Nature Center kicks off Eco-Blitz; Theme is “Waste Week”
Published 7:18 am Tuesday, July 10, 2018
- Volunteers help clean up Austin’s waterways during a past Water Festival. Herald file photo
The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center kicked off its Eco-Blitz on Monday with the Izaak Walton League volunteers catching creek critters to analyze the health of streams.
Jay C. Hormel Director Luke Reese
“Historically we’ve had the water festival,” said Jay C. Hormel Director Luke Reese. “We thought it would be nice to change our theme periodically from year to year.”
This year’s theme is “Waste Week.” The kick off continued with a report from Larry Dolphin, Bill Buckley and Don Arnosti on their recent work sampling E. coli bacteria in the Cedar River Watershed.
“A big challenge we face is what to do with our waste,” Reese said. “We thought this would be a good chance to look at different types of waste and a good excuse to clean up around town and the Nature Center.”
Other programs scheduled for “Waste Week” include:
• July 11 – Lansing Landfill Tour, 9 a.m. Sign-up at the Nature Center by July 10. Meet to carpool from the Nature Center.
• July 11 – Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour, 1 p.m. Sign-up at the Nature Center by July 10. Meet to carpool from the Nature Center.
• July 12 – Music for All Ages with Bill Cagley, 10 a.m. (Senior Special), 1 p.m. (Family Program) and 7 p.m. (Evening Concert). Performances will be held in the Interpretive Center classrooms. Please RSVP by July 11.
• July 12 – Waste-Themed Nature Play, 1-4 p.m. Includes the decomposition walk, water survival game, water quality testing, Nature Center cleanup, mini water park, pond scooping, canoeing and kayaking.
• July 13 – Solid Waste Transfer Station Tour, 9:15 a.m. Sign-up at the Nature Center by July 12. Meet to carpool from the Nature Center.
• July 13 – Recycling Center Tour, 2:15 p.m. Sign-up at the Nature Center by July 12. Meet to carpool from the Nature Center.
• July 14 – Clean Our Waters Service Day, Morning Session, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Choose between river cleanup or staff-led water quality testing of Austin’s waterways.
• July 14 – Clean Our Waters Service Day, Afternoon Session, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Choose between Dobbins Creek critter sampling or staff-led water quality testing of Austin’s waterways.
Reese said that participants will receive a punch card that will receive different punches for different events. Participants can turn in their cards for prizes and will be entered into a drawing for a compost bin.
For more information or to RSVP for events, call 507-437-7519, email info@hormelnaturecenter.org or visit hormelnaturecenter.org/eco-blitz-waste-week.
