Get Outdoors!

Superintendent News & Views

Get Outdoors! 

By David Hill, North Tama Superintendent

I was raised on a family farm in Northern Tama County within close proximity of a beautiful county park. Growing up, my family also had access to a large timber area near our farm, along with a good number of wooded acres along Wolf Creek.  I spent countless hours hiking in the woods, mountain biking, enjoying the creek, identifying trees and collecting insects with my grandma, fishing with my grandpa, mushroom hunting with my mom, and more. It was a great way to bond with my family, enjoy nature, and get some physical activity. 

  We’re so fortunate here in the North Tama County Community School District to have access to some wonderful parks and other opportunities for outdoor recreation.  I want to issue a challenge to our North Tama students and their families to GET OUTDOORS AND ENJOY NATURE before the summer gets away from us.  There are numerous opportunities to enjoy the outdoors right here in our area.

T.F. Clark Park in rural Traer offers great sites for camping and picnicking, as well as trails for hiking and nature observation and access to Wolf Creek for fishing, kayaking, and other activities.  There’s a playground, a ball field, and an open-air shelter for picnicking.  

Otter Creek Park is a “hidden gem” in Tama County, offering a multi-use recreation area to accommodate camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, playground activities, swimming, boating, and nature observation.  One unique feature of Otter Creek park is a two-acre native prairie that has never tilled by man.  Take a hike on the 3-mile scenic loop around the lake, enjoy the free-admission swimming beach, or take advantage of the numerous handicapped-accessible areas.  There’s even a modern shower house, a fish cleaning station, and two open-air shelters. 

Also at Otter Creek is the beautiful Tama County Nature Center, which is a popular facility for social events including weddings, receptions, family reunions, and workshops and in recent years has placed an emphasis on improving the educational component, with an awesome educational display room featuring  a wrap-around diorama showcasing riparian habitats in the county and the species of plants and animals that live there. I was honored to serve on the Exhibit Team which helped to plan the educational exhibits on display at the center. 

Hickory Hills County Park is unique, as it is located in Northern Tama County but operated by the Black Hawk County Conservation Board.  It includes many of the same features and amenities the previously mentioned parks, plus an archery range and a captive wildlife display. 

A little farther away but still within a short driving distance, you can find great opportunities for bicycling, walking/jogging and nature observation on some of our area nature trails.  Favorites of mine include the Wolf Creek Nature Trail/Comet Trail which connects the cities of Gladbrook, Beaman, and Conrad along with the Wolf Creek Recreation Area in rural Grundy County, the Old Creamery Trail which connects Dysart to Garrison and Vinton, and the Pioneer Trail which extends from Reinbeck through Morrison and the Wolfe Family Preserve on to Grundy Center and continuing to Holland. 

Our city councils also maintain very nice park facilities within our communities, offering multiple opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy nature along with some great physical activity.  The summer months are an ideal time to visit Traer’s Wilson Nature Preserve, as this unique park has numerous native prairie grasses and over 75 native flowers in various stages of bloom over the spring and summer.  Taylor Park in Traer is a great place to enjoy a special event, play basketball or horseshoes, or take a dip in the city pool. The parks in Traer and Clutier also have an assortment of playground equipment for children to enjoy.     

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently rolled out the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” initiative to highlight the wide array of recreational activities our state offers within its county parks and to expand awareness of the county park system.  The state of Iowa has more than 1,800 county parks encompassing nearly 200,000 acres. 

Governor Kim Reynolds introduced the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” by inviting Iowans and others to visit our parks, stating, “We have an abundance of natural beauty in this state, and we’re thrilled to issue an invitation for people to experience it firsthand. I know my family will be outside exploring all the county parks have to offer this summer, so I hope my fellow Iowans and visitors to our state will join us.”

Visit traveliowa.com/99parks to learn more about the campaign.  Families are encouraged to download the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” Family Fun Guide, which features a variety of activities including recipes, a scavenger hunt and art projects as well as information on geocaching and creating nature sculptures. Participants can track their visits to the featured parks on the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” checklist. Many of the parks also include “selfie stands” where visitors can take photos and share their experiences on social media using #ThisIsIowa or #99parks. 

To learn more about our local county parks, visit and www.mycountyparks.com/County/Tama.aspx. I want to commend the Tama County Conservation Board as well as the dedicated county conservation employees for the good work they do in providing high-quality outdoor experiences for area residents and visitors. 

Before the summer ends, I hope each of our students and their families will take advantage of these resources and enjoy some quality family time in the process.  Whether it's boating, swimming, hunting, fishing, kayaking, geocaching, bicycling, orienteering, or just taking a nature walk – getting outdoors and enjoying our natural resources is a great way to exercise your body and rejuvenate your spirit as you prepare for the new school year that approaches! 

I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill.