorgsky, Mozart, Holst and Caponegro, among others. Both the Quad City Youth Prelude Strings and the Quad City Youth String Ensemble are led by Music Director and Conductor Dortha DeWit.
Prelude Strings was founded this year in response to the high demand for membership in the QCSO's youth ensembles. Prelude Strings is the third and youngest of the QCSO's youth ensembles, which also includes the Quad City Youth String Ensemble and the Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra. The QCSO's youth ensembles serve approximately 170 area youth.
Tickets are available at the door: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and students free. For more information about the Quad City Youth Prelude Strings, String Ensemble, or the QCSO youth ensembles, please visit www.qcsymphony.com or call the QCSO office at 563.322.0931.
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Nicole Cobb of Bettendorf and Christopher Carton of Davenport have been named to the Fall 2008 Dean's List at Mount Mercy College. Students with a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better and who are graded (letter grade, not pass/fail) for six or more semester hours are eligible for inclusion on the Dean's List. Ms. Cobb is a Frshman at Mount Mercy majoring in Biology. Mr. Carton is a Junior and is majoring in Criminal Justice.