WEST BRANCH, IOWA– On Saturday, September 5 join a park ranger for a campfire talk about prairie animals past and present. The multisensory family program will include pelts, sounds, photography from American prairies. The campfire program is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. on the village green at the intersection of Parkside Drive and Main Street in historic downtown West Branch. Visitors and their families are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and toasting sticks and marshmallows.
Then on Labor Day Monday, September 7 a park ranger leads visitors through the reconstructed 81-acre tallgrass prairie at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Learn how and why the National Park Service is reconstructing this endangered habitat as part of the landscape commemorating Herbert Hoover's life.
The walk begins at the tallgrass prairie observation deck by the gravesite parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The walk is less than a mile and lasts about 60 minutes. Bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable walking shoes. Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellent are also recommended.
On Saturday, September 26, help collect and distribute native plants in the tallgrass prairie at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. All ages are welcome. Participating volunteers will be rewarded with a coupon for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees. Contact Denise Collar or Adam Prato at (319) 643-2541 if you are interested.
Meet at the Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. for an orientation and to get signed up. Work will be from 9:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m. Please dress for the weather, and wear comfortable work clothes. Long pants and closed toe shoes are required. Bring a water bottle, hat, sunscreen, long sleeved shirt, insect repellent, a snack, and a shopping bag (paper or plastic) or ice cream pail for seed collection. The park has work gloves and other required tools.
This year the National Park Service launched its "Find Your Park" campaign which begins a two year celebration commemorating its first 100 years of preservation and service to the public. "Find Your Park" is aimed at getting people out to experience all their national parks have to offer and to share their favorite stories about National Parks. Visit www.findyourpark.com to learn more.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
110 Parkside Drive
PO Box 607
West Branch, Iowa 52358
319 643-2541 phone
319 643-7864 fax
Twitter: @HooverNPS
Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS
